Save Time and Money: Know Your In-Network Options

Knowing where to go for healthcare could lower the time and money you spend on doctor visits. Whether you have a stuffy nose or a broken bone, know your options and when you should use them.

Primary Care

If you have an HMO or POS plan, visiting your primary care provider (PCP) is often your lowest-cost option for general or preventive healthcare.

For moderate severity care

Expect moderate wait times

Expect low costs

When to make a PCP appointment:

For annual check-ups, physicals, vaccines and flu and COVID-19 shots
When you have a minor illness or injury
To get help for persisting or chronic illnesses

What your PCP can help with:

Preventive services and screenings
Sore throat or cough
Back or muscle pain
Minor fevers
Rashes, bumps or scratches
Respiratory infections

Need to find a PCP?

Log in to your secure member account to find more information about your current PCP if you have one. To find a new in-network PCP, search our Provider Finder^®tool.

Virtual Care

Depending on your plan, you may have virtual care as a benefit. For example, some indiviudal and family or group members can access Virtual Visits, hosted by MDLIVE. With Virtual Visits, you can rely on virtual care 24/7 from your phone or computer.^{1, 2}

For low severity care

Expect low wait times

Expect moderate costs

When to plan a virtual care appointment:

For minor injuries or illnesses that happen after normal office hours
For help with behavioral health and dermatology
To meet with a doctor when you're away from home or traveling

What virtual care can help with:

Sore throat or cough
Back or muscle pain
Minor fevers
Rashes, bumps or scratches
Respiratory infections
Minor allergic reactions

How can you use virtual care?

Your BCBSMT health care plan may include Virtual Visits, supported by MDLIVE. To find out if you have Virtual Visits as a benefit and to start using MDLIVE, log in to your member account.

Urgent Care

Urgent care, sometimes called prompt care, can help with non-emergency care when you can't make it to your PCP. You may have to pay more, but they're often open longer hours and accept walk-in patients.

For moderate severity care

Expect moderate wait times

Expect moderate costs

When to visit urgent care:

For weekend or after-hours help, or help when your doctor's office isn't open
When you need a walk-in appointment for a sudden medical concern
When you think you may need an x-ray or stitches

What urgent care can help with:

Sprains, strains and minor fractures
Cuts that may require stitches
Pneumonia or cold and flu symptoms
Allergic reactions
Minor burns

Find in-network urgent care:

Not sure where your closest urgent care clinic is? Log in to your member account and search or filter with "Urgent Care Center" to get results specific to your plan and location.

Emergency Room (ER)

Emergency rooms are typically the most expensive way to get care when you need help. You should only visit the emergency when you have a severe or life-threatening medical emergency. This includes both ERs located in hospitals and free-standing ERs, or FSERs.

For high severity care

Expect high wait times

Expect high costs

When to visit the ER:

The ER should only be used in life-threatening situations. Visiting the ER when you don't need to will cost you money and time.

When you have signs of a heart attack, like chest pain or shortness of breath
When you have signs of a stroke, like confusion, stumbling or facial droop
To get x-rays, casts, stitches or wound dressings for severe injuries

What the ER can help with:

Stroke-like symptoms
Severe bleeding or injury
Chest pain or trouble breathing
Severe stomach pain

Not sure you need to visit the ER?

If you're not going through a life-threatening event, you have cheaper, faster care options. Consider scheduling a PCP appointment, using virtual care or visiting an urgent care clinic.

What to do in an emergency:

If you have chest pains, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding or severe pain, you should call 911 or go to an emergency room right away.

Understand What's an Emergency

Read transcript

Your Road to the Right Care

By now, you may know how to weigh your care options when you need help. Want a short recap? Watch this video and download a helpful PDF to review your care options.

Download Flier

¹ Internet/Wi-Fi connection is needed for computer access. Data charges may apply. Check your cellular data or internet service provider’s plan for details. Non-emergency medical service in Idaho, Montana and New Mexico is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe. Non-emergency medical service in Arkansas is limited to interactive audio/video (video only) for initial consultation, along with the ability to prescribe. Behavioral Health service is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe in all states. Service availability depends on location at the time of consultation.

² Virtual Visits, Powered by MDLIVE may not be available on all plans. Virtual Visits are subject to the terms and conditions of your benefit plan, including benefits, limitations, and exclusions. MDLIVE operates subject to state regulations and may not be available in certain states. MDLIVE is not an insurance product nor a prescription fulfillment warehouse. MDLIVE does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. MDLIVE does not prescribe DEA-controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs that may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. MDLIVE physicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services.

MDLIVE operates and administers the virtual visit program and is solely responsible for its operations and that of its contracted providers. MDLIVE and the MDLIVE logo are registered trademarks of MDLIVE, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Blue Cross^®, Blue Shield^® and the Cross and Shield symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.