Primary care
The best place to start when you need care
Your primary care doctor is someone who knows your health story and helps write your next chapters. They’re your first stop for everything from annual checkups to ongoing care, working with you to keep you healthy and catch small issues before they become big ones.
Typical Hours: call your primary care doctor’s offices. Many primary care offices now offer extended hours.
Average cost assumes in-network services.
Cost: Low
Severity: Moderate
Wait Time: Moderate
Think of your primary care doctor first when you…
- Need care for non-emergency concerns for illness, injury, pain or other health issues
- Want a prescription refill
- Require ongoing care for chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma
- Are due for an annual checkup, routine screening, vaccine or flu shot
When to use:
- Preventive screenings & check ups
- Upper respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Sinus pain
- Mild asthma
- Rash
- Minor burns
- X-rays
- Minor fever or cold
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Ear pain
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Bumps, cuts & scrapes
- Minor allergic reactions
- Eye pain or irritation
- Stitches
Find a primary care doctor
Enrolled in a plan with Spira Care?
* Blue KC members enrolled in plans (without a Health Savings Account) with exclusive access to Spira Care Centers will have no additional cost for any appointment or service provided at a Spira Care Center. Blue KC members enrolled in a plan with a Health Savings Account or HSA eligible with exclusive access to Spira Care Centers will incur a charge for an office visit at a Spira Care Center. Spira Care’s goal is to keep healthcare affordable. Once a member has met their deductible, any future primary care needs at a Spira Care Center are at no additional cost. Preventive services are covered at 100 percent. For costs and further details of the coverage, including exclusions, any reductions or limitations and the terms under which the policy may be continued in force, see your insurance producer or write Blue KC.
Spira Care
Advanced primary care for the whole family
Your Blue KC health plan may include exclusive access to Spira Care Centers located across the Kansas City Metro Area. Your Spira Care primary care provider (PCP) and Care Team are there to make healthcare more personal. Spira Care offers eligible members primary care services at no or low additional cost* to help manage long-term health and take care of more routine health care needs.
Tip: The easiest way to know if your plan includes access to Spira Care is by looking at your Blue KC member ID card. You can also log into your Blue KC member account and Spira Care will be included in the menu of options.
Typical Hours: same or next-day appointments available in many cases, appointment availability varies based on demand and capacity at each location
Average cost assumes in-network services.
Cost: Low
Severity: Moderate
Wait Time: Low
Your Spira Care Team is a doctor-led, multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals providing patient-centered primary care for you and your family.
- Family medicine physicians
- Advanced practitioners like nurse practitioners and physician assistants
- Nurses and medical assistants
- Diabetes care specialists
- Behavioral health consultants
- Ambulatory care pharmacist
- Care Guides
When to use:
Go to Spira Care for primary care including preventive healthcare services and treatment for common illnesses and minor injuries. Your Spira Care PCP is your first point of contact for health questions and healthcare needs, coordinating your care with in-network specialists when necessary. Patient-centered primary care at Spira Care includes:
- Sick care
- Minor injuries**
- Immunizations
- Behavioral health support
- Chronic condition management
- Diabetes care management
- Medication management
- Digital X-rays and lab draws***
- Preventive care, health screenings, and chronic condition management
- And more!
Find a Spira Care Center near you
* Blue KC members enrolled in plans (without a Health Savings Account) with exclusive access to Spira Care Centers will have no additional cost for any appointment or service provided at a Spira Care Center. Blue KC members enrolled in a plan with a Health Savings Account or HSA eligible with exclusive access to Spira Care Centers will incur a charge for an office visit at a Spira Care Center. Once a member has met their deductible, any future primary care needs at a Spira Care Center are at no additional cost. Preventive services are covered at 100 percent. For costs and further details of the coverage, including exclusions, any reductions or limitations and the terms under which the policy may be continued in force, see your insurance producer or write Blue KC.
** Your health coverage through any of the Blue KC plans cannot be used for an on-the-job or work-related injury or illness.
*** All services provided at Spira Care Centers are based on your primary care needs only and must be ordered by a member of the Spira Care Team. This includes digital x-rays, routine labs and immunizations. Orders by a specialist or someone outside of the Care Center cannot be completed or fulfilled at Spira Care Centers.
Virtual care
Quality care from home, work or anywhere in between
Sometimes getting to the doctor’s office isn’t practical. We’ve made it easy to connect with local doctors and therapists right from your phone or computer.
Log in to your member account to get started
Typical Hours: 24/7 for sick care needs, scheduled appointments for therapy
Average cost assumes in-network services.
Cost: Moderate
Severity: Low
Wait Time: Low
Think of virtual care first when you…
- Need help with minor health issues
- Want support for stress, anxiety, or another behavioral healthcare issue
- Need care on nights, weekends or when your primary care doctor has no appointment availability
- Are traveling and need convenient care
When to use:
- Upper respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Sinus pain
- Mild asthma
- Mild allergic reactions
- Diarrhea
- Pink eye and/or eye infections
- Rash
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief support
Access virtual care
Use the buttons below to download the MyBlueKC mobile app, or log in to your Blue KC member account to start a visit.
Retail health clinics
Convenient care in your neighborhood
Get quick, convenient care while running errands. These in-store clinics typically offer walk-in appointments with licensed nurse practitioners, physician assistants and in some instances, physicians, for basic health needs.
Typical Hours: 7 days (morning-early evening)
Average cost assumes in-network services.
Cost: Moderate
Severity: Low
Wait Time: Low
Think of a retail health clinic when you…
- Need treatment for a minor, uncomplicated illness or injury
- Can’t wait for an appointment with your primary care doctor
- Need a flu shot
When to use:
- Fevers
- Colds
- Rashes
- Bumps
- Scrapes
- Upper respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Headaches
- Sinus pain
- Flu shots
Find a retail health clinic near you
Urgent care
When you need care soon, but it’s not an emergency
For those times when you can’t wait for a regular appointment but don’t need an emergency room, urgent care centers offer prompt attention for pressing medical needs, with shorter waits and lower costs than the ER.
Typical Hours: 7 days (morning-early evening)
Average cost assumes in-network services.
Cost: Moderate
Severity: Moderate
Wait Time: Moderate
Think of an urgent care center first when you…
- Can’t wait for your doctor to treat you
- Have a sudden injury and need a walk-in appointment
- Need after-hours care or on weekends
- Need an X-ray
When to use:
- Stitches
- Upper respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Headaches
- Sinus pain
- Sprains and strains
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pink eye and eye infections
- Animal bites
- Minor burns
- X-rays
- Eye pain and irritation
Find urgent care near you
Emergency room
For serious and life-threatening situations
When minutes matter, don’t hesitate—go to the emergency room (ER) or call 911 if your health is in danger. While emergency rooms provide life-saving care, remember they have the longest wait times and higher costs for non-emergency situations. The ER is for true emergencies – not for treating things like upper respiratory infections, UTI’s, headaches, back pain, toothache and sinus infections.
Typical Hours: 24/7/365
Average cost assumes in-network services.
Cost: High
Severity: High
Wait Time: High
When to use:
- A life-threatening emergency
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Severe injuries or burns
- Head trauma
- Sudden numbness, weakness or speech difficulty
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe allergic reactions
- A mental health crisis
