Out‑of‑area care

Emergency room

Emergency rooms are equipped and staffed to handle complex and critical care needs.

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room. When it’s safe and you have a choice, choosing a Sharp emergency room can offer added benefits, like:

• Less chance of being transferred: In-network care means you’re less likely to be sent to another hospital.
• Connected care: Your emergency room doctor can easily access your medical history and share updates with your other Sharp doctors.
• Easier follow-up care: Referrals, test results and next steps stay within the same care network – making follow-up simpler.

Global Travel Assistance Services

When you’re faced with a medical need while traveling 100 miles or more away from home, we connect you to doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other services.

Video and phone visits

If you have a non-emergency medical concern or need a follow-up appointment, a video or phone visit may be right for you. Behavioral health services are also available via telehealth. Ask your PCP about available telehealth options.

Urgent care

If you need medical attention right away, but your life is not in danger, you can most likely be treated at an urgent care center within your primary medical group (PMG). You may need prior authorization from your PCP. Be sure to use an urgent care center within your PMG unless you are traveling outside San Diego or southern Riverside counties. To avoid having to pay out of pocket, please visit an urgent care in your plan medical group.

MinuteClinic

When you need treatment for a minor illness or injury, visit a MinuteClinic^®. Clinics are in select CVS Pharmacy^® store locations and are staffed by certified family nurse practitioners.

After-Hours Nurse Advice

Registered nurses are available through Sharp Nurse Connection^® after hours and on weekends. They can talk with you about an illness or injury, help you decide where to seek care and provide advice on any of your health concerns.

Call 1-800-359-2002 — 5 pm to 8 am, Monday to Friday and 24 hours on weekends.

Prescription drugs

Your prescriptions are covered the same way as when you fill them with your local pharmacist.

Behavioral health support

We believe your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Behavioral health care services are a covered benefit for members of all ages. No referral is needed to access outpatient therapy from a provider in your plan network.