Sick in the USA? Urgent Care vs. ER for Tourists: A Cost Survival Guide

“Hyung, I think I’m dying…”

Last month, my friend from back home came to visit me in the States. It was his first trip in five years. We were having a blast until a questionable food truck taco took him out.

At 2 AM, he woke me up, clutching his stomach, pale as a ghost. “I need a hospital,” he groaned.

I was half-asleep, so I made a mistake. I drove him to the nearest Emergency Room (ER). They gave him some fluids (IV), an anti-nausea pill, and sent us home in two hours.

The bill arrived yesterday: $4,500.

(I felt so guilty, I almost offered to pay half. Almost.)

I thought my friend was just unlucky. But then I went down a rabbit hole on Reddit (r/HealthInsurance), and I found something even worse.

“I was charged $1,500 just for a ‘Triage Fee.’ I waited in the lobby for 4 hours, never saw a doctor, and eventually left because I felt better. They billed me $1,500 just for checking my blood pressure.”

It is absolute madness. In the U.S., sitting in an ER waiting chair can cost more than a business class flight. This is why you must know the alternative.

If you are visiting the U.S., you need to know that “Hospital” does not mean what you think it means. Here is how to survive getting sick without going bankrupt.

The “Urgent Care” Secret

In many countries, if you are sick, you go to the hospital. In the U.S., if you go to the hospital for a stomach ache, you get charged a “facility fee” just for walking through the door.

Instead, you need to find an Urgent Care.

My friend basically paid $4,000 for a bag of saltwater (Saline) because we went to the wrong door. Don’t be like us.

“But I have Travel Insurance!”

That’s what my friend said, too. (He bought the cheapest one online).

Here is the tricky part: Most travel insurance policies work on a “Reimbursement” basis. This means YOU pay the $4,500 upfront, and then you fight with the insurance company for months to get your money back.

Can you afford to swipe $4,500 on your credit card right now? If not, avoid the ER.

Navigator Alex’s Survival Tips

If you are reading this from a hotel room while feeling sick, here is your game plan:

What if you MUST go to the ER?

Sometimes, it really is an emergency. If you break your leg skiing or have appendicitis, forget the money and go to the ER.

But when they ask for payment info, tell them:

“I am an international visitor. Please bill me at the self-pay rate. I will pay a deposit now, but I need an itemized bill mailed to me.”

Do not sign anything that says you agree to pay “all charges” without asking for an estimate first. (I know, it’s hard to negotiate when you are in pain, but try).

Final Thought

I’m still helping my friend fight that $4,500 bill. We are writing appeal letters to the hospital asking for a “Charity Care” discount. I’ll let you know if it works. For now, enjoy your trip, wash your hands, and stay away from dodgy food trucks!

“Hyung, I think I’m dying…”

Last month, my friend from back home came to visit me in the States. It was his first trip in five years. We were having a blast until a questionable food truck taco took him out.

At 2 AM, he woke me up, clutching his stomach, pale as a ghost. “I need a hospital,” he groaned.

I was half-asleep, so I made a mistake. I drove him to the nearest Emergency Room (ER). They gave him some fluids (IV), an anti-nausea pill, and sent us home in two hours.

The bill arrived yesterday: $4,500.

(I felt so guilty, I almost offered to pay half. Almost.)

If you are visiting the U.S., you need to know that “Hospital” does not mean what you think it means. Here is how to survive getting sick without going bankrupt.

The “Urgent Care” Secret

In many countries, if you are sick, you go to the hospital. In the U.S., if you go to the hospital for a stomach ache, you get charged a “facility fee” just for walking through the door.

Instead, you need to find an Urgent Care.

My friend basically paid $4,000 for a bag of saltwater (Saline) because we went to the wrong door. Don’t be like us.

“But I have Travel Insurance!”

That’s what my friend said, too. (He bought the cheapest one online).

Here is the tricky part: Most travel insurance policies work on a “Reimbursement” basis. This means YOU pay the $4,500 upfront, and then you fight with the insurance company for months to get your money back.

Can you afford to swipe $4,500 on your credit card right now? If not, avoid the ER.

Navigator Alex’s Survival Tips

If you are reading this from a hotel room while feeling sick, here is your game plan:

What if you MUST go to the ER?

Sometimes, it really is an emergency. If you break your leg skiing or have appendicitis, forget the money and go to the ER.

But when they ask for payment info, tell them:

“I am an international visitor. Please bill me at the self-pay rate. I will pay a deposit now, but I need an itemized bill mailed to me.”

Do not sign anything that says you agree to pay “all charges” without asking for an estimate first. (I know, it’s hard to negotiate when you are in pain, but try).

Final Thought

I’m still helping my friend fight that $4,500 bill. We are writing appeal letters to the hospital asking for a “Charity Care” discount. I’ll let you know if it works. For now, enjoy your trip, wash your hands, and stay away from dodgy food trucks!