Urgent and Emergency Care Alliance keeps you prepared for the unexpected Dealing with an urgent or emergency situation is never something you want to go through. But knowing where to go for care before something happens is important. With our coverage, you can quickly take care of any health issue that may come up. That means you can get back home fast and enjoy living your life. What is an urgent medical condition? What should you do? An urgent condition isn’t life threatening but may need prompt attention. Urgent care is for an illness, injury or condition serious enough that a reasonable person would seek care right away but not severe enough to need emergency care. Examples of an urgent condition are: • Sprained ankle • Minor burn • Flu The first and best course of action for urgent conditions is to call your doctor’s office. Your doctor may be able to treat the condition. When you call, make sure you ask for a same- or next-day appointment because your doctor has time set aside for these situations. If your doctor doesn’t have any appointments available, go to one of our urgent care centers. Knowing the difference between urgent and emergency conditions. It’s important to know the difference between the two conditions so that you can figure out where and how to get the right care at the right time. This makes sure that you save out-of-pocket expenses and that you are treated quickly based on your condition. Rely on your doctor for urgent and emergency care. Your doctor is your partner in routine and preventive care. He or she also has a vital role in urgent and emergency care. This role starts before the need for either type of care comes about. Talk to your doctor, and ask these questions about urgent and emergency care: • How to get help when the office is closed • Important telephone numbers to reach them • When and when not to use the emergency room Make sure you call your doctor after receiving urgent or emergency care. Even if you’re out of town, follow-up care for these conditions should be arranged by your doctor. How do you find an urgent care center? Log on to hap.org and select “Find a Doctor/ Facility.” Then search by Urgent Care. Our website is updated every week. If you don’t have Internet access, call Client Services at (313) 664-7010 or toll-free at (888) 999-4347. We can look up the center closest to you or send a provider directory out. What is an emergency condition? What should you do? An emergency condition is an illness, injury, symptom or condition so serious that a reasonable person would seek care right away to avoid serious harm. In an emergency situation, such as a heart attack, make sure you go to the nearest emergency facility or call 911 for help. You have full coverage for hospital admission 24/7. What if I’m admitted to a hospital that is not affiliated with Alliance? If you have an emergency condition and are admitted to the hospital, whether it is affiliated with us or not, you or your designee must call us within 48 hours at the number on the back of your ID card. If we aren’t notified of an admission, it could result in the denial of any claims for the services you received. In the case of a hospital not affiliated with us, we will call the doctor treating you to evaluate your condition and the treatment plan. When it is safe to do so, the doctor may arrange to transfer you to an affiliated hospital.