The Cost-Saving Rise of Urgent Care

The number one complaint when it comes to healthcare is the high cost of it. While there are a large number of issues that contribute to the ever-increasing cost of even the most basic care, there are certain structures in the industry that actually help to control costs for everyone. One of these cost-saving structures is the existence of urgent care centers and walk-in clinics.

Urgent Care Takes a Load off of Insurance

The high cost of insurance is but one of the reasons for the high cost of healthcare in the United States. Insurance companies, by necessity, are highly bureaucratic organizations, which add to the time and overhead necessary to deal with any patient. The sheer size of hospitals and emergency rooms, and all of the diagnostic tools they possess also makes for a complicated bureaucracy. When combined with an insurance company trying to cover every contingency, the difficulties become clear. Urgent Care facilities are smaller and more specialized. They don't typically have large, extremely expensive MRI machines or other highly-specialized equipment. The number of procedures possible at one of these clinics is a fraction of those available in a full emergency room. This reduction - a simple matter of math - equates to a reduction in costs.

Urgent Care has 1/3rd Fewer Players than the Hospital

When you go to a hospital or emergency room there are three hands that go into your pocket - the doctors, the insurance company's and the hospital itself. Often, you will receive two separate bills for services rendered - one from the doctor(s) that helped you, and another from the hospital. Urgent Care centers are much simpler affairs; there is the healthcare provider and the insurance company - that's it. Fewer players means fewer hands in your pocket, and less you have to pay for services.

It is Easier to Pay Direct

Since insurance companies are a part of the reason why healthcare is so expensive, any time you can receive care without them, you are likely to save a significant amount of money. Most facilities are set up to accept direct payment for services, and while they may seem like a bit much the first time you see them, when compared to the same services at an emergency room, the bill is typically 1/7th the cost.

Urgent Care Has Shorter Waiting Times

Time is money. It's an old axiom, but it remains true today. Typically wait times in emergency rooms around the country can average four hours. Urgent Care centers usually have much shorter wait times - it is even possible with some of them to set an appointment and wait at home. Certain sophisticated Urgent Care centers will perform house visits, or consult with you via Skype or other technological means. Time saved for you, time saved for the doctor, time converted to money equals a lower bill for services.

Urgent Care centers cannot treat every injury, disease or symptom, but there are many in America's emergency rooms who don't really need to be there and could benefit from the simplicity and lower cost of Urgent Care. The savings goes beyond the personal pocketbook and extends to the entire country.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8715134