Anonymous wrote:Are people over the age of 55 elderly? Some look elderly.

I was surprised at the number of people who didn't have insurance and used the CVS Minute Clinic.

By the way, I am one of those people who loves CVS. I unfortunately had great insurance with the ACA marketplace with Aetna/CVS. They're no longer offering the insurance next year 2026.

Did you have Innovation Heath? I loved that insurance and am so disappointed it is not being offered again. Did you find any good replacement?

Urgent care is often the fastest option for getting treated. The ER is a long and unpleasant wait and your doctor’s office may not have openings.

Lots of people use it for convenience with insurance. Kid has an ear infection...wait till tomorrow or take care of it tonight. UTI minute clinic is simpler than a Drs appointment.

There is a shortage of PCPs.

I'm not "elderly" and I suppose one could debate whether or not I'm "affluent" (I would say no, but I suppose many would say yes) but I have gone to the Minute Clinic multiple times because it was impossible to get in to see my "regular physician." She's booked out for months, and the NPs in that practice are incompetent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to use CVS Minute Clinic for employment TB test and physical.

While there, the healthcare provider said she sees patients who need to go to a hospital.

They end up going to an ER and hospitalized for five days for high blood pressure, heart issues, etc.

I was really surprised because it's an affluent area, where I thought they would have private health insurance or Medicare supplemental insurance and see regular physicians.

She said no. Maybe they are too young for Medicare.

Maybe you thought wrong? There are many people in this area who live outside their means.

Also - too young for Medicare means they were not elderly.

They can also live with family. My mil had early onset dementia, no money and Medicare only paid 80-20. Her social security put her right above the cut off for Medicaid and 20% is a lot. In her home state she got Medicaid but here the cut off was different. My parents have owned their house for 50 years so they may not be poor but not at an equal level to those buying now.

Anonymous wrote:I had to use CVS Minute Clinic for employment TB test and physical.

While there, the healthcare provider said she sees patients who need to go to a hospital.

They end up going to an ER and hospitalized for five days for high blood pressure, heart issues, etc.

I was really surprised because it's an affluent area, where I thought they would have private health insurance or Medicare supplemental insurance and see regular physicians.

She said no. Maybe they are too young for Medicare.

Maybe you thought wrong? There are many people in this area who live outside their means.

Also - too young for Medicare means they were not elderly.

Even people who live in affluent areas appreciate convenience.

Some people with high blood pressure might not know it because they don’t go to doctors. And when they go to CVS mint clinic for something else they could get diagnosed with very high blood pressure and sent to ER.

Urgent care is cheaper than the er and more convenient for basic things. I use an online dr a lot when I am sick even they the er is covered as I don’t want to catch anything else or go out when that sick. It takes me weeks to see a primary care except if I get lucky or 6-9 months for specialists and testing via the military that outside takes weeks. I just want quick and easy. Our local urgent care will not treat me due to a suspected other diagnosis.

Are people over the age of 55 elderly? Some look elderly.

I was surprised at the number of people who didn't have insurance and used the CVS Minute Clinic.

By the way, I am one of those people who loves CVS. I unfortunately had great insurance with the ACA marketplace with Aetna/CVS. They're no longer offering the insurance next year 2026.

If you go to the ER and are not admitted, your insurance can ding you and not cover things because they say you should have gone to urgent care. If you go to urgent care first, they have to code it at the ER as an Urgent Care referral and everything will be covered. So, unless I think I am actually dying, I go to Minute Clinic first and get a referral. I have been burned before.

That was my Dad. Didn't want to go to the ER so went to urgent care that sent him to the ER.

Because nobody can get in same day to see a physician? And they can't be elderly and too young for Medicare.

I had to use CVS Minute Clinic for employment TB test and physical.

While there, the healthcare provider said she sees patients who need to go to a hospital.

They end up going to an ER and hospitalized for five days for high blood pressure, heart issues, etc.

I was really surprised because it's an affluent area, where I thought they would have private health insurance or Medicare supplemental insurance and see regular physicians.

She said no. Maybe they are too young for Medicare.