Choosing Health Care Options That Work For You

It's important to know where to go when you need medical care.

Sometimes it's clear and at other times, it's not so clear. While the answer is not always simple, knowing your options and deciding where to go can mean the difference in costs and time. The main thing is to be prepared before you go and make sure ahead of time you will be covered by your plan's network.

Use the Health Care Options chart below to help you decide where to go based on your health care need:

WHERE TO GO WHEN IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCYWhere To Go When It's NOT an Emergency Chart

WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION Where To Go When You Need Immediate Attention]

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?

Life happens. One minute you’re making dinner and the next you slice your finger. Luckily, your health care coverage puts you in control of your care – and your costs. You have choices when it comes to choosing care. Just because your finger is hurt doesn’t mean you need to go to the emergency room (ER). And in some cases, if you do go to the ER, your visit isn’t covered. This means you could end up paying part or all of the bill. Knowing what is – and isn’t – an emergency can help you plan for the unexpected.
When to use the ER
* Medical Practice Pulse Report 2009, Press Ganey Associates ** Urgent Care Benchmarking Study Results. Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. January 2012. † Emergency Department Pulse Report 2010 Patient Perspectives on American Health Care. Press Ganey Associates. http://www.pressganey.com/Documents_secure/Pulse%20Reports/2010_ED_Pulse_Report.pdf?viewFile (Accessed February 2014).
 1 Internet/Wi-Fi connection is needed for computer access. Data charges may apply when using a tablet or smartphone. Check phone carrier's plan for details. Non-emergency medical service is limited to interactive-audio (phone only) consultations, along with the ability to prescribe in Texas. Non-emergency medical service in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Oklahoma is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe. Behavioral Health service is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe in all states. Virtual Visits currently are not available in Arkansas. Service availability depends on location at the time of consultation.