Where to go for care

Sometimes it’s easy to know where you should go for care. At other times, it’s less clear. Use the chart below to help you figure out when to use each type of care.

You usually pay less for your family’s healthcare when you use in-network providers. Search for in-network providers in your area by visiting your medical insurance provider’s website or by calling the customer service number on the back of your member ID card.

As long as you are not facing a medical emergency, remember you can utilize telehealth options. This is a great resource to possibly help diagnose symptoms and determine where you need to go for follow-up care.

Virtual visits	Available 24/7 Access to care for non-emergency medical issues	$
Doctor's office	Generally the best place to go for non-emergency care Best knowledge of your medical history Average wait time is 24 minutes	$
Retail health clinic	Usually lower out-of-pocket cost than urgent care Access to care for minor medical issues Often located in stores and pharmacies to provide convenient and low-cost treatment	$
Urgent care provider	Typically open evenings, weekends, and holidays Often used when your doctor’s office is closed and there is no true emergency Average wait time is 11-20 minutes	$
Hospital emergency room (ER)	Open 24/7 Average wait time is four hours If you receive care from an out-of-network provider, even if you are at an in-network hospital, you may have to pay more Multiple bills for services such as doctor(s) and facility	$$

Click to return to main page.

Main page