Urgent care vs the emergency room
MedlinePlus lists four options for an unexpected illness or injury: a nurse advice line from your plan or employer, your own provider, an urgent care clinic, or the emergency department. The right one depends on how quickly you need care.
Last reviewed against MedlinePlus, HealthCare.gov, and CMS pages linked on this page on .
The rule
MedlinePlus: if a person or unborn baby could die or be permanently disabled, it is an emergency — call 911. For problems that need prompt care but are not emergencies, urgent care or your provider’s office is usually faster and cheaper; MedlinePlus notes that emergency department care can cost 2 to 3 times or more than the same care in a provider’s office.
Call 911 right away (MedlinePlus examples)
- Choking, or stopped breathing
- Severe chest pain or pressure
- Severe shortness of breath
- Suddenly unable to speak, see, walk, or move; sudden weakness or drooping on one side
- Head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion
- Neck or spine injury, especially with loss of feeling or movement
- A seizure lasting more than 1 minute
- Severe burn, electric shock, or lightning strike
Go to the emergency department or call 911 (MedlinePlus examples)
- Trouble breathing; passing out or fainting
- Pain in the arm or jaw; a sudden, unusual, or bad headache
- Sudden confusion; dizziness or weakness that does not go away
- Heavy bleeding, a deep wound, or a possible broken bone
- Severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling, or hives
- High fever with headache and stiff neck
- Poisoning or overdose
Not a complete list. If you are thinking about hurting yourself or others, call or text 988.
When urgent care fits
For illnesses or injuries that need same-day attention but are not on the lists above — and when you cannot get in to see your own provider — urgent care is the usual choice. Your plan’s nurse advice line, if it has one, can help you decide. Check whether the urgent care centre is in your network.
Common questions
- Is the ER more expensive than urgent care?
- Usually. MedlinePlus says ER treatment can cost 2 to 3 times or more than the same care in a provider’s office, and your plan may charge a higher copay for the ER.
- Will my insurance cover an ER visit at an out-of-network hospital?
- The No Surprises Act protects you from surprise out-of-network bills for emergency care. See the No Surprises Act guide on this site and CMS’s medical bill rights page.
Sources
- When to use the emergency room — adult (opens in a new tab) — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Medical bill rights (No Surprises Act) (opens in a new tab) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Questions about this page
Tell us if something here is unclear or out of date. We cannot recommend a clinic, check your insurance, or advise on your care. In an emergency, call 911.
We can’t answer questions about your own diagnosis, medication, or treatment — please ask your prescriber. We also can’t book appointments, check your insurance, or refer you to a clinic.
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Last reviewed against MedlinePlus, HealthCare.gov, and CMS pages linked on this page on .
Definitions and rules on this page come from the sources listed. If one has changed, tell us and we will correct it.