PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFIT TRUST (PEBT) BENEFITS REPORT
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1

"ER" FOR LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES ONLY;
SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR REGULAR MEDICAL CARE

Panic often lays waste to the most carefully laid plans. But a simple plan can ensure that a medical emergency doesn't cost you unnecessary financial anxiety when it is time to make a claim:

If your emergency is life-threatening, call 9-1-1.
If it's not . . .
Call your physician's office. You might be able to go there directly, or at least get in touch with someone right away, and not have to wait for hours at the emergency room to then see a doctor you've never met and will probably never see again.

ER DISADVANTAGES!

A regular office visit usually costs between $5 and $15, depending on your plan, but a visit to the ER could cost you $35 or $50 unless you're admitted to the hospital.

There is also a risk that if your visit to the ER isn't rules a "true life-threatening emergency," you could be stuck with the entire bill. Emergency room bills average $700 per visit, but they can be higher.

Also, emergency room patients aren't seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Only those in the most desperate need of care will be treated first. Unless you are in danger of losing life or limb, you could wait hours and hours to see an ER doctor.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR FIRST

Your family doctor - known as the primary care physician or PCP - can treat you better than an ER doctor who doesn't know you.

With a personal family doctor, you'll spend less time waiting for care - and you'll save money, too.

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOCTOR

The more your doctor knows about you, your habits and your routines, the better she or he will be able to take care of you. When you have a relationship with your doctor, you receive better care.

When you have a good relationship with your doctor, you will be more likely to call the office and not even think about going to the ER when medical care is needed.

How do you develop a relationship? Ask questions!

When people go to the doctor for a checkup or for a problem, it's helpful to be prepared with relevant questions.

Give some thought to your physical condition before your appointment. Write down your symptoms and compare them to what is normal for you. bring a list of all self-care and prescription medications you are taking, as well as any allergies that you might have.

Be aware of your family's medical history and be prepared to discuss its relevance to your health care.

Recognize any changes in your routine or environment that might help the doctor to diagnose your condition.