Getting Care 24/7
Know where to go for the care you need.
Your health-care needs don’t always follow a schedule. When you need care right away, there are a lot of places to get help besides the emergency room (ER). An urgent care center can treat many things people often take to the ER. Learn more about where to go when you or your family needs care, no matter what time or day it is.
Your primary care provider
When you’re sick or hurt, always call your primary care provider first (unless it’s an emergency). Even if you call after hours, someone from the office should be on call and able to help.
Your primary care provider is listed in your online profile. He or she will:
- Get to know you and your health history
- Work with you to find specialists and medicines when needed
If you haven’t seen your primary care provider before, call and make a new patient appointment as soon as you can. It’s a good idea to see your doctor when you’re well, so he or she can better treat you when you aren’t.
Change your primary care provider anytime
- Find a primary care provider in your plan with our Find a Doctor search tool.
- Once you know the name of the primary care provider you want, write it down.
- Use our Change your PCP tool or call Member Services at 1-800-600-4441 (TTY 711) to change your primary care provider. STAR Kids members, call 1-844-756-4600 (TTY 711).
If you also have Medicare, contact your Medicare plan to change your primary care provider.
24-hour Nurse HelpLine
1-800-600-4441 (TTY 711) | STAR Kids members: 1-844-756-4600 (TTY 711)
Health issues can come up when you least expect them. Our toll-free 24-hour Nurse HelpLine lets you talk with a registered nurse whenever you have health questions or need medical advice — day or night, holidays, and weekends. Our nurses are here to:
- Advise you on where to go when you need care
- Help you with any health questions you have
- Give you advice about caring for your baby or child
Telehealth
Using LiveHealth Online, you can visit a doctor through live video on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. It’s an easy way to get care for you or your family anytime of the day or night without leaving home.
As an Amerigroup member, you can use LiveHealth Online at no cost to you. CHIP members pay only their normal office visit copay.
Sign up for free today so you can:
- See a doctor in minutes: When you have a common health problem like a cold, the flu, fever, pink eye, sore throat, sinus infection, and more! Doctors can also send prescriptions to your pharmacy if needed.*
Spanish speaking doctors are available 7 days a week by appointment using Cuidado Médico on LiveHealth Online. - Talk with a therapist in 4 days or less: If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or having a tough time coping, you can schedule an appointment for a 45-minute counseling session.
- Visit with a psychiatrist in 14 days or less: When talk therapy alone isn’t enough, members 18 and older can schedule an appointment to get help with managing certain medicines to help manage behavioral health conditions.
It’s easy to get started. Sign up for free 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. Psychiatrists on LiveHealth Online will not offer counseling or talk therapy.
LiveHealth Online is the trade name of Health Management Corporation, a separate company providing telehealth services on behalf of Amerigroup.
LiveHealth Online services are not available for all members.
Urgent and after-hours care
An urgent medical condition is when care is needed for a sudden illness, injury, or condition that is not an emergency but needs to be treated right away.
You may need urgent care if you have:
- Minor burns.
- Earaches.
- A very sore throat.
- An injury from a fall.
- Frequent vomiting.
- A cut that’s deep enough to need stitches.
- A fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Muscle sprains or strains.
Getting care after hours
Call your primary care provider. Even if your primary care provider’s office is closed when you call, you can leave a message with your name and phone number. Someone should call you back within 30 minutes to tell you what to do.
You can also get care with Telehealth, a no-cost way to video chat with a doctor in minutes. Click the “Telehealth” tab above to learn more.
You may also call 24-hour Nurse HelpLine to talk to a nurse anytime. Click on the tab at the top to learn more.
Emergency room
Emergencies are times when there could be serious danger or damage to your health if you don’t get medical care right away. If you need emergency care, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room (ER).
Go to the ER if you:
- Have chest pains
- Have trouble breathing
- Are bleeding badly
- Are pregnant and have signs of harm to yourself or your baby like pain, bleeding, fever, or vomiting
- Feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else
After an ER or urgent care visit
Call your primary care provider as soon as you can after you visit the ER or urgent care center. Your primary care provider can help with your follow-up care. Their number is listed in your online profile.
Not sure if it’s an emergency?
Call our 24-hour Nurse HelpLine. Our nurses can tell you whether you need emergency care or help you find an urgent care center.
