With so many different health care facilities to consider when we need medical care, it’s important to stay informed of the differences. Minor illnesses, such as sore throats, upper respiratory symptoms and flu-like symptoms, as well as basic broken bones or cuts can be treated at an urgent care center, said Dr. Robert Hitchcock, executive vice president for Dallas-based T-System. Hitchock said health care consumers will likely have an average copay of $25-$50, depending on their insurance coverage. Retail clinics such as H-E-B RediClinics and CVS MinuteClinics can also treat minor illnesses with similar copays, Hitchcock said. Freestanding emergency rooms can have higher copays of around $100-$500 in addition to facility fees and operating fees, Hitchcock said. However, they offer equipment and physicians on-site 24/7 that are not typically found at urgent cares or retail clinics. They can treat open fractures, neck injuries, chest pains, stroke symptoms and other more serious ailments.