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Choosing Health Care Options

Knowing your options when you need care could save you time and money. Whether you have a stuffy nose or a broken bone, understand your health care options and when you should use them 

What Are Your Options?

Instead of going straight to the emergency room (ER), know your other options when you need care Your primary care provider (PCP) should be your first stop for help. You might have other services, like Virtual Visits, offering affordable care 24/7.

When you visit doctors covered by your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana health insurance, you may pay less.

Find In-Network Doctors
 

Primary Care

Visiting your PCP could help you save the most money when you need medical help.

  • Pay $0 for preventive services like annual check-ups, emotional wellbeing screenings and vaccines
  • You'll talk to the person who knows you and your medical history
  • You may want to schedule an appointment for health concerns like fever, colds or allergies, sore throat, stomach ache or sleep problems

You may only have to wait 20 minutes or less for care. Using an in-network doctor helps keep costs low.

Know the benefits of visiting your doctor.

Virtual Visit

Scheduling a virtual visit could help you save time and money. Normally, you'll be able to meet with a doctor in less than 20 minutes. With BCBSMT's virtual visit benefits, you can:

  • Easily meet with a doctor by phone, video or mobile app for non-emergency medical and behavioral health care1-2
  • Connect with an MDLIVE doctor for virtual care
  • Have an appointment with a doctor 24/7
  • Quickly get help for health concerns like an itchy rash, cold or flu, fevers or minor injuries

Your doctor may have more telehealth options beyond your BCBSMT benefits. Check with them for virtual care services.

Learn about and how to get virtual care.

Retail Clinic

You can find retail clinics, also known as walk-in clinics, inside many stores or pharmacies.

  • Retail clinics offer non-emergency care that's easy to access when you can't schedule an appointment with your doctor3
  • Clinic hours are based on retail store hours
  • You can rely on retail clinics for common health concerns like minor infections, vaccinations, minor injuries or sore throat

Search for in-network retail clinics.

Urgent Care

Urgent care clinics can be more expensive than some other care options, and the wait may be longer than with your PCP or virtual care. Urgent care centers:

  • Can help when you need immediate attention for non-emergency health concerns
  • Normally offer evening, weekend and holiday hours
  • Provide help for concerns like cuts that need stitches, migraines, back pain, sprains, strain, animal bites or asthma

If you don't have access to an urgent care center, you can use MDLIVE as an urgent care alternative.

Search for in-network urgent care centers.

Emergency Room

Emergency rooms are typically the most expensive way to get care when you need help.

  • You should only visit emergency rooms if you're experiencing extreme or life-threatening symptoms
  • Emergency rooms are open 24 hours, 7 days a week
  • Visit an emergency room for symptoms like heart problems, chest pain, stroke symptoms, breathing problems, heavy bleeding, broken bones or sudden, severe pain

You may have to wait an hour or more. Even if you use an in-network ER, you can expect a higher bill for care.

Understand what is an emergency.

 

1 Internet/Wi-Fi connection is needed for computer access. Data charges may apply. Check your cellular data or internet service provider’s plan for details. Non-emergency medical service in Idaho, Montana and New Mexico is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe. Non-emergency medical service in Arkansas is limited to interactive audio/video (video only) for initial consultation, along with the ability to prescribe. Behavioral Health service is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe in all states. Service availability depends on location at the time of consultation.

2 Virtual Visits, Powered by MDLIVE may not be available on all plans. Virtual Visits are subject to the terms and conditions of your benefit plan, including benefits, limitations, and exclusions. MDLIVE operates subject to state regulations and may not be available in certain states. MDLIVE is not an insurance product nor a prescription fulfillment warehouse. MDLIVE does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. MDLIVE does not prescribe DEA-controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs that may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. MDLIVE physicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services.

MDLIVE operates and administers the virtual visit program and is solely responsible for its operations and that of its contracted providers. MDLIVE and the MDLIVE logo are registered trademarks of MDLIVE, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Blue Cross®, Blue Shield® and the Cross and Shield symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

3 Visiting a Retail Clinic may not be covered with all plans. Check your benefits booklet for details.