Where to receive care?

Best places to go for health care

No one expects to get sick or plans on having an accident or surgery.

We're often faced with uncertainty about where to go for care, especially if the symptoms are severe and our primary care doctor's office is closed.

Emergency – don't hesitate. Go to the emergency room or call 911.

Doctor's Office

Your family doctor should be your first choice for non-emergency events. If you don't have a family doctor, you need to find one.

Having a family doctor, and a good relationship with your doctor, is critical for your health.

You need to find someone you feel comfortable having honest conversations with, someone you can trust to advise you on your health needs.

• Don't hesitate to contact your family doctor when you're in urgent need. It's one of the benefits of having a doctor who knows you.

Your doctor may not always be available to help, but at the least you can get advice on what to do next.

• Call your plan's nurse hotline for advice (most plans provide this as a free 24-hour service).

Virtual Care

Many insurance plans now cover video or phone visits with a doctor or nurse practitioner, often for a lower copay than an in-person visit. Many are available around the clock.

♦ It's a good option for things like rashes, colds, pink eye and urinary tract infections, especially when your doctor's office is closed. Check your plan's website or app to see what's covered.

Walk-in Clinics

These are small clinics located in retail stores, supermarkets and pharmacies. They're usually staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

♦ They're best used for a simple health condition that needs immediate medical attention. At walk-in clinics, you can get treatment for minor illnesses and preventive services like vaccinations and health screenings.

The best-known is MinuteClinic inside CVS stores, with more than 1,100 locations. Kroger also runs The Little Clinic in some of its supermarkets.

♦ Retail clinics have had a rough few years. Walmart closed all its health clinics in 2024, and Walgreens has closed many of its in-store clinics too. Even MinuteClinic has shut dozens of locations. Check that your local clinic is still open before you go.

Most will accept major insurance, but they may not accept all the various plans.

• Walk-in clinics grew because of convenience and affordability. They don't require an appointment. They're conveniently located and open evenings and weekends. But many have proved hard to run at a profit.

One reason people choose walk-in clinics is the difficulty of getting an appointment at their regular doctor's office. And when they do get an appointment, they're usually faced with long wait times.

♦ Most walk-in clinics are staffed by licensed nurse practitioners, and some by physician assistants. They have the training and authority to diagnose basic illnesses and prescribe medication.

They may not have the training or skill to diagnose more complicated issues. This has been a concern raised by some physicians.

• Some would argue that physician assistants are common now, even in primary care doctors' offices. In these settings, the assistants can easily consult with the primary care doctor. So the situation is a little different at the doctor's office.

Still, when was the last time your doctor actually gave you that flu shot?

Keep in mind walk-in clinics may not have access to your health records. Be prepared to explain any health conditions you have and any prescriptions you're taking.

♦ Don't be afraid of angering your primary care physician by using a walk-in clinic. Just be sure to keep your doctor informed.

Ask the clinic to send a report to your primary care doctor, so your physician knows what was wrong and how you were treated.

Walk-in clinics are convenient, and they fill a need.

Urgent Care Clinic

Urgent care clinics are a form of walk-in clinic. They're usually staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and X-ray technicians.

♦ Urgent care clinics treat issues that go beyond the scope of retail clinics like MinuteClinic and The Little Clinic, but that don't require emergency room care.

Urgent care clinics are set up to help patients with a variety of medical problems that need treatment right away but aren't true emergencies.

• Watch out for freestanding emergency rooms. They often look like urgent care clinics but bill like a hospital ER.

Learn more about Urgent Care.

Emergency Care

In an emergency, get care from the closest hospital that can help you. By federal law, the emergency room must examine you and stabilize your condition, whether or not you have insurance or can pay. You'll still get a bill.

• If you have insurance, federal law also protects you from surprise out-of-network bills for emergency care.

♦ Emergency rooms are the best place for treating severe and life-threatening conditions. They're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

They have the widest range of services for emergency after-hours care, including diagnostic tests and access to specialists.

Learn more about Emergency Rooms.