Of course, you can go anywhere without health insurance. The question is "What will they do with you when you show up in their ER?" If you arrive with a serious injury or presenting symptoms of a serious injury or medical event (like a heart attack) they are required to treat you.
Showing up at the emergency room for a medical issue that is minor in nature and should be handled by a primary care physician, dentist or urgent/minor care center is another matter entirely and is one of the biggest problems and wastes of resources faced by ER departments. Any ER is going to engage in triage (determining who has the most serious problem and requires immediate attention versus persons with less pressing needs) and may direct you away or tell you to be prepared for a very long wait if your issue is minor. Your low grade fever and congestion may feel like an emergency to you but it pales in comparison to the person suffering from multiple traumas from an auto accident that is being wheeled in.
In any event, the most expensive medical care you will ever receive is in the hospital's emergency room. Yes, you can go without health insurance and in a situation of real need that is exactly what you should do. Just be prepared for a big bill when you do.
.JPG){kind=avatar}
Showing up at the emergency room for a medical issue that is minor in nature and should be handled by a primary care physician, dentist or urgent/minor care center is another matter entirely and is one of the biggest problems and wastes of resources faced by ER departments. Any ER is going to engage in triage (determining who has the most serious problem and requires immediate attention versus persons with less pressing needs) and may direct you away or tell you to be prepared for a very long wait if your issue is minor. Your low grade fever and congestion may feel like an emergency to you but it pales in comparison to the person suffering from multiple traumas from an auto accident that is being wheeled in.
In any event, the most expensive medical care you will ever receive is in the hospital's emergency room. Yes, you can go without health insurance and in a situation of real need that is exactly what you should do. Just be prepared for a big bill when you do.