You have a variety of options when it comes to receiving care. Understanding those options, keeping yourself well after a procedure or treatment, and determining how to make the right care choice for your situation may save you time and money. Use this form to save time and make the most out of your next provider visit.
*Costs, prior approval requirements and benefits will vary depending on your plan. Login to the
Member Resource Center to check your plan-specific benefits.
In most non-emergency cases, call your provider's office when you need care—even after-office hours.
Care options when it's not an emergency
| Primary Care Provider | Telemedicine |
|---|---|
| For most urgent care and common health issues during office hours. | Visit with a provider virtually via phone, video or other technologies. |
| $$ Average Costs* | $-$$ |
Image  Image Average Wait Time | Image Average Wait Time |
Examples:
| Examples:
|
When you need immediate attention
| Urgent Care | Emergency Room |
|---|---|
| When you have a condition or illness that is not an emergency, but still needs quick attention. | Life-threatening problems that need care right away. Go to the nearest doctor, emergency room or call 9-1-1. |
| $$$ Average Costs* | $$$$ |
Image Image Average Wait Time | Image Image Image Image Average Wait Time |
Examples:
| Examples:
|
Determining your level of care
Primary Care Provider
- Call your provider’s office unless you think you have an Emergency (see below).
- Your provider, or a provider who is covering, can often help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Keep your provider’s phone number handy in case you get sick or hurt after regular clinic hours.
- Ask your provider if you should call about care for an urgent condition when the office is closed.
Telemedicine
- You can use your computer, tablet or smart phone to connect to a provider 24/7.
- You don’t have to go to an office. The connection is live and protects your privacy.
- We have a partnership with American Well (Amwell)*, a nationally acclaimed telemedicine vendor.
Urgent Services
- Urgent Care provides services for a condition, illness or pain that a person with average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably think might get more serious and cause serious harm if not treated within 24 hours.
- Consider Urgent Care if your Primary Care Provider’s office is closed but you do not think you have an Emergency.
Emergency Medical Condition
- An Emergency Medical Condition is any medical condition that has really bad symptoms (including severe pain) that a person with average knowledge of health and medicine could expect to cause serious harm in the absence of immediate medical care.
- This includes pain, illness and injuries that could affect the whole body, any body part or organ.
- For a pregnant woman, this includes pain, illness or injury that could seriously affect her or her unborn child.
*By clicking on this link you will leave the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont website. American Well® is solely responsible for its services and site content, as well as the conditions, terms of use and privacy policies that govern its site.
Last Update: September 2019