What should I do in case of an emergency in the United States?

The North American Healthcare system can be quite hard to understand. There are multiple kinds of health center you can go to depending on the type of problem you're going to, from the ER and public hospitals, to pharmacies and private clinics.

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that, in general, any medical attention in the United States tends to be expensive. Therefore, if you don't have health insurance, you're risking having to pay thousands of dollars or, in many cases, going into debt. 

Remember that emergencies and accidents can happen to anyone, anytime. 

Keep reading to find out more about the different types of medical attention in the United States and how to proceed in case of a medical emergency. 

Urgent-care

It is the first level of attention, and is where you should go if you have a regular cold, headache or even minor injuries. You don't need to request an appointment beforehand, you can just go in, explain your symptoms, present your medical insurance and wait to be attended.

The waiting time can be immediate or a couple hours, depending on the amount of people waiting and your health condition. Prices for this attention can vary, commonly between $80 and $500 USD, depending on examinations, curing performed and medications administered.

The city you're in will also affect the price. Big cities like New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and others have a higher price average at $280 USD.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies in the United States, besides selling medicines, food, and hygiene and beauty products, are also diagnosis centers. They are allowed to perform laboratory exams that can detect illnesses, besides being allowed to perform blood examinations. 

If you're experiencing any discomforts, pharmacists can recommend you medicines and other measures to feel better. They can also help you inject medicines or teach you how to do it. Vaccinations against the Influenza or Covid-19  are available at pharmacies and can be administered quickly, without having to wait at a public hospital. 

This is the cheapest option for any medical recommendations you might need during your stay in the USA.

Emergency Room (ER)

Emergency rooms are located at hospitals and healthcare centers. It is the emergency unit at every hospital, that doesn't require an appointment.

You should go to the ER when facing serious emergencies, such as bone fracture, skin burnings, or accidents. This is also the place you should go to in case of a cardiac arrest or heart attack. You can also go to the ER in case of minor emergencies, but it'll be more expensive than going to the Urgent Care.

These establishments are more expensive. In average, a visit to the ER can cost between $1,200 and $1,500 USD, and can even reach $20.000 USD.

To put prices into perspective, an X-ray can be a couple hundred dollars alone, or even $3,000, depending on the conditions. 

Ambulance Services (911)

If you need an ambulance to be transported to the ER, prices go up higher. Remember you should call 911 in order to request an ambulance. 

Transportation services alone can start at $400 USD, and if you need any medical attention while being transported, prices can reach, in average, $1,500 USD. If we're talking about a serious emergency, prices can go up until $3,000 or $4,000 USD.

Another reason why it is very important to have health insurance is being able to afford this unexpected expenses. 

Medical Appointment

If you need to see a doctor to get a diagnosis or a prescription, you have to get an appointment. If you have private medical insurance, you can call your preferred clinic and request an appointment with a specialized doctor. 

You can also call a public hospital and follow the same procedure. If you live in the United States, you should ideally have a family doctor who has your medical records and can attend all your medical needs.

Diagnosis with a doctor can cost between $100 and $300 USD, depending on the doctor, his/her specialization, and if it's a private clinic or public hospital.

If you're required to spend the night at the hospital, that night alone can cost you up to $5,000 USD.

How to hire Health Insurance

Considering everything we told you about in this article, you've probably realized how important it is to have medical insurance. The type of insurance you should hire depend on the amount of time you're going to be spending in the USA.

Travel insurance is designed for short trips, a couple of days or weeks. With this insurance, you'll be able to get reimbursed for medical attentions or medicines you might need to buy. 

If you're moving to the USA, either for work or to study, an international health insurance is the best option. These offer global coverage for medical attention, hospitalizations, surgery, or even high cost procedures like the ones related to cancer. 

If you want to compare and quote insurance options from the entire market, go to InternationalHealth.com where you'll be able to hire your insurance today, 100% online. This does not have any additional costs and you'll have the benefit of an assisted hiring process.  

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