For Emergency or Urgent Care

In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Priority Health covers emergency room treatment for any medical emergency.

If you're a PriorityHMO^SM or PriorityEPO^SM member, be sure to call your Primary Care Physician after you've been treated. Your PCP will make sure you get follow-up care that's covered by your health plan.

If you're a PriorityPOS^SM member, you must call your Primary Care Physician following emergency treatment in order to be covered at the Preferred Benefits level.

Click on any question to jump to the answer below:

What if I need urgent care but it's not an emergency?
What if it's urgent and my Primary Care Physician isn't available?
How do I find an urgent care center in my area?
What if I'm out of the service area when I get sick or hurt?
How do I know what hospitals are covered under my health plan?
Do I need to call my Primary Care Physician in an emergency?
Do I need to call Priority Health in an emergency?


Q: What if I need urgent care but it's not an emergency?

• HMO/EPO and POS members: If you need care right away but it's not an emergency, you must call your PCP first. Your primary care physician or other health care provider knows your health history and is the best person to make sure you get the care you need.
• PPO members: We recommend that you use an In-Network urgent care facility in your area. Use the Find a Doctor tool here on priorityhealth.com. Click on "Search by Type of Care" and choose Urgent Care Facility. The Provider Directory you received from Priority Health also provides a comprehensive listing.

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Q: What if it's urgent and my Primary Care Provider isn't available?

• HMO/EPO and POS members: If your Primary Care Physician isn't available when you need urgent care, leave a message with the 24-hour answering service (required for all our PCPs). If you don't hear from your doctor in a reasonable amount of time, go to the nearest urgent care center or emergency room.  Be sure to call your Primary Care Physician after you've been treated. Your PCP will make sure you get follow-up care that's covered by your health plan. POS members: This step is important. Only medical care approved by your PCP can be covered at the Preferred Benefits level.
• PPO members: We recommend that you use a Network urgent care facility in your area. Use the Find a Doctor tool here on priorityhealth.com. Click on "Search by Type of Care" and choose Urgent Care Facility. The Provider Directory you received from Priority Health also provides a comprehensive listing.

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Q: How do I find an urgent care center in my area?
To locate an urgent care facility in your area, use the Find a Doctor tool here on priorityhealth.com. Click on "Search by Type of Care" and choose Urgent Care Facility. The Provider Directory you received from Priority Health also provides a comprehensive listing. 

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Q:  What if I'm out of the service area when I get sick or hurt?
Priority Health covers medical emergencies and urgent care when you are temporarily away from your service area. If you have an emergency, get treatment immediately at an urgent care center, or an emergency room. All medical emergencies are covered.

• HMO/EPO and POS members: Before you get care away from home, you must try to contact your Primary Care Physician. If you don't try, you could be financially responsible for the full cost of any services you receive. If you make several unsuccessful attempts to reach your PCP and you still need immediate medical attention, go to an urgent care center or hospital emergency room. Then be sure to call your Primary Care Physician after you've been treated. Your PCP will make sure you get follow-up care that's covered by your health plan. POS members: This step is important. Only medical care approved by your PCP can be covered at the Preferred Benefits level.
• PPO members: Whenever you go to a Non-Network provider for medical services, you will be covered at the Non-Network benefit level.

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Q: What hospitals are covered under my health plan?
Use our online Find a Doctor directory to find not just doctors but mental health professionals, hospitals, pharmacies, medical supply providers, ambulance services and other health care providers in your health plan's network. The printed Provider Directory you received from Priority Health also provides a comprehensive listing, but it won't be as up-to-date, since doctors enter and leave our network throughout the year.

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Q: Do I need to call my Primary Care Physician in an emergency?
You do not need to call your PCP before being treated for a medical emergency in a hospital emergency room, but be sure to call your Primary Care Physician after you've been treated. Your PCP will make sure you get follow-up care that's covered by your health plan. POS members: This step is important. Only medical care approved by your PCP can be covered at the Preferred Benefits level.

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Q: Do I need to call Priority Health in an emergency?
You do not need to call Priority Health before being treated in a hospital emergency room for a medical emergency. Priority Health covers emergency room treatment for any medical emergency.

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