Retail Clinics Offering Alternatives to the Uninsured
But it's not just the Uninsured who are taking advantage of these Retail Clinics. Instead of waiting for a doctors visit, or having to take time off work, retail clinics (drugstore clinics) are open to anyone and usually without waiting or huge out of pocket expenses. For those looking at paying personal health insurance in Georgia, this might just be a cost effective alternative.
According to data provided by Aetna, the cost of care at walk-in clinics is on average 30 to 40 percent less expensive than a doctors office or urgent care center and roughly 80 percent lower than an ER. For consumers, the average cost of an ER visit for strep throat can range from $550 to $750 versus $59 at a retail clinic.
Cost is also playing a larger role in people’s decision on where to get care as high-deductible insurance plans that require consumers to pay more out of pocket grow increasingly popular, said David Van Houtte, Aetna senior network manager who negotiates contracts with retail clinics across the country.
For people with insurance, who would have the same co-pay as going to a doctor office, retail clinics are more about the convenience, Mehrotra said.
But don't think you are getting sub standard care either. Aetna has a stringent process to credential clinics before contracting with them -- including random site visits to ensure quality is up to standards and are typically staffed by nurse practitioners.
If you are uninsured and can't meet the out of pocket expenses of a doctors visit, then these Retail Clinics may offer you a valuable alternative. Similarly for those with insurance but with the same amount of co-pay, you may find retail clinics simply more convenient for minor ailments.
Tue, December 20, 2011