If you need medical care but can’t schedule a timely appointment, consider finding a telehealth appointment, seeing another professional at your doctor’s practice, or visiting a walk-in or urgent care clinic.
Waiting to see a medical professional is an increasingly common problem faced by millions in the United States. It can happen due to a lack of medical professionals or facilities in many parts of the country and is acutely felt by those trying to find new doctors.
It’s not uncommon for doctors to have hundreds or even thousands of patients, which overwhelms medical systems.
“New patient” appointments often have even longer wait times, both with primary care professionals and specialists. It’s not uncommon to wait months, whether you want a checkup or treatment for a chronic condition.
According to one commonly cited survey of medical professionals in large metro areas, the wait times to see a new doctor increased by 19% between 2022 and 2025 — to about 31 days — which has nearly doubled since 2004.
Additionally, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the average wait for those in qualified health plans is about 15 business days for primary care and about 30 business days for specialized care.
If your next appointment is weeks or months out but you’re not able to wait that long to receive care, you have a few options. Read on to learn about them here.
Some doctors offer telephone or video appointments with availability that’s separate from in-person visits. Depending on the doctor or your medical insurance, if you have it, these appointments may even be free.
Ask your existing medical professional if a telehealth appointment is available and whether it can resolve your concerns, such as getting a prescription.
If your doctor does not offer this service, and you’d like to find another who does, your insurance provider should be able to help you find one.
Plus, some medical centers offer a hotline where you can call and speak with a registered nurse at all times of the day. These advice lines are usually free to use.
Some medical practices or insurance companies, such as Kaiser Permanente, will allow you to see another medical professional if yours is not available — without the customary new patient wait time. Ask the receptionist at your doctor’s office if this is an option for you.
Walk-in clinics and urgent care centers are both medical offices where you can receive care without an appointment.
A walk-in clinic can be a good alternative to seeing your primary care professional if you have experienced a minor injury or have a minor illness, such as the flu. This type of clinic is available as a stand-alone medical center or sometimes inside other businesses such as grocery stores or pharmacies.
An urgent care center is meant for injuries or illnesses that need prompt attention but are not a severe or life threatening emergency.
If you’re experiencing a serious or life threatening emergency, you should go to the nearest emergency room and not wait to see your regular medical professional.
What you can do today
It’s a good idea to call your medical insurance provider at the phone number on the back of your insurance card before you need timely medical attention. This is to help find out your costs for in-person and telehealth appointments, as well as urgent care clinic visits.
If you need medical care but cannot schedule a prompt appointment with your regular medical professional, consider the following:
- Ask your doctor’s practice if they offer same-day or prompt phone or video appointments.
- Ask your doctor’s practice if you can temporarily see another doctor in their practice.
- Call your medical care provider’s nurse advice line.
- Visit a walk-in or urgent care clinic.