The minor emergency room costs $120, cash on the barrelhead; an office visit is comparable. You then pay additionally for a strep-test and any other lab fees. it's going to run you at least $160-$180, more likely around 200 bucks.
Good antibiotics like Zythromax (Z-Pac) are around $70; most often doctors will prescribe additional drugs such as a decongestant and hydrocodone syrup for a sore throat.
It all ends up adding up to around $200 just for the drugs.
My experience with the ER is, if you simply ask- not even give a sob story, just ask- they'll give you samples, and then all the drugs are free.
I've had ER docs give me full courses of antibiotics for free, in little individual sample packs.
All you have to do is say, "How much is this prescription going to cost, because I really don't have any money", and they'll bust out a box of free samples.
How much do you think an office visit and prescription drugs cost?
By the way, I don't consider any of this "theft", because health care is my right.
It's everyone's right.
For the past couple of years, I've had insurance, and you know what? I can't afford to go to the doctor with it, because it's a $40 co-pay for an office visit, and then $15 for prescriptions, and I basically never have that much cash on hand to blow.