Urgent care is for health issues that need treatment right away, but aren’t life threatening. This includes minor issues like colds, stomach pain, and small cuts.
You can see an urgent care doctor without an appointment. Most urgent care centers are open days, nights, weekends, and even holidays. You should go to urgent care when you can’t wait to see your regular doctor, but don't need to go to an emergency room (ER).
You should plan ahead. It’s best to know where the urgent care centers are near your home and work.
You should go to urgent care for non-life-threatening issues. Some examples are:
Emergency rooms are for life-threatening health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and major cuts that need surgery. Urgent care is for less serious health problems like a sore throat, back pain, or headaches. Urgent care usually takes less time and costs less than an emergency room.
| Type of visit | Your copay |
|---|---|
| Urgent care center | $50 copay |