Emergency rooms are meant for true medical emergencies that are life threatning. If you experience chest pain, signs of stroke, or major trauma, you should head to the nearest emergency room.
Costs
The average charge for an emergency room visit usually is about $1,233 compared to an average urgent care visit of about $150.
Private insurance co-pays for an ER visit can reach hundreds of dollars, compared to average urgent care co-pays of $30 to $50.
Expect to wait longer at an emergency room, compared to urgent care visits which are usually completed within 1 hour.