Knowing where to go can save you time and money

April 18, 2023

When you need care right away, the emergency room (ER) might be the first place that comes to your mind. However, the ER may not be the best choice in every situation. You have options when you have a sudden need for care, and knowing what they are can help you save time and money — and feel better sooner.

Did you know? The average total cost of an ER visit can be up to 10 times more than an urgent care center visit. ER wait time is usually about three times more than at an urgent care center.⁸

Where to go for care

Going to the ER or calling 911 is always your best option for emergencies. If it’s not an emergency, you can see your primary care physician (PCP), have a virtual visit with a doctor, or go to a retail health clinic or urgent care center. This chart compares those options:¹

How to find the care you need:

1. Go to unicaremass.com or download the Sydney Health mobile app from the App Store® or Google Play^TM

Then, log in to:

Find a doctor if you don’t have a PCP.
Have a virtual visit with a doctor using the
Find a retail health clinic, urgent care center, or ER.

2. Choose Find Care and follow the steps

Sources: 1 The care options and list of symptoms are not all-inclusive. If possible, consult your PCP for more guidance. 2 Business Wire: 9 desaeleR tropeR emiT tiaW slatiV launnA ht (accessed July 2021): businesswire.com. 3 LiveHealth Online, internal data 2020. 4 Healthcare Finance: P swohs yduts slatiV ,serocs noitcafsitas no tcapmi elbaton wohs semit tiaw tneita (accessed July 2021): healthcarefinancenews.com. 5 Urgent Care Association: U tropeR gnikramhcneB 9102 AC (accessed July 2021): ucaoa.org. 6 Harvard Business Review: T stnemyaP ot mehT eiT ,semiT tiaW mooR ycnegremE ecudeR o (accessed July 2021): hbr.org. 7 Costs are ranked according to the member’s estimated out-of-pocket costs and average health plan copays. Each plan may have different costs. Nonemergency care outside of your network may cost more out of pocket or may not be covered at all. $ = lower cost, and $$$ = higher cost. Call the Member Services number on your ID card if you have questions about your plan. 8 Healthgrades: S ediceD ot woH ?eraC tnegrU ro RE eht ot oG uoY dluoh (accessed July 2021): healthgrades.com.