URGENT CARE CENTERS MAY NOT GIVE PATIENTS CLEAR INSURANCE INFORMATION

 

Patients who choose Urgent Care Centers instead of hospital emergency departments may face unexpected bills if the center is not clear about participation in insurance networks. Patients who call and ask whether a given Urgent Care Center accepts their coverage may misunderstand the response and expect an in-network co-pay, not balance billing. The New York State attorney general's office recently told some clinics their website insurance information may be deceptive. If you plan to use an Urgent Care Center make sure you tell them specific details about your health plan when asking what they accept.  Better yet, check with your health plan to see if the Urgent Care Center is “in-network.”