Skip the Urgent Care Line: Real Primary Care for NYC's Visiting Students, Interns & Professionals

​

If you're spending a summer, a semester, or a year in New York City — as a student, intern, or visiting professional — chances are you don't have a doctor here yet. So when something comes up (a stubborn cough, a UTI, a rash that won't quit, a refill you forgot to get before you left home), urgent care becomes the default.

​

The problem? Urgent care means long waits, a different provider every time, surprise bills weeks later, and zero follow-up — they treat the immediate issue and send you on your way, with no continuity if it doesn't fully resolve.

​

U Care MD offers a better way: a membership that gets you fast, thorough care with a doctor you'll actually see again — for the entire time you're in the city.

​

Why U Care MD Beats Urgent Care for Your Situation

​

No Wait Time

Same-day and next-day appointments, every time. No sitting in a waiting room for hours next to people with the flu, wondering if you'll make it back to work or your schedule on time.

​

Price Transparency, No Surprise Bills

A typical urgent care visit (like CityMD) can run $300 or more for a cash-pay visit — and if you use insurance, the cost becomes unpredictable. You might pay a copay upfront, only to receive an additional bill weeks or months later for facility fees, lab work, or out-of-network charges, especially if you're on an out-of-state or international plan.

​

With U Care MD, your membership fee is flat and predictable — you know exactly what you're paying, upfront, with no bills arriving months later to surprise you.

​

One Doctor, Not a Revolving Door

At urgent care, you'll likely see a different provider every visit, none of whom know your history. At U Care MD, you see Dr. Chen — every time. By your second visit, he already knows your history, your medications, and what's already been tried.

​

Real Privacy — Especially When It Matters Most

Some health concerns are personal. At a busy urgent care or sexual health clinic, getting an STI screening or discussing your sexual health typically means checking in at a front desk, explaining your reason for visiting to intake staff, being triaged by a nurse or medical assistant, and finally — after all of that — actually seeing a provider.

​

That's a lot of people to tell something private to before you've even spoken to a doctor.

​

At U Care MD, the experience is completely different. You book directly, you arrive, and you speak with Dr. Chen — no crowded waiting rooms, no explaining yourself to multiple staff members before getting to the point, and no running into someone you know in a waiting room full of people.

​

For STI screening, PrEP consultations, sexual health concerns, or anything else you'd rather keep between you and your doctor, this level of privacy isn't a luxury — it's just how the practice is designed.

​

More Thorough Than a One-Off Visit

Urgent care is built for speed: diagnose the immediate issue, write a prescription, move to the next patient. U Care MD visits are longer and more thorough — time to actually discuss what's going on, ask questions, and address related concerns you might not have brought up otherwise.

​

Follow-Up Is Included — Not an Extra Visit, Not an Extra Bill

This is the biggest difference. If your treatment isn't working, if you have a question about your medication, or if something changes — you don't need to book (and pay for) another urgent care visit. As a member, you can simply message or call Dr. Chen. Follow-up is built into your membership for as long as you're enrolled, whether that's a few months or a full year.

​

Built for Your Schedule

Whether you're juggling classes, an internship workload, long shifts, or simply don't have time to navigate the healthcare system in a new city, U Care MD fits around you:

• Virtual visits available for many concerns — no need to leave campus or work

• Evening availability for after-class or after-work appointments

• Direct messaging with Dr. Chen — ask a quick question without booking a full visit

• Located in Midtown Manhattan — convenient to major universities, hospitals, offices, and transit (Penn Station, Port Authority, and multiple subway lines)

​

What This Is Good For

This isn't just for emergencies — it covers everything you'd normally go to urgent care or a primary care doctor for, including:

• Colds, flu, sinus infections, sore throats

• UTIs and other infections

• Rashes, allergic reactions, minor skin issues

• STI screening and sexual health — privately, with one doctor, no crowded waiting room

• Men's health (low libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation)

• Medication refills (including prescriptions started before you arrived in NYC)

• Sick visits, work notes, and basic lab work

• General check-ins if something doesn't feel right and you're not sure where else to go

​

And if you're here for an extended stay, it also covers the things urgent care never does:

• Routine physicals (including for sports, employment, or visa requirements)

• Ongoing management of existing conditions (asthma, anxiety, ADHD, etc.)

• Preventive care and screenings

• A relationship with a doctor who can write you a referral or recommendation if something more specialized comes up

​

How Membership Works for Short-Term Stays

U Care MD membership is month-to-month — no long-term contract. Whether you're in NYC for a few weeks, a summer internship, or a semester abroad, you can join for exactly the time you're here and cancel with 30 days' notice when you leave. No insurance required, and if you do have insurance (including out-of-state or international plans), you can still use it for labs, imaging, or specialist visits as needed.

​

Getting Started

Start with a free virtual meet & greet — even before you arrive in NYC, if you'd like. It's a no-cost, no-obligation conversation with Dr. Chen to see if U Care MD is the right fit for your time in the city.

​

Schedule your free meet & greet →

​

U Care MD is a Direct Primary Care practice located at 481 8th Ave, Suite 1144, New York, NY 10001 — convenient to Midtown hospitals, offices, and transit hubs. Dr. Kuan-Yu Chen is a board-certified family medicine physician offering fast, transparent, ongoing care for both long-term residents and those visiting New York City for work, internships, study abroad programs, and temporary work assignments.