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Over the years we’ve included many recommendations to help you use your UT SELECT Medical plan in ways that maximize the benefits you get and minimize the cost you pay, as well as what the UT SELECT plan pays. A topic that has come up often in the past has been on the use of Emergency Room treatment, Urgent Care Centers, and more recently the use of Freestanding ERs.
According to numerous sources, including the Texas Association of Health Plans (www.tahp.org) as well as several Texas-based media outlets (Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, El Paso Times, Dallas Morning-News, etc.), patients being treated at Freestanding ERs are often surprised at the cost of treatment they received there versus out-of-pocket costs for an urgent care center. They are also surprised at the types of “extras” included in their bill compared to what is typical of an urgent care center or physician office visit. Many are completely unaware of whether the Freestanding ER is in their health plan’s network.
Remember—if you need to see a doctor soon, but it’s not so urgent that you must go to the nearest medical facility as soon as possible, you can contact BCBSTX UT SELECT Customer Service at (866) 882-2034 for assistance in finding a provider or facility that won’t add to your pain when you receive your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or a follow-up billing statement.
