Own Your Benefits
Choosing Where to Receive Health Services
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication.
Telemedicine Services
Consult a physician from your phone, tablet, or computer by using Doctor On Demand. Utilize a virtual office visit as an optional alternative to walk-in clinics with a board certified physician, or licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. This type of visit is designed to save you time and help save the university self-insured health plans money. It is also very convenient and prevents exposure to other contagious illnesses at an urgent care office.
Do you have a question about your health? Call one of Wellmark's nurses 24/7. They can help assess symptoms and connect you to the care you need. Call anytime, 844-84-BEWELL (844-84-239355).
Doctor's Office
Traditional medical facility in which one or more medical doctors, usually general practitioners, receive and treat patients. This may be your Designated Personal Doctor's office. Appointments are usually required for treatment and care.
Urgent Care Center
Use this faster, less expensive choice if you get sick or hurt. Receiving care at an Urgent or Convenient Care Center can provide savings in terms of rising premium costs. Seeking medical treatment for minor symptom treatment from an Emergency Room is more costly than receiving care at an urgent care facility.
Urgent and Convenient Care are available to you when you have a non-emergent need for treatment, and the situation is not life-threatening.
Emergency Room
Go to the emergency room (ER) in case of a life-threatening or severe sickness or injury.
Cost Comparison
Average treatment cost= $116 in a physician's office vs. $1,047 in an emergency room.
Receiving ER treatments for non-emergency medical condition is a major contributor to the rising cost of health care.
Common claims that are treated at the ER, but could be treated at Urgent Care, include:
- x-rays
- nausea
- headaches
Compare Your Options
| Symptoms | Telemedicine Services | Doctor's Office | Urgent Care Center | Emergency Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Cost | Inexpensive | Medium | Medium | Very High |
| Your Time | Very Fast | Requires Scheduling | Long Waits | Variable |
| Severity | Least | Some | Moderate | Severe |
| Symptoms | Telemedicine Services | Doctor's Office | Urgent Care Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic Reactions (Minor) |  |
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| Animal Bites | |
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| Asthma Attack (Minor) | |
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| Back Pain | |
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| Broken Bones (Minor) | |
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| Bronchitis | |
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| Burns (Minor) | |
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| Cold, Cough, And Flu | |
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| Cuts And Scrapes | |
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| Digestive Issues | |
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| Ear Pain | |
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| Eye Pain Or Irritation | |
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| Fever | |
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| Headache (Minor) | |
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| Infections | |
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| Injuries (Minor) | |
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| Insect Bites | |
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| Mental/Behavioral Health | |
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| Sinus Pain | |
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| Skin Conditions | |
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| Sore Throat | |
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| Sprains And Strains | |
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| Stitches | |
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| Urinary Tract Infection | |
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| Vaccinations | |
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| Vomiting | |
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| Symptoms | Emergency Room |
|---|---|
| High Fever With Headache Or Stiff Neck |  |
| Loss Of Consciousness | |
| Major Injury | |
| Overdose | |
| Poisoning | |
| Seizure | |
| Severe Allergic Reaction | |
| Signs Of Heart Attack Or Stroke | |
| Spine Injury | |
| Sudden Severe Headache | |
| Suicidal or Self Harming Thoughts | |
| Trouble Breathing | |
Free Standing Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC)
ASCs are health care facilities focused on providing same–day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures. ASCs are an alternative to a hospital outpatient surgical center, where services may be significantly more costly and less convenient. Examples of ASC services include knee or shoulder arthroscopy, diagnostic and preventive screening colonoscopies, and carpal tunnel surgery. A local Cedar Valley ASC is The Surgery Center at United Medical Park which offers you personal attention in an atmosphere designed to ease your mind that is close to home.
Optimized to Assist You With
- Colonoscopy
- Arthroscopy of the knee
- Hand surgery
- Cataract removal
- Hernia repair