The Walk-In Clinic: Answers You Want Before Deciding

There are several benefits to using a walk-in clinic instead of the emergency room or a traditional doctor's office. These facilities have sprung up around the country, filling an important void in the healthcare system. As such, they have grown very popular. So popular, in fact, that you may very well have several to choose from in your immediate area. How do you decide which one to patronize in the case of a health problem? Here are some questions you can ask over the phone to decide which facility would be best for you.

Do you take my insurance?

In a world where going out of network can cost an exorbitant amount of money, you can't afford to go to a walk-in clinic that doesn't take your insurance. You can ask either your insurance company or the facility itself about this matter, but it's an important factor to square away before you decide where to go. Even though the cost of walking in the door and being seen by a doctor may be affordable out of pocket, you never know what other costs may be in the wings. If you need tests or prescriptions, they may not be covered by your insurance if the doctor is out of network.

How long will I have to wait?

Unless you're thinking of heading up to the walk-in clinic the moment you get off the phone, their representatives won't be able to give you a really specific figure, but they should be able to give you a ballpark idea. There are two primary reasons to use one of these facilities. One, you won't have to deal with the ridiculous wait times found in the ER. Two, you don't have to wait two weeks (or more) to get an appointment with a doctor. No, you can't expect to go right back upon arriving, but you shouldn't have to wait around for more than a half an hour in most cases. Find out before you decide.

What can I do on site?

Unless you want to wind up driving all over town, it's helpful to know how many things the walk-in clinic can do on site. For instance, a doctor may request that lab work be done. Well, is this a matter of walking down a different hall or is it a matter of driving to another location? What about getting an X-ray? It's a good idea to find these things out before you go, or this could end up being an all-day experience. Of course, if every facility in town uses one certain lab, then you may not have much choice in the matter.