If you’re not feeling well or have sustained a minor injury, you may need to schedule a doctor’s visit. But, if you don’t have a primary care physician or don’t have insurance, you may be unsure of what your options are. According to the United States Census Bureau, among uninsured adults who visited a medical provider or dentist throughout the year, 13% visited an emergency room and 10% visited a hospital outside of the emergency room. Visiting a hospital isn’t the only option for treatment. A MinuteClinic may be a great resource for you and your family.
What Is MinuteClinic?
MinuteClinic is a walk-in healthcare clinic. They are owned by CVS Pharmacy and have locations throughout the United States in many CVS Pharmacies. They offer a wide range of services to supplement traditional doctor visits. Since the pandemic hit, MinuteClinic has also started to shift and is offering VirtualCare in addition to its traditional walk-in clinics.
How Can You Use It?
If you’re interested in using MinuteClinic, there are three different ways that these clinics can be used. The first way is to simply walk into a pharmacy that has a MinuteClinic located inside. Once you are there, you can check in to be seen by a healthcare professional. The alternative option is to go online and schedule an appointment. You can schedule same-day appointments for a specific time, helping to ensure you aren’t sitting around in the waiting room if there is a wait. Lastly, MinuteClinic has been expanding and is starting to offer VirtualCare. These are telehealth appointments that are available around the clock. You can schedule a telehealth appointment online if you qualify based on your symptoms and needs.
What Types of Conditions Are Treated At This Type of Clinic?
MinuteClinic can help to treat some of the most common types of health conditions and injuries. This includes sore throat, earaches, sinus infections, strep throat, gout, mono, allergies, pink eye, and UTIs. rashes, and sprained or strained ankles. MinuteClinic locations also offer vaccinations and booster shots. Reach out to your local MinuteClinic to inquire about the conditions they can treat. It’s important to note that they don’t treat medical emergencies. If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, you need to go to your local emergency room.
Can Both Children and Adults Be Treated?
MinuteClinic offers an alternative to doctor visits for patients who are 18 months or older. If your child is under the age of 18 months, they need to be seen by their pediatrician, urgent care center, or emergency room if they are experiencing any medical issues.
What Are the Benefits of MinuteClinic?
MinuteClinic has increasingly been gaining in popularity for several reasons. First off, not everyone can get a doctor’s visit when they need one. Your doctor may not have any appointments. These clinics allow you to get same-day appointments. Secondly, not everyone has insurance. MinuteClinics allows you to pay a low, flat rate, to be seen by a medical professional if you don’t have insurance. Lastly, these clinics are conveniently located in local communities. They are easily accessible. And since they started offering telehealth appointments, even more people can take advantage of them and get the medical care they need when they need it.
Do They Accept Insurance?
MinuteClinic does accept medical insurance. The insurance that’s accepted can vary based on the city, county, or state that the clinic is located in. Reach out to your local MinuteClinic today to find out if your health insurance is accepted or visit their website and input your insurance information to find out if it’s accepted and how much, if any, of a co-pay you may have for using this service.
If you need to schedule a doctor’s visit for a minor illness or injury, MinuteClinic can be a great resource, especially for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or who have alternatives to traditional health care insurance, such as Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM). If you’re part of the JHS Community, you can use MinuteClinic as a part of your membership discount services. Reach out to us today to learn more.