Primary care
Find a provider and make a primary care appointment
Urgent and emergency care
When and where to seek treatment
Call 911 for life-threatening situations.
How to choose care when your needs are more immediate, whether you're close to home or far away. If you seek care outside of your primary care provider's office, contact them afterward so they can provide any follow-up care you may need.
When to use urgent care
Quick fixes for minor issues
While primary care focuses on long-term health management and coaching, urgent care and walk-in care clinics treat minor health issues in one visit. These clinics usually have convenient hours, and you can save time by checking in online or simply walking in for a same-day appointment.
Use urgent care for situations like:
- Allergies
- Cuts needing stitches
- Colds and flu
- Insect bites or tick removal
- Ear, urinary and other infections
- Skin rashes
- Sprains and strains
Cost and wait times
An urgent care visit will usually save you money compared to an emergency room visit.
Urgent care centers also let emergency rooms focus on actual emergencies. This saves everyone time and money — in the form of less expensive copays.
Find an urgent care center near you and see wait times for a Geisinger Health Plan provider.
Virtual urgent care
If you're a GHP member, you can also receive care for minor medical concerns from the comfort of home with virtual urgent care.
- Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Weekends, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sign in to see if virtual urgent care is covered by your plan.
When to go to the emergency room
Life-threatening situations
Visit the emergency room (ER) for severe and life-threatening conditions such as:
- Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath
- High fever
- Severe weakness or pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Poisoning
- Sudden worsening of a chronic condition
- Significant bleeding or accidents affecting body parts
Cost and wait times
You can go to any emergency room in the world to receive care. Your costs may vary based on your coverage.
You might wait longer in the ER because patients with serious issues are treated first.
ER visits can also be costly, with much higher copays than for urgent or primary care visits.
Before heading to the ER, consider this: Does your condition require emergency care? Or could an urgent care clinic provide the care you need?
Finding emergency care
If you choose emergency care, remember to bring your insurance cards, ID and a list of medications.
Manage your health with GHP member portal
Use the member portal to view claims and benefits, find a provider and more.
Choose the type of care you need
Telehealth
Make a telehealth appointment