Health insurance can be a tricky thing to understand and to make the most of. It costs money each money, your appointments cost money, your medications cost money and any tests done cost money. Eventually, you hope to reach your deductible each year so that things get a little bit cheaper when you?re sick or injured. It can be difficult to find out the best way to utilize your health insurance so that you get the most benefits for the least amount of cost to you whether that be money, time or energy spent trying to get your injury or illness resolved.
You probably think making an appointment at your normal doctor?s office is the best way to address any illness or injury, whether you have been sick or injured for a while or it is a completely unexpected issue that needs to be addressed. That is not always the case, though. Heading to the emergency room for an illness or injury might be the last thing you want to do, as well. You know the lines will be long making the wait time unbearable. The costs could be astronomical, too, depending on your health insurance.
Have you ever considered, instead, finding a different urgent care clinic and heading to one that meets your needs? This option might be the most beneficial for you in regards to time spend waiting, money spent and getting your illness or injury resolved so that you can keep living your life. Keep reading for three reasons why urgent care facilities are a great option for health care.
1. After hours urgent care clinic
Unlike the regular doctor?s office, you can find an urgent care location that is open when you need it most. For instance, it is not difficult to find an urgent care that is open seven days a week. About 85 percent of all urgent care locations are open every day of the week. That means you do not have to worry anymore if you come down with an illness over the weekend or suddenly get injured. You do not have to wait until Monday to check and see when your doctor?s next available appointment is.
Additionally, you can find urgent care locations that are open at all hours of the day. The doctor does not check out at 5 p.m. at the end of the work day. If you get sick at night, an urgent care facility can still help you.
2. Increasing number of doctors available at an urgent care clinic
The emergency room can be a stressful place to visit. Patients, doctors and nurses are running around trying to help everyone as fast as possible. There never seems to be enough doctors and nurses, though. The same can be said for your doctor?s office. Usually, there is only one doctor to choose from. In the United States, there are over 20,000 physicians that practice urgent care medicine. This means shorter wait times for the same type of appointment. You can still see a doctor when you visit your urgent care.
3. Resolve injuries and illnesses just like your doctor
Urgent care facilities are equipped to handle the same types of illnesses and injuries as the doctor?s office. In fact, when it comes to fracture care, four out of 5 urgent cares can address this injury. Since 25,000 Americans are reported to sprain their ankle every day, it is important to know that an urgent care facility may be the best place for you to head to get it checked out.
You can also head to an urgent care for any number of illnesses like upper respiratory conditions, the flu and a cold.
The Urgent Care Association of America reports that each week, 3 million Americans visit an urgent care facility. Next time you are sick or are injured, do not rush off to the emergency room or scramble to make an appointment with your doctor. It is likely that there is an urgent care facility nearby that can address the issue and help you out.
Have you ever visited an urgent care clinic? Let us know in the comments how your experience was at your urgent care.
