Where to go for Care

Sometimes it's easy to know where to get care, but not always. The information below can help you decide where you choose to go will also affect how much you have to pay.

For medical emergencies, call 911 or your local emergency services first.

	Primary Provider's Office	Retail Health Clinic*	Urgent Care Provider*	Emergency Room (ER)
Hours	Office hours vary	Similar to retail store hours	Generally include evenings, weekends and holidays	24 hours, seven days a week
Your Relative Cost	Usually lowest out-of-pocket cost	Usually lowest out-of-pocket cost	Usually lower out-of-pocket cost than an ER visit	Highest out-of-pocket cost
Description	Your physician's office is generally the best place to go for non-emergency care.	Walk-in clinics are often located in stores and pharmacies to provide convenient, low-cost treatment for minor medical problems.	Urgent care providers can offer care when your physician is not available or you don't need the level of care an emergency room provides.	ERs treat serious illnesses and injuries.
Common Uses	General health issues Health and annual exams Vaccinations Treat the flu and colds Minor aches and pains	Common illnesses such as pink eye, strep throat Minor wounds, abrasions and skin conditions, such as poison ivy	Stomach pain Minor falls and cuts Urinary tract infections Household accidents Sprains and strains	Major lacerations Broken bones Heart attack

• Primary Provider's Office

  Hours:
  Office hours vary

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  Your Relative Cost:
  Usually lowest out-of-pocket cost

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  Description:
  Your physician's office is generally the best place to go for non-emergency care.

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  Common Uses:
  

  • General health issues
  • Health and annual exams
  • Vaccinations
  • Treat the flu and colds
  • Minor aches and pains

• Retail Health Clinic^* e.g. MinuteClinic (CVS)

  Hours:
  Similar to retail store hours

  ---

  Your Relative Cost:
  Usually lowest out-of-pocket cost

  ---

  Description:
  Walk-in clinics are often located in stores and pharmacies to provide convenient, low-cost treatment for minor medical problems.

  ---

  Common Uses:
  

  • Common illnesses such as pink eye, strep throat
  • Minor wounds, abrasions and skin conditions, such as poison ivy

• Urgent Care Provider^*

  Hours:
  Generally include evenings, weekends and holidays

  ---

  Your Relative Cost:
  Usually lower out-of-pocket cost than an ER visit

  ---

  Description:
  Urgent care providers can offer care when your physician is not available or you don't need the level of care an emergency room provides.

  ---

  Common Uses:
  

  • Stomach pain
  • Minor falls and cuts
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Household accidents
  • Sprains and strains

• Emergency Room (ER)

  Hours:
  24 hours, seven days a week

  ---

  Your Relative Cost:
  Highest out-of-pocket cost

  ---

  Description:
  ERs treat serious illnesses and injuries.

  ---

  Common Uses:
  

  • Major lacerations
  • Broken bones
  • Heart attack