Find Lower-Cost Urgent Care
Sometimes you can’t avoid going to the emergency room. But you may be able to get the care you need at an urgent-care center or convenience-care clinic for a fraction of the cost. The average emergency room visit costs $1,757, compared with $153 for an urgent-care center, says Jackie Aube, of health insurer Cigna. And retail health clinics – such as those in drugstores and supermarkets – generally cost even less. “Knowing in advance where the nearest in-network urgent-care and retail clinics are can save you a lot of money and time, especially if you have small children,” says Aube. Urgent care and retail clinics can be good for fractures, sprains, strep throat, colds and flu, pink eye, ear infections, and rashes, she says.