Getting Care 24/7 in North Carolina
Know Where To Go for the Care You Need
Your healthcare needs don’t always follow a schedule. Learn where to go when you or your family needs care, no matter what time of day it is.
Your Primary Care Provider (PCP)
Your PCP is the doctor that you’ll visit for most of your health care needs. When you’re sick or hurt, always call your PCP first (unless it’s an emergency). Even if you call after hours, someone from the office should be on call and able to help.
Your PCP is listed on your member ID card and in your online profile. They will:
- Get to know you and your health history
- Work with you to find specialists, treatment plans and medicines when needed
If you haven’t had a visit with your PCP before, call and make a new patient appointment as soon as you can.
Need to change your PCP?
- To find a PCP in our plan, use our Find a Doctor search tool.
- To change your PCP, use our Change PCP tool or call Member Services at 844-594-5070 (TTY 711).
24-Hour Nurse HelpLine
844-545-1427 (TTY 711)
Health issues can come up when you least expect them. Our toll-free 24/7 NurseLine lets you talk with a registered nurse whenever you have health questions or need medical advice.
Our nurses can:
- Advise you on where to go when you need care
- Help you with any health questions you have
- Find a doctor after hours or on weekends
Behavioral Health Care
Behavioral health care includes mental health (your emotional, psychological, and social well-being) and substance (alcohol and drugs) use disorder treatment and rehabilitation services. You do not need to visit your PCP before getting behavioral health services. If you need help finding mental health or substance use services, call Member Services at 844-594-5070 (TTY 711).
If you are having any of the following feelings or problems, you should contact a behavioral health doctor:
- Constantly feeling sad
- Feeling hopeless and/or helpless
- Feelings of guilt
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss
- Loss of interest
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Constant pain such as headaches, stomachaches and backaches
If you think you are in danger of harming yourself or others, call 911 or go the nearest emergency room.
LiveHealth Online
LiveHealth Online lets you visit a doctor through live video on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. It’s an easy way to get care for you or your family any time of the day or night without leaving home. Doctors can also send prescriptions to your pharmacy, if needed.
As a Healthy Blue member, you can use LiveHealth Online at no cost to you. Use LiveHealth Online for common health problems like:
- Allergies
- Cold or flu
- Fever
- Pink eye
- Sore throat
- Sinus infection
Getting started is easy.
Sign up for no cost at livehealthonline.com or download the app:
Urgent or After-Hours Care
You may have a sudden illness, injury or condition that is not an emergency, but needs to be treated right away. Call your PCP if you think you need urgent care. Your PCP will tell you what to do. They may tell you to come into the office right away, go to an urgent care center or go to the emergency room.
You may need urgent care if you have:
- Minor burns
- Earaches
- A very sore throat
- An injury from a fall
- Frequent vomiting
- A cut that’s deep enough to need stitches
- A fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- Muscle sprains or strains
To find an urgent care center near you, use our Find Care search tool.
Emergency Care
Emergencies are times when there could be serious danger or damage to your health if you don’t get medical care right away. If you need emergency care, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room (ER).
Go to the ER if you:
- Have bad chest pain
- Are having trouble breathing
- Have bleeding that won’t stop or a bad burn
- Are pregnant and have signs of harm to yourself or your baby like pain, bleeding, fever, or vomiting
- Feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else
- Have a drug overdose
After an ER or urgent care visit:
Call your PCP as soon as you can after you visit the ER or urgent care center. Your PCP can help with your follow-up care.