Types of Visits
Virtual Visit vs. Office Visit vs. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room?
- Virtual Visits ($): These are perfect for minor illnesses or aches.
- Cold or flu, fever, sinus infection, rash, allergies, bronchitis, etc.
- For more info, please see Virtual Visits.
- Office Visit ($$): These visits should be for non-life threatening conditions.
- Sprains, back pain, minor cuts or burns, minor eye injuries, etc.
- Urgent Care ($$$): Visit the Urgent Care for non-life-threatening but urgent care needs.
- Stitches, x-rays, broken bones, labs, etc.
- Emergency Room ($$$$): Only go to the ER for serious and/or life-threatening conditions. They are not set up to care for routine illness and will work on the most serious cases first.
- Trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe chest pain, heavy bleeding, deep wound, overdose, seizure, head or spine injury, etc.
- Shop your pharmacy: Prescriptions are like shoes. They cost different amounts at different locations.
- There are different websites and apps that will help you find which pharmacy has the best price for your medication.
- Apps we recommend: "GoodRX" & "RetailMeNot Rx Saver"
- There are different websites and apps that will help you find which pharmacy has the best price for your medication.
- Ask for generic brands: The difference in cost between a generic and a name-brand can be huge. Sometimes the name-brand is as much as 10x more expensive.
- Ask your doctor before leaving their office if there is a generic brand of the prescription. (Then look it up on one of the apps to find the best price!)