Don't Waste Your Money— Find Out Where to Go for Medical Care
Healthcare expenses are a huge concern for many Americans. They hope they don’t face an unexpected illness or injury – not only because of the health risks – but because they might not be able to afford it.
The amount of money Americans spend on healthcare each year is astonishing. By the year 2027, the amount is projected to be 6 trillion dollars. (1) Not knowing the best place to go for medical care is a large part of the problem.
Unfortunately, two-thirds of visits to the emergency room are for non-emergencies. (2) It's a small mistake that comes with a big price tag. Education is the key here!
The Problem With Going to the ER for Basic Primary Care
The physicians, staff, and resources in emergency rooms literally save lives. However, there are problems for ER staff (and patients) when individuals come to the ER for issues that are better fit for primary care providers.
A primary care provider (PCP) is a health care practitioner (such as a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner) who handles common medical problems. They serve as a first resource for non-emergency health care needs, such as allergies, cuts, broken bones, rashes, the flu, etc. Primary care providers are also involved with patients’ care for the long-term and provide ongoing support.
The trouble is, many people aren’t aware of primary care, or it isn’t easily accessible to them. So when a medical problem comes up, they go to the ER to play it safe (even if it’s not a true emergency).
Here’s an example of the financial damage that can happen in these situations. Let’s say you go to the emergency room for a something you know isn’t life-threatening, but you want to get taken care of ASAP. The ER professionals do the standard vital checks, run some tests, and ask you to follow up with a family doctor or specialist.
But, several weeks later, you receive an unwelcome surprise in the mail. Or even worse, two or three not-so-pleasant surprises. A bill for the lab tests, a bill from the medical provider who saw you, and a bill from the hospital. THOUSANDS of dollars in medical bills. To top it off, you had no idea until opening your bill that the doctor you saw was out-of-network, so there’s additional costs to you.
Emergency Room Visits are Expensive and Often Can Be Avoided
According to a UnitedHealth Group study, in the US, emergency rooms charge 10 times more than urgent care facilities, and 12 times more than primary care physicians. (3) The cost of your care really depends on where you go.
Average Cost of a Medical Visit
Primary Care Physician Visit: $150
Urgent Care Visit: $180
ER Visit: $1,800
Keep in mind that 18 million of the 27 million emergency room visits each year aren’t considered emergencies. If these patients had first gone to a primary care provider or urgent care center, much of these large costs could have been avoided. Choosing the right place to go for medical treatment can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The Reasons Behind The High Costs for Emergency Room Bills
While you may not agree with the high cost of your ER bill, there is an explanation for it. Here are a few factors that make it easier to understand why the ER is so expensive.
Facility Fee: This is literally a fee you pay for walking through the doors of the ER. These fees vary and are usually coded on a scale from 1-5 depending upon the seriousness of the medical care you’re seeking.
24/7 Availability: Your emergency room most likely charges a fee for around-the-clock availability for medical care. They are charging you for the convenience of staff, life-saving technology, medications, and supplies on hand.
Out-of-Network Providers: Some doctors you see in the ER may not be covered by your insurance network. You often won’t discover this until the bill hits your mailbox.
Emergency Medical Services are a very crucial part of our medical system. There is no doubt that lives are saved in emergency rooms because of the trained professionals and technology available there. The waste comes when people use the emergency department for non-emergencies or non-life-threatening medical needs.
Examples of medical situations that the ER IS intended for:
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack, including chest pain and shortness of breath
Signs of a stroke, such as one-sided weakness or facial drooping
Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions)
Breathing problems
Head injuries
Poisoning or overdose
Traumatic injuries from an accident or fall
Unexplained bleeding
For non-emergency situations, a telemedicine provider can often quickly guide you to the care you need. Learn more about the benefits of telemedicine here.
Alive & Well Primary Care — Keeping Your Healthcare Costs Low
At Alive & Well, we offer a better approach to healthCARE (with an emphasis on the CARE). Our friendly primary care providers are available to members via call on our 24/7 Medical HelpLine. We also offer house calls and in-person visits to employees of small and midsize businesses as a healthcare benefit.
We make primary care more affordable and accessible. This helps you avoid the stress of not knowing where to go for your medical care or incurring unnecessary costs.
We are your first point of contact for non-emergency medical needs. We routinely help our members with issues such as:
Allergies
Back and neck pain
Broken bones
Cuts
Chronic condition management
Ear, nose, sinus, and throat infections
Fatigue
Joint pain
New prescriptions and refills
Rashes
Mental health resources
Referrals to other medical services at the best prices
About 80% of the time, we can take care of our member’s medical needs right over the phone. Many needs are handled in minutes, such as ordering a prescription or giving general medical advice. That’s the beauty of telemedicine!
But unlike other doctor-on-the-phone companies, we also serve as your “guide in the healthcare wilderness.” We routinely follow up with you to make sure you’re on the path to feeling your best!
That means, if you contact us about something that calls for a specialist (like a dermatologist or a heart doctor) our work doesn’t stop there. We can often use our networks to get you to the right doctor faster, and with cash-pay discounts.
With Alive & Well, you don't feel alone. You can rest assured that we’ll help you determine where to go for medical care depending on your condition and symptoms. We help you get the healthCARE you need — without wasting your money.
Alive & Well memberships are a rewarding and cost-effective health benefit – perfect for small businesses that want to take better care of their employees. If you're a business owner and do you want to see if Alive & Well is a good fit for you, learn more about Alive & Well here.
(1) NHE Fact Sheet 2021, CMS.gov.
(2)Joseph Wiliams, “‘Avoidable’ ER Visits Fuel Health Care Costs” July 2019 U.S. News
(3) “The High Cost of Avoidable Hospital Emergency Department Visits” July 2019, United Health Group