Getting care 24/7
When you need care right away, you might be surprised to know there are a lot of places to go for help instead of the emergency room (ER). An urgent care center can treat many conditions people often go to the ER for. Call your primary care provider (PCP) if your condition is urgent and you need medical help within 24 hours. Your PCP will tell you what to do. He or she may tell you to come into the office right away, go to an urgent care center or go to the ER. If it’s after hours, leave a message. Someone from your doctor’s office will call you back within 30 minutes.
24-hour Nurse Helpline
24-hour Nurse Helpline: 1-866-864-2544 Spanish: 1-866-864-2545
Whether it’s 3 a.m. or a Sunday afternoon with the family, health issues happen at the most inconvenient times and places. 24-hour Nurse Helpline is a resource you call when life throws you a curve ball. Registered nurses can help you with your baby’s fever, give you allergy relief tips and advise you where to go for care.
LiveHealth Online
LiveHealth Online — a doctor’s care 24/7
LiveHealth Online lets you visit a doctor through video chat on your computer, tablet or smartphone. When you need to see a doctor late at night or can’t make it to your doctor’s office, LiveHealth Online can help. It’s an easy way to get care for you or your family without leaving home.
As an Amerigroup Iowa, Inc. member, you can use LiveHealth Online for free. Sign up now to get:
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Care right away for common health problems like colds, the flu, fever, pink eye, sore throat, sinus infection and more
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Prescriptions sent right to your pharmacy if needed*
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A doctor who speaks Spanish using Cuidado Médico on LiveHealth Online
It’s easy to get started. Sign up for free at livehealthonline.com or download the app:
*Prescriptions determined to be a “controlled substance” (as defined by the Controlled Substances Act under federal law) cannot be prescribed using LiveHealth Online.
LiveHealth Online is the trade name of Health Management Corporation, a separate company providing telehealth services on behalf of Amerigroup Iowa, Inc..
Urgent Care
Urgent and after-hours care
An urgent medical condition is not an emergency, but needs medical care within 24 hours. Call your primary care provider (PCP) if your condition is urgent and you need medical help within 24 hours. Your PCP will tell you what to do. He or she may tell you to come into the office right away, go to an urgent care center or go to the emergency room.
Go to urgent care for things like:
- Allergic reactions
- Animal bites
- Back pain
- Burning with urination
- Cough, sore throat
- Ear or sinus pain
- Eye pain or irritation
- Mild asthma
- Minor fever, cold
- Minor headache
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Rash, minor burns
- Sprains, strains
- Shots
- Stitches
- X-rays
In addition to urgent care centers, you can also go to retail health clinics or walk-in doctors’ offices for urgent care. Learn more about both below:
Retail health clinics are often found in a major pharmacy or retail store. They have physician assistants and nurse practitioners onsite to treat basic health concerns, like:
- Allergic reactions
- Bumps, cuts, scrapes
- Burning with urination
- Cough, sore throat
- Ear or sinus pain
- Eye pain or irritation
- Minor fever, cold
- Rash, minor burns
- Shots
Walk-in doctors' offices are usually family practice doctors who can treat many things, even if you're not a regular patient or you don’t have an appointment. They treat:
- Allergic reactions
- Back pain
- Bumps, cuts, scrapes
- Burning with urination
- Cough, sore throat
- Ear or sinus pain
- Eye pain or irritation
- Mild asthma
- Minor fever, cold
- Minor headache
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Rash minor burns
- Shots
Go to Find a Doctor to find an urgent care center, retail health clinic or walk-in-doctor’s office near you.
Emergency Room
Emergencies
If not seeing a doctor right away could end in death or serious bodily harm, it’s an emergency. You should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (ER).
Go to the ER if you:
- Have trouble breathing
- Are bleeding badly
- Have chest pains
Reasons you don’t want to go to the ER if it’s not an emergency:
- The wait time can be very long
- The ER doesn’t have your medical records
- ER doctors don’t know you as well as your primary care provider (PCP)
Call your PCP as soon as you can after you visit the ER or urgent care center. Your PCP will help you with your follow-up care.
Behavioral Health
If you have a behavioral health or substance use issue, we can help. Call Member Services at 1-800-600-4441. You can also call 24-hour Nurse Helpline at 1-866-864-2544. An Amerigroup clinical associate can help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Or, in an emergency, call 911.