HIP Urgent Care

What is Urgent Care?

You sprain your ankle. You get a splinter you can't remove. You develop a painful sore throat. Your child has an earache and won't stop crying. What do you do?

If it's a weekday, when your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or child's pediatrician has office hours, you contact him or her to schedule a visit. But what if it's after hours or on the weekend?

If you are in the HIP service area, call your PCP or child's pediatrician, or refer to the number on the back of your HIP ID card for instructions. If you aren't sure whether it is a medical emergency or a condition simply requiring urgent care, he or she will advise you.

Another service available to all HIP members is the HIP participating urgent care centers. Depending on your coverage, instead of going to the emergency room and waiting for hours - and paying a hefty copayment, - your doctor may refer you or you can visit one of HIP's participating urgent care centers and be seen quickly, for a fraction of the cost.

If it's a medical emergency, of course, you would call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. A "medical emergency" is a medical or behavioral condition that comes on all of a sudden and that someone with an average knowledge of health believes should be treated right away or risk loss of life, serious medical complications or permanent disability.

When you visit a HIP participating urgent care center for after-hours care, you don't need a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP). However, we encourage you to tell your PCP about any treatment you do receive so he or she may better coordinate your future care.

To locate a HIP participating urgent care center near you, click here or please call 1-877-HIP-2911 (1-877-447-2911), anytime, day or night. On holidays, urgent care center hours of operation are subject to change. Please contact the urgent care center directly to confirm their hours.

If you have specific questions about HIP's after-hours urgent care services, please call HIP Customer Service at 1-800-HIP-TALK (1-800-447-8255), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. TDD: 1-888--447-4833, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.

For a listing of HIP participating urgent care centers, click here.