Knowing where to go for care can keep you in the game

August 02, 2023

Just because an injury isn’t life threatening doesn’t mean that it can’t still slow you down. But what do you do when you’re hurt but aren’t sure of the kind of care you need?

HealthSelect^SM medical plan participants have many options for where they get care. Knowing your options and deciding where to go can make a big difference in how much you pay.

Read on to learn how Bethany, a HealthSelect participant, decided where to get the care she needed.

Don’t get sidelined by high health care costs

Bethany played soccer in college so when some of her friends invited her to join a recreational league, she jumped at the chance.

Even though she hadn’t played much recently, everything seemed to come back to her when she stepped onto the field for her team’s first match. Bethany was thrilled with how well she was playing, but after a slight misstep early in the second half, she found herself on the bench with a bag of ice on her ankle.

Her excitement with her team’s victory was slightly dampened by her injury but based on her experience in college, she wasn’t really alarmed.

The next morning, however, Bethany’s ankle looked much worse and she could barely walk. Her partner offered to drive her to an urgent care clinic, but the last time she’d visited an urgent care clinic, the bill was higher than she expected so she hesitated.

Then she remembered that HealthSelect participants have access to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) 24/7 Nurseline. You can reach the 24/7 Nurseline by calling (800) 581-0368 (TTY: 711).

After explaining her injury, the nurse reminded Bethany of the RICE acronym for treating sprains—rest, ice, compression, elevation—but recommended she still reach out to her primary care provider (PCP) because of her previous injury.

Bethany was relieved she wasn’t directed to go to urgent care. As an established patient, she was able to schedule an appointment with her PCP right away. Her PCP confirmed it was just a sprain and not something more serious. She gave Bethany a referral to see a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist.

By calling the 24/7 Nurseline and seeing her PCP instead of going to urgent care, Bethany was able to get the best level of care for her injury and keep her health care costs low. And, thanks to the referral, she was able to see the right kind of specialist to help keep her past injuries from slowing her down.

24/7 Nurseline is there to help

Don’t let an expensive emergency room or urgent care visit sideline you. When you don’t know where to go for care, the BCBSTX 24/7 Nurseline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (800) 581-0368 (TTY: 711). For more information, visit the Options for Care page on the HealthSelect website.

If you have questions about your HealthSelect medical plan benefits or need help finding an in-network health care provider, call a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant toll-free at (800) 252-8039 (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT. Secure chat and secure messaging are also available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT, when you log in to Blue Access for Members^SM.