Options for Care
Get care when you need it
It's important to know where to go when you need medical care. Knowing your options and deciding where to go can make a big difference in how much you pay. Be prepared before you go and make sure ahead of time that the place you go to for care is in-network.
Medical Virtual Visits
Get non-emergency medical care when you need it, by phone, video or mobile app
Example Symptoms
- Allergies
- Bladder & Urinary Tract Infection
- Bronchitis
- Cold and flu
- Headache
- Nausea
- Pink eye
- Sore throat
- Rash
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Doctor's Office
Your doctor knows your medical history and can treat you, and refer you to specialists
Example Symptoms
- Fever
- Cold and flu
- Sore throat
- Minor burns
- Stomach ache
- Ear or sinus pain
- Physical
- Shots
- Flu shots
- Minor allergic reactions
Office hours may vary
Retail Health Clinic
Convenient, low-cost treatment for minor medical problems
Example Symptoms
- Infections
- Cold and flu
- Minor injuries or pain
- Shots
- Flu shots
- Sore throat
- Skin problems
- Allergies
Hours based on retail store hours
Urgent Care Provider
Immediate, non-emergency care
Example Symptoms
- Migraines or headaches
- Cuts that need stitches
- Abdominal pain
- Sprains or strains
- Bladder & urinary tract infection
- Animal bites
- Back pain
Generally includes evening, weekend and holiday hours
Hospital Emergency Room
For life-threatening or disabling symptoms
Example Symptoms
- Chest pain
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Head or neck injuries
- Sudden or severe pain
- Fainting, dizziness, weakness
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Problem breathing
- Broken bones
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Freestanding Emergency Room
For life-threatening symptoms as a last resort if no in-network hospital ER is available as bills can be higher.
You may still need to be sent to a hospital for emergency care
Example Symptoms
- Chest pain
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Head or neck injuries
- Sudden or severe pain
- Fainting, dizziness, weakness
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Problem breathing
- Broken bones
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
* In the event of a true emergency, go to the nearest emergency room.
1 Your copay for Virtual Visits services may be as low as $0. For in-network virtual visit providers, HealthSelect of Texas®, HealthSelectSM Out-of-State and HealthSelectSM Secondary participants have a $0 copay. Consumer Directed HealthSelectSM participants will have to meet their plan’s annual deductible and then the applicable coinsurance for Virtual Visits.
2 Medical Practice Pulse Report 2009, Press Ganey Associates
3 Urgent Care Benchmarking Study Results. Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, January 2012.
4 Emergency Department Pulse Report 2010 Patient Perspectives on American Health Care. Press Ganey Associates.
5 Texas Association of Health Plans, www.tahp.org
Note: The relative costs described here are for independently contracted network providers. Your costs for out-of-network providers may be significantly higher. Wait times described are just estimates. The information provided on this page is not intended as medical advice, nor meant to be a substitute for the individual medical judgment of a doctor or other health care professional. Please check with your doctor for individualized advice on the information provided. Coverage may vary depending on your HealthSelect plan’s benefits and the use of network providers. This information is intended solely as a general guide to what services may be available. The actual availability of services may vary greatly from location to location. If you have questions about any health concern, you should discuss them with your health care provider.
For questions, please call a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant at (800) 252-8039 (TTY: 711). If you need emergency care, call 911 or seek help from any doctor or hospital immediately.