Emergency Rooms Versus Immediate Care

Few things in life are scarier than a sudden illness or injury. The situation grows even scarier if the accident or illness strikes outside of business hours when it’s impossible to see your regular physician. It can be easy to panic in these situations, but staying calm is critical to getting the best possible care. You’ll need to choose between visiting the emergency room or an immediate care facility quickly. Read on for some tips on choosing between these two options so that when the time comes, you’ll know what to do.
Evaluate the Options
Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to deal with life-threatening emergencies. Once your condition is stabilized, you’ll likely be released into the care of your regular physician. Many insurance plans will cover a portion of emergency care, but you will likely still have a deductible or co-payment for the visit. It’s crucial to keep in mind that many health plans won’t pay for ER visits if they determine the cause to not be a “true emergency.” While this shouldn’t dissuade you from going to the ER, it is something to consider when weighing your options.