I think you should pony up the $100. I know that a doctors visit at Kaiser (the hospitals I am insured with) costs about $100. Thats normal and I don't think you will find anything better in Florida (see this thread, someone mentioned Florida there).

I am not sure where you are from, but the insurance you have in your country might actually reimburse you (you pay and submit the receipts to your insurance for reimbursement). I would advice you check with your insurance and see if you are covered. I know that most health insurance plans in Germany cover expenses up to a certain amount ($500 or so).

Here is some more advice (please take it with a grain of salt, I highly recommend to see a doctor):

I sometimes go to Web MD. They have the best online information and you may be able to find out more.

If you have some sort of fungus (thats what it sounds like to me), you can buy Selsun Blue (thats a shampoo for flakes). It has a special ingredient (I forgot what it was called). If you take two showers each day, rub the areas with selsun blue and let it soak for about 10 minutes before rinsing. This should get rid of common fungi. I am not sure of other brands, but I can find out the ingredient.

Again, I am not qualified to diagnose anything, nor am I an expert in any of this. It is always best to see a doctor.

Andre

USA Photos

Selenium Sulfide is the stuff thats in Selsun Blue that's supposed to help (don't know, maybe its also in other brands).

Also if its a fungus, try Lotrimin (athletes foot cream).

Again, its better to see doctor.

Andre

USA Photos

I think you should go see the doctor if you really need to. It's worth it to stay healthy. I know health care in Canada is free and that's got to be a shock to you to go to the US where they're really have issues with health care. 

I would see a doctor if I where you. I know it is a lot to pay but if you have the money your health is worth it. We are also very lucky here in Australia our medical is free with medicare. Of course you can join a Private Health fund if you like and you get special treatment but I find the medicare system to be all right for my family as the Medical funds are increasing rapidly everyday.

No I don't think so. I think we have a pretty good health care system, compared to other countries. Our system does not encourage abuse (co-pay).

Also as I mentioned, most people should be able to get reimbursed from their own health insurance.

Free medical does not necessarily mean quality care and it's not free either. Somehow those doctors need to get paid and they do through taxation. But since everyone thinks its free, people go there with the slightest cold and thus overload the system, resulting in more taxes.

To me this translates into the fact, that the "free" Health Care is even more expensive.

Also you can always buy travel insurance. If you are so worried about getting sick somewhere, go and buy some insurance and you will be fine.

Andre

Travel Photos 

America has good health care if you have money or insurance.  Having the best medical facilities in the world means nothing if you can't use them.  The laws requiring emergency rooms to accept uninsured patients only require that they be stabilized.

 And no, you can't always get travel insurance.  People with chronic illnesses can only get insurance if they work for a company with a group policy that doesn't exclude pre-existing conditions. 

 If you have a heart condition, or need diabetes medication, and aren't poor enough to qualify for charity (I think you have to have less than $3000 total assets, including retirement funds in Florida), you are just plain going to die sooner than you would if you had insurance.

 It will come to a head soon, because fewer and fewer employers are offering insurance, and many who do expect the employee to pay more than is feasible, so only management is insured.

 In case someone is wonderin what insurance costs, I paid $279 per month under my group plan after I lost my job.  A co-worker with two children was going to be charged $879.  Maximum unemployment in Florida was $1100 per month.

I didn't know all that (mainly because I never had to deal with such a situation).

So I guess you need to borrow some money to see the doctor. Since it is a rash, you might want to try some of the things I suggested (can't see them do harm) but if it is something serious, you should definitely try to come up with $100.

I think Florida may be a bad example. I am pretty sure one can get insured through Kaiser even though there are pre-existing medical conditions.

Andre

Travel Photos 

A personal, not group, plan with Kaiser, at a reasonable rate?  I did find a policy once, only $1000 per month!  Most employer plans cover pre-existing conditions, unless you are with a small company.

And it isn't that Florida is odd, it's probably the other way around, with California being less typical than most states.  That's why Massachusetts has received so much publicity about their new plan.

This whole discussion illustrates one of the major problems with dealing with this issue.  Insured Americans assume everyone else is insured, that the few dollars they pay each month toward their medical plan covers most of the cost, and that money is the only barrier to getting an individual policy is cost.  They also assume that if you can't afford medical care you fall under some program that will provide it for you.  In most states, you don't.  But since those who have care never have to think about it, they assume everything is fine and pay no attention.

Some time in the next ten years, though, most people in the US will be uninsured, and something will have to give.

Most urban areas have free clinics where you can walk in and see a doctor for virtually nothing.  It's a service for those who have zero money so if you have the $100, just go to a doctor and be done with it.

Many people don't realize that their medical insurance only covers you in your home country without adding coverage.  It's necessary to carry travel health insurance, or plan on spending the money.

 If you are in a hotel, ask about a clinic.