Urgent care
What is urgent care?
Urgent care refers to care received at an urgent care center for treatment that requires immediate medical attention but is not considered an emergency. Common symptoms handled at an urgent care center include:
- Abdominal pain
- Allergic reactions
- Cuts, wounds, and minor burns
- Dehydration
- Flu-like symptoms
- Rashes
- Sprains, strains, and other fractures
- Infections
- Vomiting or persistent diarrhea
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please go straight to your nearest ER or call 911. If it is not an emergency, consider urgent care or another alternative provider.
What are my urgent care benefits under my Sidecar Health plan?
Your specific Benefit Amounts are visible in the Sidecar Health member portal through Estimate Care. Your Member Care team is also available to help you navigate your benefits for each option.
The below procedure codes are often included during an urgent care visit, however, services and procedures included can vary depending on your needs.
| Medical code | Description |
| 99201-99209 | Doctor visit provider fee for a new patient |
| 99211-99219 |
Doctor visit provider fee for an established patient |
| S9088 |
Provider fee for additional services received in an urgent care center (occasionally will be billed in addition to a standard doctor visit provider fee) |
What should I remember when shopping for urgent care?
- If you already know the diagnosis and all you need is a prescription, you can skip the long urgent care wait times and find a Telehealth provider.
- Depending on the urgency of your health issue, your primary care doctor may be the best option. Your primary care doctor knows your health history, including past treatments that have worked best and whether you have other medical conditions they need to consider.
- Depending on the urgency of your health issue, a retail clinic such as CVS Minute Clinic may be an option for you. Our members have had great experiences finding care at retail clinics because their websites contain clear pricing information.
- Urgent care clinics are typically less expensive and have less wait time than an emergency room.
- Most urgent care centers are walk-in, but some offer appointments. Call your urgent care center and find out if appointments or online check-ins are available to reduce your wait time.
- Urgent care centers are typically less equipped than emergency rooms. If you have a specific need (e.g., x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI), calling the urgent care facility prior to going can help confirm availability.
