Is it a true emergency?
Insurance companies view an emergency as a recent, sudden, and severe health condition that could end or severely affect a person's life. In general, an emergency would lead a person with an average knowledge of medicine and health, to believe that his or her condition, sickness, or injury needs immediate medical attention.
If you feel that:
- Your or someone else's health is in serious danger;
- or serious damage to your or someone else's bodily functions or body parts will occur;
You should seek emergency care immediately.
Such conditions include but are not limited to:
- chest pain
- stroke
- poisoning
- serious breathing problems
- unconsciousness
- severe burns or cuts
- uncontrolled bleeding
- seizures
Use this chart and your best judgment when choosing options for care.
- Any life-threatening or disabling condition
- Sudden or unexplained loss of consciousness
- Chest pain
- Severe shortness of breath
- High fever with stiff neck
- Mental confusion or difficulty breathing
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Cut or wound that won’t stop bleeding
- Major Injuries
- Possible broken bones
- Numbness in face, arm, or leg
- Sudden difficulty speaking
- Animal bites
- Stitches
- X-rays
- Back pain
- Mild Asthma
- Minor headaches
- Sprains, strains
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Bumps, cuts, scraps
- Burning with urination
- Coughs, sore throat
- Ear or sinus pain
- Eye swelling, irritation, redness or pain
- minor allergic reactions
- minor fevers, colds
- Rashes, minor bumps
- Vaccinations