Better Care Medical

How to get emergency medical care for non immigrant on tourist visa?

My sister in law from Guatemala is visiting us here in Michigan. She's here legally on a tourist visa. She's come down with a earache, congestion, toothache, and numbness/tingling in her face. We've started her on some over the counter medicine, but am concerned she might have an infection that's more serious. What are our options for getting her emergency medical care and medicine since she doesn't have health insurance? Thanks in advance!

Public Comments

1. for ur info in the future-they HAVE to treat you when u go to the ER-thats the law and hippocrates oath
2. Pay cash; like I do. I don't have medical insurance either. She can bring her checkbook or credit card. I like private practitioners because I can't stand Hospital Emergency Rooms. A first office visit in Los Angeles runs from $75.00 - $150.00 dollars. It's the medications and lab tests that drive up the cost of being ill. It sounds like she has flu symptons and she could need some dental work. They do not have dentists at the ER. In my opinion te ER is a waste of time unless you are brought in by ambulance. They are designed for life threatening emergencies. They are not to be used as a walk in clinic.
3. They can not turn her away from the ER, buy I do hope she makes payments to pay her bill, other wise the tax payers will have to pay it
4. She should have gotten medical insurance for her travels before she left her home country. It is her responsibility to pay for any medical care she needs while she is here. She doesn't qualify for any type of insurance from here. Or you can do what all the others do,go to the emergency room and stick the bill on the US taxpayer.
5. You're probably not going to get health insurance if that's what you're asking. Since the health system, government, and insurance companies think humans are nothing more than mineable resources to be exploited, I don't think you'll get it paid for. You say she's a tourist from Guatemala. Why don't you send her back to Guatemala where they have excellent hospitals in the city. It will be more affordable and she will probably get better care. Sorry if I sound a little jaded but I'm an American and I go to Guatemala for all my health care needs because the entire system is so entirely messed up in the USA. Up to this point I've only needed dental work so I can't speak authoritatively about all health care, however, the dental is great and I've heard good things about the hospitals in the city. If it's a real emergency you should just put her on a plane now. She'll be in Guate in 6 hours.