When to Go to Urgent Care: A Basic Guide

According to data collected by the United States Census Bureau, 26.1 million people had no health insurance in 2019. The number of people without health insurance from 2018 to 2019 increased in 19 states around the country. Medicaid health insurance coverage decreased in 2019 to 19.8%.

Whether you have health insurance or not, you may be wondering if you can take advantage of the services offered at urgent care clinics. Keep reading to learn when to go to urgent care.

For Non-Life-Threatening Medical Needs

An urgent care is a great alternative to an emergency room if you need immediate medical attention but your life isn’t in danger. If you’ve accidentally cut yourself and you see enough blood to require stitches but not deep enough where you see your bone, a visit to urgent care is probably best.

If you’re struggling with cold symptoms that haven’t gone away on their own, a visit to an urgent care will help you figure out what you’re dealing with. Fever, chills, or a cough can be signs of minor respiratory conditions. Urgent care clinics have lab testing that can determine what illness you have.

Chest pain can be a sign of a medical emergency, but if you’re under 55 and have no history of heart conditions in the family, your chest pain can be caused by something else.

If you think your chest pain is related to a hard workout or heartburn, a visit to an urgent care clinic is the better option.

Small fractures in bones in the wrist, hand, or foot can also be treated at an urgent care facility. You can visit Revere Health urgent care for some of these non-life-threatening medical needs.

If You’re Short on Time

If you know that your medical issue isn’t an emergency and you’re hoping to get in and out as fast as possible, visiting an urgent care is the best choice.

Emergency rooms will always treat the most critical patients first, and if you’re there for a small fracture, then you might be waiting for a couple of hours. At an urgent care clinic, your visit might end in less than an hour.

If you need to see a doctor but don’t want to wait for an appointment with your primary care physician, an urgent care doctor can treat you without an appointment. Another one of the many urgent care benefits is that many treat after hours if you need care later in the evening.

It’s a Great Option for the Uninsured

An urgent care visit is also a great option for the millions of people without health insurance. A minor medical issue will cost a lot less at an urgent care clinic than it would at an emergency room.

Prices will vary depending on the clinic you choose and the services you receive.

Everything You Need to Know About When to Go to Urgent Care

If you’re wondering when to go to urgent care, the guide above gives you all the information you need.

Make sure you check out some of our other blogs to learn more.