When to Use Emergency Care

You need emergency care right away if you suffer an injury or illness that can result in death or permanent disability. Here are some examples of emergencies that require care:
Choking * Severe or Unusual Bleeding * Trouble Breathing * Poisoning * Broken Bones * Severe Chest Pain * Suspected Stroke * Severe Burns * Severe Pain * Seizures * Drug Overdose * Shooting * Stabbing
Care may also be needed for dental emergencies. Emergency dental care is care needed right away for relief from pain, an acute infection, swelling, lockjaw, fever, or trauma.
For emergency care, go to an iCare network provider if possible. Otherwise, if the emergency is severe, go to the nearest hospital, doctor or clinic. You may want to call 911 or your local police or fire department emergency services if the emergency is severe.
Call your PCP
If you must go to a hospital, doctor or clinic that is not within the iCare network, call your PCP as soon as you can and tell them what happened. Then call iCare Member Services at 414-223-4847. This is important so we can help you get follow-up care.
Remember, hospital emergency rooms are for true emergencies only. Call your doctor or iCare Member Services before you go to the emergency room, unless your emergency is severe.
Care Outside of Wisconsin
If you travel outside of Wisconsin and need emergency services, health care providers can treat you and send claims to iCare. You will have to pay for any service you get outside Wisconsin if the health care provider refuses to submit claims or refuses to accept iCare’s payment as payment in full. Benefits are only covered for emergency care.
Emergency Services Outside of the U.S.
Independent Care does not cover any service, including emergency services provided outside of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Click here to see our
ER brochure.

How to Use iCare Services

Now that you are a member of iCare, we would like to let you know how to use the services we have to offer.

Your Care Coordinator

When you join iCare, we assign you to a Care Coordinator who can help you get the health care, social and community services you need. You can call your Care Coordinator to help you choose doctors and they can answer any questions you may have about your health care.

Care Coordinators are on hand Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If it is after these hours, or on the weekend, you can still talk to someone at iCare. A Care Coordinator is always on hand 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Call our Member Services Department at 414-223-4847 to speak to your Care Coordinator or contact them directly.

Your PCP

Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) keeps an eye on all of your medical needs. When you have a health care concern, call your PCP. If you think you need to see another doctor, or a specialist, ask your PCP. Your doctor will help you decide if you need to see another physician, and give you a referral if necessary. Always talk to your PCP to get information about the type of specialist you would like to see. Some specialty services at iCare require a referral, some do not. Your doctor knows when a referral is needed.

Referrals
The following services require a referral from your PCP:

Oral Surgery
Plastic Surgery

Prior authorizations also are required for certain procedures. Your PCP will know when you need a referral and/or prior authorization. If you do not receive a referral for the above services, talk to your PCP or call iCare Member Services at 414-223-4847.

Your Forward Card

Your Forward card is how your doctor will know you are a Medicaid member. Always carry your Forward ID card with you, show it every time you get care and tell your doctor that you belong to iCare. You may have problems getting care or medicine if you do not have your card with you. Also bring any other health insurance cards you may have.

Accessing Urgent Care

Urgent Care is care you need sooner than a routine doctor's visit. Urgent care is not emergency care. Do not go to a hospital emergency room for urgent care unless your doctor tells you to go there. Some examples of urgent care are:

Most broken bones
Minor cuts
Sprains
Bruises
Non-severe bleeding
Most drug reactions
Minor burns

If you need urgent care, call iCare Member Services at 414-223-4847. We will tell you where you can get care. You must get urgent care from iCare network providers unless you get our approval to see a provider that is not with iCare.

Remember, do not go to a hospital emergency room for urgent care unless you get approval from your PCP first.

Away from Home Care

Follow these rules if you need medical care but are too far away from home to go to your PCP or clinic.

For severe emergencies, go to the closest hospital, clinic, or doctor. For urgent or routine care away from home, you must get approval from us to go to a different doctor, clinic or hospital. This includes young adults who are spending time away from home with a parent or relative. Call your Care Coordinator for approval to go to a different doctor, clinic or hospital.

If you move
If you are planning to move or need to report an address or other change, you should contact your Milwaukee County worker if you have one or the Social Security Administration if you have SSI or Medicare. If you move to a different county, you must also contact the Department of Social or Human Services in your new county to update your eligibility.

Milwaukee County Change Center: 414-289-6000
Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213

If you move out of Milwaukee County, call the Enrollment Specialist at 1-800-291-2002 to enroll in a Medicaid, or Title 19 plan in your new area. The Enrollment Specialist will help you choose a new Medicaid health plan. Currently, iCare is only for residents of Milwaukee County (more counties will be added in 2007).

Last updated 08/10/2006