# Urgent medical care Source: https://www.qaravan.org/resources/health/urgent-care/ What to do when you need medical care right away: when to call 911, what a hospital must do, and where to go if it is not an emergency. ## Start here - If your health is in danger, call [911](tel:911) or go to an emergency room (ER): the hospital must examine you and stabilize you, even without insurance. - Thoughts of suicide: call [988](tel:988) and say "Russian"; an interpreter joins in about 20 seconds. Any time. - Possible HIV exposure: PEP must start within 72 hours. Go to any ER, which must give you a free interpreter. The 24/7 PEP hotline, [844-373-7692](tel:8443737692), is in English. ## In an emergency From the call to discharge. 1. Decide whether it is an emergency Call [911](tel:911) for signs of a stroke (weakness on one side of the face or body, trouble seeing or speaking, sudden confusion), a suspected heart attack, severe pain, trouble breathing, seizures, fainting, labor, or any other serious threat to your health. If in doubt, call. 2. Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital Give the address and say what is happening. If you don't speak English, say "Russian": the [911](tel:911) operator will bring in an interpreter. Any nearby emergency room will do, not only a city one: under federal law it must take an emergency patient whether or not they can pay. 3. Say that you need an interpreter New York State hospitals must give you a free interpreter. Family and friends are allowed to interpret only if you turn the interpreter down (state rule 10 NYCRR 405.7). Say "I need an interpreter" at the entrance and name your language. 4. Let the hospital examine you and stabilize your condition First doctors check whether there is an emergency (labor included), then they must stabilize it. The federal law EMTALA requires this. 5. If you have no insurance, say so, and ask for a financial counselor It does not affect emergency care. The hospital's financial counselor will help you apply for Emergency Medicaid and for a discount on the bill. Emergency Medicaid pays for emergency treatment for people who cannot get full Medicaid because of their status. 6. Keep your papers and do not leave bills unanswered Ask for your discharge papers and every document, and keep letters from the hospital. You can ask for a discount or for the bill to be canceled at any time, even after it has gone to a collection agency. ## Where to go Urgent situations and where to go | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ## You need a doctor today, but it is not an emergency You don't have to go to a hospital or wait weeks for an appointment. - ExpressCare (NYC Health + Hospitals) Any status Price depends on income A video visit with a doctor at any hour while you are in New York State, with interpreters in 200+ languages. Without insurance a visit costs $145, less on a low income, down to $0; a sexual health video visit (Virtual Sexual Health Urgent Care) costs the same. You can also walk in: the ExpressCare center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am–4 pm. [expresscare.nyc](https://expresscare.nyc/) 234 East 149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451 (in-person center) video visits 24/7 - Callen-Lorde Quick Care Any status Price depends on income Urgent care at a clinic for LGBTQ+ people: walk in (first come, first served) or book for the same or next day. They treat colds, flu, COVID-19, sore throats, ear infections, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and test for HIV, STIs, strep, flu, COVID-19, RSV and pregnancy. No X-rays and most specialists are not on site. Urgent dental care for pain or swelling is in Chelsea only. Call and say "Russian": a Russian interpreter is provided on request. [(212) 271-7200](tel:2122717200) [callen-lorde.org](https://callen-lorde.org/quick-care/) 356 West 18th St, New York, NY 10011 (Chelsea); 40 Flatbush Ave Ext, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 555 Bergen Ave, 4th Floor, Bronx, NY 10455 - NYC Poison Center Any status Free If someone has swallowed, breathed in, or got a dangerous substance on their skin or in their eyes, call or use the chat right away, even with no symptoms. Do not make them vomit. If the person is unconscious, has seizures or has trouble breathing, call [911](tel:911). Have ready their name, age and weight, the substance and how much, when it happened, and the symptoms. On the phone, say "Russian" and a free interpreter joins. [212-764-7667](tel:2127647667) [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/poison-control.page) 24/7 ## If you are struggling emotionally If thoughts of hurting yourself won't go away, don't stay alone with them. - 988 Any status Free A free crisis line for anyone thinking about suicide, overwhelmed by stress, worried about someone close, or worried about alcohol or drugs. Open 24/7. Call and say "Russian": an interpreter joins in about 20 seconds. Interpreters are on calls only; chat and text are in English and Spanish. No insurance needed. If a life is in danger right now, call [911](tel:911). [988](tel:988) [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/988.page) 24/7 ## Possible HIV exposure: you have 72 hours PEP prevents HIV after a possible exposure if you start it as soon as possible, within 72 hours. - The PEP hotline (NYC Health Department) Any status Free PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is taken daily for 28 days. Go to any ER, clinic or city sexual health clinic. The city Health Department's 24/7 line helps you get a starter pack and a doctor whatever your insurance. The line is in English. If you speak no English, go to any ER: it must give you a free interpreter. [844-373-7692](tel:8443737692) [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep.page) 24/7 ## Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice. [All pages: Health care and insurance](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/health/) **Sources, checked November 2026** - [expresscare.nyc](https://expresscare.nyc/) - [nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/988.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/988.page) - [nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/poison-control.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/poison-control.page) - [callen-lorde.org/quick-care](https://callen-lorde.org/quick-care/) - [nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/post-exposure-prophylaxi…](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep.page)