Getting care 24/7 in DC
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 you’ll see for most of your healthcare needs and is listed on your ID card. Your PCP will:
- Get to know you and your health history.
- Work with you to find specialists, treatment plans, and medicines when needed.
When you’re sick or hurt, always call your PCP first (unless it’s an emergency). If you haven’t seen your PCP before, call and make a new patient appointment as soon as you can. It’s a good idea to see your doctor when you are well to help them learn about your medical history before any health issues occur.
You can change your PCP anytime.
- To find a PCP in our plan, use our Find Care tool.
- To change your PCP, log in to your secure account or chat with a representative via Live Chat.
24-hour Nurse HelpLine
833-359-1384 (TTY 711)
24-hour Nurse HelpLine lets you call and speak with a nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week — even on holidays.
A registered nurse can help:
LiveHealth® Online
LiveHealth® Online lets you visit a doctor through video chat on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. It’s an easy way to get care for you or your family without leaving home.
With LiveHealth® Online, you get:
*Prescriptions determined to be a “controlled substance” (as defined by the Controlled Substances Act under federal law) cannot be prescribed using LiveHealth® Online. Psychiatrists on LiveHealth® Online will not offer counseling or talk therapy.
LiveHealth® Online is the trade name of Health Management Corporation, a separate company providing telehealth services on behalf of Wellpoint District of Columbia, Inc.
Urgent and after-hours care
An urgent medical condition is when care is needed for a sudden illness, injury, or condition that is not an emergency, but needs to be treated right away.
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, strains, or broken bones
To find an urgent care center near you, use our Find Care tool. In addition to urgent care centers, you can also go to retail health clinics or walk-in doctors’ offices for urgent care.
Emergency room
If you need emergency care, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room (ER).
Go to the ER if you:
- Have chest pains.
- Have trouble breathing.
- Are bleeding badly.
- 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.
Call your PCP as soon as you can after you get out of the ER or urgent care center. Your PCP can help you get follow-up care.
Behavioral health
If you have a behavioral health, mental health, or substance abuse issue, we can help. Call our 24/7 crisis line at 844-405-4300. Or, in an emergency, call 911.
This program is brought to you by the Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance.