The American health system is complicated and expensive, so it is important to understand what your options are so you can be prepared for when a health emergency occurs.
In this blog post, we're going to talk about 5 health options available in and around Jackson Hole:
Teton Free Clinic in Jackson ($0, eligibility requirements)
Urgent Care $$$
ER / Emergency Room $$$$$
Pharmacy $
Teton Free Clinic ($0)
The Teton Free Clinic is a medical clinic available to qualifying individuals or workers in Teton County, Wyoming. A person must provide documentation to prove that he or she lives or works in Teton County and show proof of income.
Teton Free Clinic can help individuals when they are sick or hurt with a common illness or minor medical condition.
Clinic Hours
Tuesdays: 4-8 PM (Walk-ins only. No appointment necessary.)
Wednesdays: By appointment only. Call 307-739-7492.
Clinic Location
505 E. Broadway, Jackson WY 83001 (directions)
(in the same building as Jackson Pediatrics)
To qualify for services, you must:
live and/or work in Teton County
have a valid photo ID (driver's license, passport)
not have any type of health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Worker's Comp)
fall below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline
What to bring to your first visit
Proof of residence in Teton County (ex: utility bill) or proof of employment in Teton County (paystub, W2 form)
Proof of income
Photo ID (passport, driver's license, consular ID)
A completed patient intake form AND medical history form
Primary Doctor ($$)
A primary doctor or family doctor is someone you may see for an annual check-up or when you have a sickness, like the flu, and can wait to make an appointment. He or she can write prescriptions for you and refer you to a specialist, if needed.
If you have insurance, make sure your doctor is in-network so you pay the minimum amount for the visits. You can find in-network doctors by contacting your insurance provider, going to your health insurance's website, or asking the doctor's office.
Some doctors may have a long list of patients and may not be accepting new patients. If you are looking for a doctor, ask the doctor's office if they are accepting new patients.
Sometimes doctor's offices offer a sliding fee if the patient doesn't have insurance. The fee is based on the patient's family income and other criteria. Inquire to find out more.
Clinic Hours
Most doctor's offices are open Monday - Friday, 8AM - 5PM (by appointment).
Urgent Care ($$$)
Urgent Care clinics are a great place to go when you need quick medical help for problems that are not life-threatening. Unlike regular emergency rooms, which can have long waits and be very expensive, urgent care clinics make it easier to get the care you need at a fraction of the cost. (For an estimate, costs for a visit may be about $50 more than a primary doctor visit.)
Urgent Care clinics can help with many issues, like small injuries, infections, and common sicknesses. This makes them a good choice for people who need care fast and don’t want to make an appointment.
With longer hours and easy-to-reach locations, urgent care clinics are perfect for busy people and families, making sure that good medical help is always available when unexpected health problems come up.
Urgent Care hours vary by location, so make sure you know the open hours for the closest clinic near you. Here is a list of Urgent Care locations around the Jackson Hole area.
St. John's Health Urgent Care
Clinic Location
1415 US-89, Jackson, WY 83001 (map & hours, near Smith's)
Clinic Hours
Every Day 9 AM - 6 PM
Phone
Alpine Urgent Care
Clinic Location
37 Wintergreen Drive, Alpine, WY 83128 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Sunday - Friday 7AM - 7PM
Saturday CLOSED
Phone
Star Valley Urgent Care
Clinic Location
110 Hospital Lane, Afton, WY 83110 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Saturday 7AM - 7PM
Sunday CLOSED
Phone
Teton Valley Health Care Walk-in Care
Clinic Location
30 E Little Ave. Driggs, ID 83422 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday CLOSED
Phone
(208)354-1156
Google Search: Urgent Care near me (search)
ER / Emergency Room ($$$$$)
Choosing to visit the Emergency Room (ER) instead of urgent care is often a matter of urgency and severity of medical conditions.
The ER is equipped to handle life-threatening situations and complex medical emergencies that require immediate attention from specialized medical professionals.
Conditions such as severe trauma, chest pain, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe abdominal pain, stroke symptoms, and severe allergic reactions necessitate the advanced resources and comprehensive care available at an ER.
Here are the ERs/hospitals located in our local Jackson Hole area.
St. John's Health - Jackson Hospital
Location
625 E. Broadway, Jackson WY 83001 (map & hours)
Hours
Open 24 hours / 7 days a week
Phone
(307)733-3636
Star Valley Health - Alpine Hospital
(ER opening January 2025!)
Location
37 Wintergreen Dr., Alpine WY 83128 (map & hours)
Hours
TBD
Phone
(307)654-5700
Star Valley Health - Afton Hospital
Location
901 Adams St., Afton WY 83110 (map & hours)
Hours
Open 24 hours / 7 days a week
Phone
(307)885-5821
Teton Valley Hospital - Driggs Hospital
Location
120 E Howard Ave. Driggs ID 83422 (map & hours)
Hours
Open 24 hours / 7 days a week
Phone
(208)354-2383
Pharmacy ($)
A pharmacy is where you pick up prescription medicine prescribed by your doctor. There are name brands (more expensive) and generic brands (less expensive). Ask the pharmacist if there is a generic brand to get a lower cost.
You may have seen GoodRx advertised on TV. This is a free prescription card that you can sign up for online to receive discounts at participating pharmacies: Albertson's, Costco, Kroger/Smith's, Target, Walgreens, Walmart and more.
Smith's Pharmacy - Jackson
Clinic Location
1425 S Hwy 89, Jackson WY 83001 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Phone
(307)733-8746
Albertson's Pharmacy - Jackson
Clinic Location
105 Buffalo Way, Jackson WY 83001 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Phone
(307)733-9223
Stone Drug
Clinic Location
830 W Broadway, Jackson WY 83001 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Phone
(307)733-6222
Broulim's Pharmacy - Alpine
Clinic Location
118400 US HWY 26/89, Alpine WY 83128 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Phone
(307)877-7781
Victor Drug
Clinic Location
81 N Main St., Victor ID 83455 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday - Sunday CLOSED
Phone
(208)787-3784
Broulim's Pharmacy - Driggs
Clinic Location
240 S Main St., Driggs ID 83422 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Phone
(208)643-3159
Corner Drug
Clinic Location
10 S Main St., Driggs ID 83422 (map & hours)
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Phone
(208)354-2334
Paying Medical Bills
Don't be afraid to ask for assistance with paying for your medical bills.
I'm not familiar with hospitals other than St. John's Hospital in Jackson, but whenever I have a hospital bill over a few hundred dollars, I ALWAYS call to ask if I can get a discount if I pay in full (pay the whole bill). They have ALWAYS offered me a 10-25% discount.
St. John's Health also offers interest-free payment plans as well as financial assistance for patients who are uninsured (no insurance) or underinsured.
What about you?
Do you have a medical story that you would like to share? Where did you go? Would you change anything to save yourself money on medical expenses?
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