What is emergency care?
Serious emergency care is needed for life-threatening or very bad illness or injury.

These might include:
1. Heart attacks
2. Serious car wrecks
3. Bad burns
4. Bad broken bones (bones that break the skin)
5. Very high fever; convulsions
6. Symptoms of stroke

Emergency care might also be needed for less serious emergencies:
1. Minor burns
2. Cuts needing stitches
3. Simple bone fractures (when bones do not break the skin)
4. Asthma attacks

Where can I get emergency care?
1. Go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
2. Go here whether or not you have insurance.
Most hospitals by law must give emergency care whether or not you can pay your bill.
For less serious emergencies, you may also use an urgent care center.
Most urgent care centers accept several types of insurance.
Payment policies for those without insurance vary.

What is the difference in medical care at a hospital emergency room and an urgent carecenter?
Hospital emergency rooms are for very serious emergencies.
They can hospitalize you on site if needed.
They have operating rooms on site if you need surgery.
They have specialists who practice there and can be called in.
They are open 24 hours a day.
Most hospitals by law must give emergency care whether or not you can pay your bill.
Urgent care centers are not connected to hospitals.
They cannot admit you for longer-term care.
They do not have operating rooms.
They may not have specialists available.
They may not be open 24 hours a day.
They may not be required to treat you if you cannot pay your bill.
Payment policies vary.

What is care that is not for emergencies (non-emergency care)?
Non-emergency care in your home country may mean a visit to the doctor, pharmacist or traditional healer.
In the U.S., care that is not for emergencies is:
1. Routine care
2. Care for normal illnesses

Routine care includes:
1. Physical exams
2. Well-child and well-baby exams
3. Immunizations
4. Regular tests (Mammograms, Glucose screening)

Normal illnesses include:
1. Sore throat or cough
2. Fever
3. Stomachache
4. Earache
5. Rash
6. Mild injury (sprained ankle)
7. Backache

Where can I get regular care?
This may depend on whether you have insurance.

I am insured. Where can I go for regular care?
You may go to:
Any person or place that takes your insurance.
These include:
a. Doctors’ offices
b. Clinics, including community health centers and clinics in retail stores.
c. Hospitals
Ask your insurance company for help finding care.

I have no insurance, where can I go?
You may use:
a. Emergency room for emergency care
b. Clinics including free clinics and community health centers, which provide free or low-cost services for regular care
c. Locations suggested by your local department of social services