There are many options for receiving medical care in an urgent situation. The costs for each can vary widely. Not realizing this in advance, people sometimes get blindsided by bills.
Let’s look at the different ways to receive care and the associated costs:
- In the doctor’s office – You will typically be charged for seeing your doctor (called the professional fee), with an additional bill for any lab work or x-rays.
- In a walk in clinic – Again, you will typically be charged for seeing the doctor, with additional charges for lab and x-ray.
- In an urgent care facility not affiliated with a hospital – You will typically be charged like seeing your doctor, or going to the walk-in clinic, as noted above.
- In an urgent care facility affiliated with a hospital – You’ll get an additional bill when going to an urgent care facility that is part of a hospital. They call this charge a facility fee and it can add an additional $400 or more to your bill.
- At the emergency room – You’ll pay the most when seeking care at an emergency room. While you’ll be charged for the doctor to see you, plus lab and x-ray, you’ll also be charged the facility fee of $400 or more. Plus your plan will require you to pay more of the bill. Most insurance plans include a higher emergency room co-pay, not the lower doctor visit co-pay.
It’s a good idea to have a list of urgent care options available at your fingertips should you ever need to use them. By doing your research in advance you can be deliberate about the most cost-effective way to receive care. This will make your decision-making easier during a stress-filled situation when money will be the least of your worries.
For more information, contact author Sandy Wood or call 800.789.5011. GHB Insurance, the broker for the products in the Thurston County Chamber’s Benefits Trust, is located at 556 Lilly Road SE in Olympia.
