Text us. We’ll help you figure it out.
Text what’s going on
From your commute, your desk, or the couch. No app, no account.
Answer a few questions
We make sure it’s nothing serious first.
Get a clear next step
What to do now, plus a note you can show any doctor.
Sore throat in New York City: what to know first.
Viruses cause most sore throats, like colds, flu, COVID and mono, and those resolve on their own within about a week. Strep throat is the important exception: sudden severe pain, fever, swollen neck glands, white patches on the tonsils, and no cough. Strep needs a test.
trouble breathing; trouble swallowing your own saliva
A rapid strep test takes minutes at a clinic or pharmacy.
Pymander is a medical AI, not a licensed doctor. It can’t diagnose you or prescribe. Read more: Sore throat guide · Strep throat guide
Not sure where to go?
New symptoms, medicines, and “is this normal?” questions. Free, any hour.
When you need to be seen today, like for stitches, a sprain, or a strep test.
Chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, or severe bleeding. In a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Low-cost care in New York City.
Text us first, then use the city’s own options if you need to be seen in person.
A city program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services through NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who can’t get or afford insurance. It is not an insurance plan. nyccare.nyc
Care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay, with a sliding fee scale and financial assistance. Financial assistance
See a provider by video any hour, any day, if you are in New York State. Walk-in centers are also listed. expresscare.nyc
Call or text 988 any hour for free, confidential mental health and substance use support. Emergency: call 911.
Pymander is a medical AI, not a licensed doctor. It can’t book you into these programs. It can help you work out how urgent something is and which of them fits. Program details are from the city’s sites and can change, so check them before you go.
Sore throat in New York City
Can I get help with sore throat in New York City without insurance?
Yes. Text (689) 528-6964 any time and Pymander, a free medical AI, will ask a few questions and tell you how urgent it looks. You can text Pymander for free without insurance. If you need to be seen in person, NYC Care guarantees low-cost and no-cost services through NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who can’t get or afford insurance.
Is Pymander a real doctor?
No. Pymander is a medical AI system, not a licensed doctor. It helps you understand what’s going on and tells you when to see a person.
Where should I go in New York City if it might be an emergency?
Call 911 or go to the nearest ER. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.