UHC member, can’t afford to go to ER with 103.6 fever/COVID

Hi! Some background: sorry if it’s long!

Exposed to Covid on either 10/27 or 10/29. On night of Sunday 10/29 I started sneezing like crazy leading to a sore throat. Thought I had a cold. Woke up two days later with fever, aches, headache, nausea, gas pain, and severe lethargy on top of allergy symptoms. Was sick all week and developed minor cough. Thursday 11/2 I lost taste and smell and realized it was probably covid. Friday 11/3 I took two Covid tests that immediately within thirty seconds said Covid positive. Slowly started feeling better and than yesterday (Monday 11/13) I woke up super lethargic again, thought it was just a Monday. Took a nap after work and then woke up with aches, fever, headache, chills, nausea, etc. the biggest symptoms now were the fever and the cough had gotten tremendously worse. I taste blood when I cough and it hurts so bad that I’ve begun holding my breath until my eyes pop out to avoid it. the congestion had not gone away since the weeks prior. Did not take a Covid test as I already tested positive a week and a half ago. Temperature seems to be low grade fever though our thermometers aren’t very good. Highest was 101.1. Have been taking Tylenol/ibuprofen, and cough syrup as well as resting and staying indoors. Not sure if this is long/rebounding covid. I do not currently have a PCP as I have just switched insurances and in the past I would have been prescribed a zpack for cough and paxlovid (I think that is the name). I’m wondering if not receiving this treatment is the problem. I saw a virtual urgent care provider who told me to…go to urgent care bc she thought it might be pneumonia.

I want to emphasize that I just got my new insurance info today, haven’t used it at all, and I’ve paid $0 of my deductible. I’ve had a fever between 102 and 103 for hours and nothing will bring it down. I looked at an ER cost estimate and it says $1800…not even in. Lifetime where I was making double what I do now could I afford this. Even with a payment plan I don’t know what to do. Urgent care is closed and every single time I’ve gone they have told me I need to go to the er. That ends up being an ER and an urgent care visit…any advice?

I think the stress and anxiety of all of this is what is going to be the death of me. Please help!

For reference I have a large network United healthcare plan.

submitted by /u/kerakow
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