Sometimes, you need medical attention but it isn’t so drastic that you should go to the hospital or emergency room. In these situations, visiting urgent care services can often be the best option. Urgent care centers offer a wide range of services that you could receive in a hospital but in a much quicker and more convenient time frame.
From women’s health exams and routine x-ray testing to vaccines and illness or injury treatment, there are dozens of reasons that you might visit urgent care instead of your primary care physician or a hospital. That being said, while you might have a lot of options when it comes to receiving urgent care if you don’t have health insurance, you may be wondering what possibilities exist for you to get the care you need.
Here are your options when you need urgent care and don’t have health insurance.
Enroll In An HSA
Many workplaces offer HSAs, or health savings accounts, to their employees, which can be a great way to save for unforeseen medical costs. Using an HSA, it’s possible to get pre-tax savings from your employer that are squirreled away, only to be accessed for pre-approved medical costs. From purchasing prescriptions to covering urgent care visits, an HSA is a great way to save money without ever feeling that money leaves your wallet since it’s taken out of your paycheck before you’re paid.
Many economists and behavioral psychologists agree that pre-tax savings are a much better way to save for expenses because of the way it lets workers live on autopilot. Talk to your human rights department about whether or not an HSA is part of your employee benefits so that you can set an account up for the future.
Shop Around Or Negotiate
Not every doctor will charge the same amount for the same service. As a result, it is possible to shop around to reduce your medical costs. Call ahead to the urgent care service you’re planning on going to and ask them what the fee is if you don’t have an insurance copay. Once you’ve gathered a few different quotes, you can try negotiating with whichever urgent care is closest or most convenient to you. Doing so before having a medical emergency can help you know which urgent care center to go to when you need one, which can aid in your decision-making process in the heat of the moment.
Keep in mind that some urgent care centers will reduce your medical bill if you talk to them before receiving treatment, or even if you offer to pay in cash. It never hurts to ask.
Enroll In A Short-Term Insurance Plan
Of course, some medical expenses may still be too much for an HSA or negotiation to help cover if you’re uninsured. In these kinds of situations, it might be best to enroll in an insurance plan that offers you the benefits you need at a reasonable price. Agile Health Insurance is one such insurance provider. In addition to offering affordable rates, Agile Health Insurance also specializes in short-term insurance which can be the most convenient way to help cover the care you need. Agile offers a variety of options for less than $100 a month, making it accessible to a wide range of Americans.
Short term insurance companies work with a variety of applicants and are able to get you a decision shortly. This means that you can apply for health insurance, receive your quote estimate, get approved, and print out your coverage card on the same day you need coverage. Particularly when it comes to unexpected visits to urgent care, short-term providers can be a lifesaver.
