Once upon a time, anyone who needed immediate medical attention would head to the emergency room (ER). Today it’s important to know all the options available so that when a time of need comes, you're better prepared to get the care you need at a cost that won’t break the bank.

First, it’s important to say that, in cases of a medical emergency, dialing 9-1-1 or/and heading to your nearest emergency room is still the way to go. But, for less urgent needs, like a bad sprain or high fever, we recommend using an Urgent Care Center, which is available without an appointment and is typically less expensive than the emergency room. Review this list of Urgent Care Centers in New England or have it handy to familiarize you with the Urgent Care Centers nearest to you.

For even less urgent needs – like a chest cold that won't go away, or those times when a child needs a sign-off for a minor injury to play sports – you also have a telehealth option. Health Options offers Amwell® Urgent Care telehealth at $0 cost-share on all non-HSA plans and $64 and $0 after the deductible for HSA plans.

The Amwell telehealth platform makes it easy to talk to healthcare professionals trained in internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and pediatrics about non-emergency needs whenever you need. For even more ease, if your telehealth provider recommends a prescription, you can get refills or be prescribed new medication. Note: Some prescriptions, including controlled substances, cannot be prescribed online. 

To get started with telehealth services, log into your Member portal, and click on the Health & Wellness tab. Once you've registered, your information will be stored for future visits. Telehealth makes access to care easy and affordable – no waiting room required.