ER is so expensive. Where to bring child if its after hours or on weekends? (Charlotte: insurance, home)

[FrankTheTank2]

Our 20 month old fell on the playground a few weeks ago and cut her forehead. It was bleeding bad enough that we thought someone should look at it but it was 5:30pm and our doctors office was closed so we took her to the ER (CMC mail Children's ER).

We spent maybe 45 minutes there most of the time waiting for a doctor and nurse. They just cleaned her wound and sent us home (no stitches).

Our bill was $1,450. Even with our insurance (decent Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC plan through my job) our out of pocket was $700 with the ER co-pay plus co-insurance.

There must be a better/cheaper way. Any ideas? We are in the Southpark area.

Thanks.

PS. Our little girl is fine. It was more scary for us than for her. The staff at the ER was great it was just the bill we were upset with.

[BRKLYN2CLT]

Both Presbyterian and CMC have numerous Urgent Care Clinics throughout the Charlotte area. Most are open 7 days a week and are open until 8

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by FrankTheTank2

We spent maybe 45 minutes there most of the time waiting for a doctor and nurse.
They just cleaned her wound and sent us home (no stitches).

Our bill was $1,450.
There must be a better/cheaper way.

If you knew in advance that every penny was going to come out of your pocket...
would you have gone to one of the "Doc in a Box" places instead of an ER?
(btw... that w/should have had you in and out for about $100)

[GCharlotte]

Originally Posted by BRKLYN2CLT

Both Presbyterian and CMC have numerous Urgent Care Clinics throughout the Charlotte area. Most are open 7 days a week and are open until 8

I'm lucky because my family practice has its own urgent care as part of Presby. I haven't used it yet and for some reason my area of town has 2 competing urgent care centers in the same shopping center. There were three within 1/10th of a mile but one folded.

[lanigan911]

There's a children's urgent care right across the street from Cotswold.

[chb119]

Originally Posted by lanigan911

There's a children's urgent care right across the street from Cotswold.

This place is great, in and out for minor injury and sickness.

231 S. Sharon Amity Road
Charlotte, NC 28211

704-304-6400

Noon - Midnight, seven days a week
(no appointment needed)

[LiLShorty4lyfe]

I have BCBS and am surprised at that bill. It cost us our copay and thats it and that included xrays when my daughter had to go to the ER.

[FrankTheTank2]

Originally Posted by LiLShorty4lyfe

I have BCBS and am surprised at that bill. It cost us our copay and thats it and that included xrays when my daughter had to go to the ER.

I am a state employee so our plan is BCBS NC State Employee Plan. I pay $550+ per month for this plan too. Gone are the days when state employees got "good benefits".

I am going to call them about this later. My understanding is that our ER copay is $291 (I paid that when I was at the ER) and we have a 30% co-insurance so 30% of $1450 is $435 which is the bill I just got from CMC. I hope I am wrong.

Thanks for the advice on Urgent Care. I assume that is a lot cheaper than the ER? I will call them first next time.

UPDATE: Turns out that bill was only the facility charge. There is a separate $960 bill from the doctor/nurse who saw her. 40 minutes in the ER for a small cut = $2,410

[thebalogas]

I'm sure you already know this, but don't pay the bill until you get the EOB. That just may be the hospital and physician charges, and not what BCBS allows.

[Gumbo]

I'm with BCBS of Mass and my company recently instated an automatic $200 charge for each ER visit (whether deductible is met or not), then a % copay on charges. This changed 2 years ago. They really are discouraging anyone from going to the ER.