Navigating the System / Urgent or Emergency Care
Yes. If you need emergency dental care and go to the Emergency Room (ER), the ER will treat you and then bill your health insurance. The ER is not likely to be able to treat a dental problem unless it is a health emergency. They may use temporary measures to relieve pain until you are able to see a dentist. Your coverage will depend on your health plan. You can either check your plan documents or website or call your insurance customer service to verify coverage.
Planning ahead
The best plan…
Navigating the System / Urgent or Emergency Care
If it’s an emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away!
Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day for injuries or illnesses that pose a threat to someone’s life or long-term health. If you have a medical emergency, go to the closest hospital — you’ll be treated whether you have health insurance or not.
If you go to an emergency room, you may not have a choice about what doctor provides care. Even if you have health insurance and go to an in-network emergency room, you may receive…
Navigating the System / Urgent or Emergency Care
An urgent care center is a walk-in clinic that focuses on caring for patients who need care right away but are not having a life-threatening emergency. If it’s an emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away!
Generally, you don’t need a referral, just be sure to go to an in-network urgent care center.
If your problem is less serious, you may be better off going to urgent care center. You may get care more quickly and less expensively than you would in the emergency room.
Why go…