Express Care Frequently Asked Questions

Visiting Mass General Brigham Express Care

Do I need an appointment?

We offer express care for adults and children three years of age and older. Self-registration is available at these facilities-- Newton, Westwood, Woburn, Lynn, South Weymouth, Natick, Danvers, Andover, Pembroke and Lawrence. For our other locations, we provide care on a walk-in basis only.

Do I need a referral from my physician to be seen?

You do not need a referral. We provide care on a walk-in basis.

Do I have to be a patient of Mass General Brigham or have a Mass General Brigham doctor in order to be seen?

You do not need to be a patient at Mass General Brigham or have a Mass General Brigham doctor to use our urgent care services.

How long will I have to wait?

Our staff is committed to providing safe and efficient care and to seeing each patient as promptly as possible. We make every effort to staff our clinics appropriately to keep wait times to a minimum. Note that wait times can vary depending on available resources and the number of patients waiting to be seen.

Urgent care centers and emergency departments welcome all patients to walk-in and be seen without an appointment. A patient arriving with a more serious or urgent illness or injury will be seen before those with milder symptoms. This may result in a patient receiving care out of order and longer than typical wait times for other patients. Thank you for understanding.

Can I call ahead to reserve a spot in line or to schedule an appointment?

Unfortunately, advance registration is not available currently. We provide care on a walk-in basis only. Patients with more acute or serious needs are seen first.

What documents do I need to bring?

Please bring your driver’s license or other forms of identification if you have them. Bring valid proof-of-insurance, such as your insurance card if you plan to use health insurance to pay for your visit.

24/7 Virtual Care

What is 24/7 Virtual Care?

Mass General Brigham 24/7 Virtual Care is a virtual medical  service which patients may use for one-time medical needs. With 24/7 Virtual Care you can see a doctor online from home anytime, day or night.

Our services are available to anyone with an internet connection and a compatible device (smartphone or computer). Virtual Care is conducted over a secure health care platform, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.

Get complete information on our 24/7 Virtual Care offering, and a link to schedule an appointment.

Services

What services do you offer and what conditions do you treat?

We treat adults and children three and older with non-life-threatening illness and/or injury that needs prompt attention. Learn about our services

• We are not an emergency room. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, including chest pain, dizziness, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, trouble breathing or speaking, or severe abdominal pain, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

We provide care for a wide range of illness and injuries, including allergies, asthma, coughs, bronchitis, colds, flu, COVID-19, fever, headache, broken bones, sprains and strains, eye and ear infections, rashes, cuts, sexually transmitted infections, stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Learn about the conditions we treat

What type of diagnostic tests do you offer?

Our centers perform certain diagnostic tests (digital X-ray, EKG, blood, and other lab tests) for patients receiving urgent care when the treating clinician determines they are necessary for diagnosis and/or treatment.  For example, if you sprain your ankle, we may take an X-ray to confirm that you do not have a broken ankle.  These tests are not available for non-urgent-care purposes.

If I have an order from my primary care doctor for blood work or an X-ray, can I get those tests done at one of your facilities?

No. We are not a testing site for routine blood tests or X-rays ordered by your primary care physician. For these, please visit a Mass General Brigham hospital, outpatient center or testing site that offers these services.

I don't have a primary care doctor. Can you help me find one?

Yes. We are part of a large network of providers from across Mass General Brigham, including primary care providers and world-class specialists. To search primary care providers who are accepting new patients, view our Find-a-Doctor directory.

Insurance and payment of your bill

Will my insurance cover my visit and what types of insurance do you accept?

Please call your insurance provider for details related to your specific individual health insurance coverage, urgent care co-pay rates, or deductibles.

You may also call customer service at 844-377-4199 to verify if your insurance is accepted.

When contacting your insurance, please be ready to provide member ID and plan information, found on your insurance card. For more information on how to read your insurance card, please visit the billing and insurance section of our website.

When contacting your insurance, please be ready to provide member ID and plan information, found on your insurance card. For more information on how to read your insurance card, please visit the billing and insurance section of our website.

We accept most major insurance. We also offer self-pay rates. View a list of accepted insurances.

How much will my visit cost, and how can I pay my bill?

Complete information about billing is found in the billing and insurance page for express care.