When you or a family member gets sick or hurt unexpectedly, choosing between the emergency room and an urgent care center can be stressful. Picking the right setting matters: the emergency room is equipped for life-threatening problems, while urgent care is often faster and less expensive for minor illnesses and injuries.
If you think someone's life is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not drive yourself if you have chest pain or stroke symptoms. This guide is general information and does not replace advice from a medical professional.
The key differences
| Hospital emergency room | Urgent care center | |
|---|---|---|
| Open | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year | Usually extended daytime and evening hours |
| Handles | Life-threatening and serious conditions | Minor illnesses and injuries |
| Staff | Emergency physicians, specialists on call | Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants |
| Equipment | Full imaging including CT, operating rooms, intensive care | Often X-ray and basic lab tests |
| Federal duty to treat | Yes, under EMTALA | No |
| Typical cost | Higher | Lower |
| Wait | Based on how serious your condition is | Often first come, first served |
Go to the emergency room for
- Chest pain or pressure, especially with shortness of breath, sweating or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- Signs of stroke: face drooping, arm or leg weakness, trouble speaking, sudden loss of balance or vision
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Severe bleeding that does not stop with pressure
- Loss of consciousness, confusion or seizures
- Major injuries, such as from a car crash or a fall from height, or a head injury with vomiting or confusion
- Broken bones that push through the skin or a limb that looks deformed
- Severe abdominal pain
- Poisoning or overdose (you can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222)
- High fever with stiff neck, or any fever in a baby under about 3 months
- Thoughts of suicide or of harming others (you can also call or text 988)
- Pregnancy complications such as heavy bleeding or severe pain
Urgent care is usually fine for
- Colds, flu symptoms, sore throats and ear infections
- Minor cuts that may need stitches
- Sprains and strains
- Simple fractures of fingers or toes
- Mild asthma flare-ups
- Urinary tract infections
- Rashes and minor burns
- Mild vomiting or diarrhea without signs of dehydration
If you are not sure, call your doctor's office, a nurse advice line from your insurer, or the urgent care center itself. Urgent care staff will send you to an emergency room if your problem is more serious than they can handle.
Why the emergency room is required to treat you
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), passed in 1986, requires hospitals that participate in Medicare and have an emergency department to provide a medical screening exam to anyone who comes in, and to stabilize an emergency medical condition or arrange an appropriate transfer. This applies regardless of insurance, citizenship or ability to pay. It also covers women in active labor. Urgent care centers are not covered by EMTALA and can ask for payment information before treating you.
Freestanding emergency rooms
Some states have freestanding emergency departments that are not physically attached to a hospital. Some are run by a hospital and follow the same rules as its main emergency department. Others are independent. They look similar to urgent care centers but bill like emergency rooms, which can be much more expensive. Look for the word "emergency" on the sign, and ask if you are unsure.
What about rural emergency hospitals?
Since January 1, 2023, some small rural hospitals have converted to rural emergency hospitals. They provide 24-hour emergency care and outpatient services but do not admit patients for routine inpatient stays. If you need admission, they arrange a transfer. See rural emergency hospitals.
Cost and insurance
Emergency room visits generally cost more than urgent care visits for the same minor problem, because emergency departments are staffed and equipped for the most serious cases at all hours. For emergency care, the No Surprises Act protects people with most private health plans from surprise out-of-network bills: you pay no more than your in-network cost sharing, even at an out-of-network emergency room. Read more in How to Read a Hospital Bill.
Urgent care centers may or may not be in your insurance network, so check before you go if you can.
Telehealth as a third option
Many insurers and health systems offer telehealth visits for minor problems such as rashes, colds and medication questions. A telehealth provider can tell you whether you need to be seen in person.
Finding an emergency room
Browse hospital emergency rooms in our directory or use hospitals near me to see the closest options. If you want to know what to expect once you arrive, read ER Wait Times Explained.