Getting the right care at the right place and the right time makes life easier for your employees and can save your organization money. The more employees understand care options, the better chance they’re not going to visit the ER for a sinus infection, which in turn impacts your organization’s total cost of care.
Promote care options frequently to employees
Where to go for care is a message we think is worth repeating frequently. And we have the resources to help you do just that.
- The Know Where To Go For Care Playbook is packed with communications materials and a timeline for getting the message out to employees over four weeks.
- Share the article below by cutting and pasting it into an employee email or adding it to your company’s intranet site.
ER? Urgent care? Primary care? Brush up on health care options before you need them
Getting the right care at the right place and the right time is good for your health and can save you time and money. Know where to go for care – and what is near your home, office, and school – before you need it. Where you go depends on the nature and severity of your condition.
- Primary care is the best option for annual preventive care visits, diagnostics, management of chronic conditions, and sick care needs. Your primary care options could include a doctor in your network or a doctor at a Spira Care Center.
Spira Care Centers provide no-additional-cost primary care for Blue KC members enrolled in a plan with exclusive access to Spira Care. You can visit with a member of a Spira Care Team (including doctors, physicians assistants, and behavioral health consultants) in person, by phone, or by video. Call 913-29-SPIRA (77472) to make a same- or next-day appointment for sick care needs and injuries. - Virtual care is a good option for minor issues like a cold, flu, or pink eye, or if you need care at night, on the weekend, or when your doctor is not available. You can visit with a virtual care doctor through the MyBlueKC mobile app or at BlueKCVirtualCare.com.
- Retail health clinics can be used to treat minor, uncomplicated illness or injury when you cannot wait for an appointment with your primary care doctor.
- Urgent care can be used for non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses that require immediate care, such as ear pain, persistent diarrhea, sprain, or a shallow cut.
- Emergency rooms or community hospitals should be used when you have an immediate care need for a severe and life-threatening emergency. It is important to know that for less severe injuries or illnesses, the ER can be expensive and wait times can be long. The ER should be used for true emergencies – not for conditions like upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, headaches, back pain, toothaches, and sinus infections.
Learn more about what is covered by reading your health plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage. It includes potential out-of-pocket costs, premiums, copayments, and deductibles. It’s available on your member portal at MyBlueKC.com > Plan Benefits in the left column > Medical > Summary of Benefits.