She Needed an EpiPen. But First, an Urgent Care Asked Her To Pay.
An uninsured woman sought help at a Virginia urgent care center after being stung by a wasp. She said she was stunned when the center asked her to pay before giving her a shot to reverse her allergic reaction.
Stephanie Rowell was stung by a wasp at her parents' home, causing a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. She immediately sought help at a nearby TruHealthNow urgent care facility, hoping to receive treatment faster than traveling to the emergency room (KFF Health News). Rowell, who has been uninsured since 2025, disclosed that she did not have health insurance when she checked in at the urgent care center.
After receiving a diagnosis of anaphylaxis, a nurse practitioner advised her to receive an epinephrine shot to reverse her symptoms (KFF Health News). However, before administering the shot, the medical assistant informed Rowell that she needed to pay $400 upfront for the medication and the service, in addition to a $165 fee for her visit (KFF Health News).
Rowell was stunned by the unexpected cost and questioned whether they would have let her die if she did not have the money. TruHealthNow's CEO, Preet Takhar, clarified that the company's policy is to provide treatment first and handle billing later, stating that the nurse practitioner determined Rowell's condition was stable and asked for payment while preparing the injection (KFF Health News).
Despite federal law requiring emergency departments to stabilize anyone who shows up, regardless of their ability to pay, urgent care centers generally do not fall under this law unless they are owned by hospitals (Drexel University). The urgent care industry has grown rapidly, with over 15,000 centers handling more than 185 million patient visits in 2025 (Urgent Care Association) (KFF Health News).
While urgent care centers primarily offer non-emergency services, Rowell's case highlights the ethical obligation of healthcare providers to treat patients in emergencies without requesting payment upfront.
Written by urgent.news from KFF Health News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
