Hospitals

If you have a medical emergency go to the nearest hospital emergency room (ER) or call 911. The emergency room is the best place for the treatment of life-threatening health issues such as:

• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• stroke
• head trauma
• severe bleeding
• loss of vision

Important things to know:

• Your doctor or the hospital must get pre-authorization before you are admitted to the hospital. If it’s an emergency, the hospital must get authorization within 24 hours.
• The Culinary Health Fund provides surgery benefits at many outpatient surgery centers. You will not have to stay overnight if you have surgery at one of these centers.

How much will it cost?

There’s a $350 copay for an in-network hospital emergency room visit.

Which hospitals can I go to?

There are many hospitals in our network. Be sure to go to a hospital that’s in our network to avoid extra costs.

Follow this link to find an in-network hospital near you.

Should I go to the hospital if I’m not having an emergency?

No. Hospitals are for life-threatening emergencies. If you go to a hospital ER for a non-life-threatening emergency, you’ll:

• Pay more than you need to for your care
• Wait longer than you need to for your care

If you’re not having an emergency, use one of these other options for care:

• Your regular doctor

  If you can wait, it’s best to see your regular doctor. Your doctor knows your medical history and can help follow up on your care.

• Urgent care

  There are many in-network urgent care centers that you can use. Some of them are open 24 hours. Follow this link to find an in-network urgent care center.