Meeting one to one with a client whether it is to discuss Health Insurance, Group Health Insurance, or Medicare Insurance, one thing that is always discussed is regarding the use of emergency rooms.
Many insurance companies have started to really crack down on the use of the ER for what could have been treated using your Primary Care Physician. They may still cover the visit, however, your out of pocket costs could be much higher for common medical conditions such as a cold, flu, rashes, and eye conditions such as conjunctivitis.
Because of this, I thought it would be helpful to share some alternatives to the emergency room. Of course, if you feel like you may be having a heart attack, having stroke like symptoms, or anything where your life is threatened, head to your closest emergency room immediately.
One thing that always happens and always come up in conversation is that a patient may not be able to get into their primary care provider right away. It may be the week-end or there may be a wait to be able to get in to see your physician. If this happens, the emergency room isn’t always your first choice.
Depending on your health insurance plan, you may be able to do a virtual visit. These visits are done using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. This can allow the patient to be able to get care without having to leave their home.
Your health insurance plan may also have something called Doctor on Demand. This is usually an app through your insurance company where members can receive treatment for common medical conditions such as a UTI. Prescriptions can also be prescribed with this feature.
You can also use either a Urgent Care facility or a Convenience Care clinic. As opposed to the emergency room, the wait time for these types of facilites is next to nothing.
They also save you considerably in your out of pocket costs. In fact, using an urgent care facility on average is less than 50% or more than the cost of an emergency room.
It’s always beneficial to make sure any facility or doctor you visit is in the network of your plan.
When it comes to your healthcare, it’s important to know your plan and do research on it. Be your own advocate is something we tell our clients all the time.
It’s also important to keep as much of your hard earned money in your pocket as opposed to either an emergency room or an insurance company.
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurancCare is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.