Know Your In-Network Options

Knowing where to go for health care could lower the time and money you spend on doctor visits. Whether you have a stuffy nose or a broken bone, know your options and when you should use them.

An illustration showing some care options with road signs. The title reads "Here's your sign to save time and save money." A road sign reading "Emergency" with three dollar signs points to an Emergency Room building. A road sign reading "Urgent Care" with two dollar signs points the opposite direction.

Primary Care

Low Costs, Personal Care

If you have a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Point of Service (POS) plan, visiting your primary care provider (PCP) is often your lowest cost option for general or preventive health care. With your PCP, sometimes known as your family doctor, you can expect:

Care for moderately severe symptoms
Moderate wait times
Low costs

Don't have a PCP or want to find a new doctor? Search your in-network options through your member account or as a guest.

Find a Doctor

When To Make an Appointment

Annual exams or physicals, vaccines, and flu or COVID-19 shots
When you have a minor illness or injury
To get help for a persisting chronic illness

What Your PCP Can Help With

Preventive services, screenings and tests
Sore throat, cough or cold and flu symptoms
Back or muscle pain
Minor fevers
Bumps, scratches or rashes
Respiratory infections

A road sign reading "Minor Headache: Virtual Visit" with one dollar sign points to a hand holding a cellphone with a doctor on screen via video call.

Virtual Care

Expert Advice With Less Waiting

Depending on your plan, you may have virtual care as a covered benefit. For example, many individual or family plans include Virtual Visits, powered by MDLIVE^®. With Virtual Visits, you can meet with a board-certified doctor 24/7 from your phone or computer.¹ When you use virtual care, expect:

Care for low severity symptoms
Low wait times
Moderate costs

Learn more about some of the virtual care options offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois plans.²

Explore Virtual Care

When To Plan a Virtual Visit

For minor injuries or illnesses that happen after your doctor's office hours
For help with common health concerns or behavioral health
To meet with a doctor when you're traveling or away from home

What Virtual Care Can Help With

Sore throat, cough or cold and flu symptoms
Back or muscle pain
Minor fevers
Bumps, scratches or rashes
Respiratory infections
Minor allergic reactions

Urgent Care

Great Care at Flexible Hours

Urgent care, sometimes called prompt care, can help with non-emergency situations when you can't make it to your PCP. You may have to pay more, but they're often open later hours and accept walk-in patients:

Care for moderately severe symptoms
Moderate wait times
Moderate costs

To find urgent care centers in your network, search^® our Provider Finder tool.

Find Urgent Care

When To Visit Urgent Care

When you need help over the weekend or after hours when your doctor's office isn't open
When you want a walk-in option for an immediate medical concern
When you think you may need X-rays or stitches

What Urgent Care Can Help With

Sprains, strains and minor fractures
Cuts that may require stitches
Pneumonia or cold and flu symptoms
Non-emergency allergic reactions
Minor burns

Emergency Room

Limited Use for Severe Cases

Emergency rooms (ERs) are normally the most expensive way to get care when you need help. You should only visit the ER when you have a severe or life-threatening medical emergency. This applies for both ERs in hospitals and free-standing ERs, or FSERs. When you visit an ER, you can expect:

Care for high severity symptoms
High wait times
High costs

Before traveling to the ER, understand what is an emergency and what isn't.

Know What's an Emergency

When To Visit the ER

The ER should only be used in life-threatening situations. Visiting the ER when you could count on another care option will cost you money and time. Visit the ER when you're experiencing:

Signs of a heart attack, like chest pain or shortness of breath
Signs of a stroke, like confusion, stumbling or facial droop
To get X-rays, stitches or wound dressings for severe injuries

What the ER Can Help With

Stroke-like symptoms
Severe bleeding or injury
Chest pain or trouble breathing
Severe stomach pains

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.