Knowing where to go when you are sick or injured can keep money in your pocket and save you valuable time. In an emergency situation, you should always go to your nearest provider. However, you have several in-network options in a non-emergency health situation, since care in a hospital Emergency Department is the most expensive care option.
Be sure your health situation is an emergency before you go to a hospital Emergency Department for care. Non-emergent visits to the Emergency Department may not be completely covered by your plan and could result in expensive out-of-pocket charges. Health concerns such as ear pain, throat pain, colds/flu and rashes are often best treated by your doctor.
For non-emergency illness or injury:
Step 1: Call your doctor’s office. For a complete list of doctors in the Optima Health network,
visit our Web site at www.optimahealth.com.
Step 2: If your doctor’s office is closed, call the Care Coordination Program/After Hours Nurse Advice Line at 1-877-817-3037. This free call is your link to a licensed nurse who can assist you in determining your immediate next steps for care. If this call recommends seeking care other than your doctor’s office when it re-opens, then consider steps 3 and 4.
Step 3: Urgent Care Centers may meet your needs and are usually a less expensive and faster option for treatment than a hospital Emergency Department.
Step 4: Hospital Emergency Departments are the most expensive treatment options and often require longer waiting times in non-life threatening situations. If you choose to go to an Emergency Department, knowing which hospitals participate with Optima Health, shown on back of this page, can save you money.