MemorialCare's "Get Care Now" Delivers 24/7 Access to Urgent, Primary, and Virtual Care - With Low or No Fees for Californians

Anyone regardless of age or insurance can access, there are no membership or concierge fees. It's just
affordable, pay-as-you-go access to MemorialCare providers, not third-party vendors.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare—a leader in virtual care since 2020—has relaunched its virtual health suite to make access simpler, more affordable, and more convenient across Southern California. A recent study by Healthforce Center at the University of California, San Francisco, shows the average primary care wait time in California has risen to 31 days in 2025, up from 26 days in 2022, driven by a growing shortage of physicians. MemorialCare's new "Get Care Now" feature is open to anyone in California, offering the state's lowest-cost virtual care option, whether or not they are MemorialCare patients.

"In the health care industry, there is a movement toward value-based care, but it's a complex topic and the concept doesn't always make it down to the consumer," says Eugene Kim, M.D., chief medical officer, MemorialCare. "Value-based care is giving the right care, at the right time, for the best and most effective cost—it's a focus on health care, not wealth care. Health care costs continue to rise while access to care declines. This really should be reversed, and we've achieved this with our new relaunched virtual care services."

With "Get Care Now," Californians can access a range of virtual care options – no MemorialCare affiliation required – all fully HIPAA-compliant to protect patient privacy. Free services include a 24/7 symptom checker and AI-powered chat, or access to a live 24/7 call center for guidance from care associates. Care is provided by MemorialCare clinicians, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants and medical doctors.

For $20 per 24/7 QuickCare Visit, users can answer questions about their symptoms online and receive a diagnosis and/or prescription within an hour—or a refund if no diagnosis is made. More than 40 common conditions, such as colds, flu, urinary tract or sinus infections, eye or skin conditions, stomach issues, and more, can be treated this way.

24/7 Virtual Urgent Care is available for an insurance co-pay or $75 self-pay. It connects users to MemorialCare providers through secure video. For MemorialCare patients, "Get Care Now" also includes a 24/7 nurse advice line staffed by dedicated MemorialCare nurses to guide care decisions.

"Imagine what this means for a busy mom with a child who has chronic ear infections, who is awakened in the middle of the night—their child can have a prescription ordered within an hour, without going to the impacted ERs," says Anne LaNova, executive director, digital consumer experience, Virtual Health, MemorialCare. "Apart from the convenience factor, it also creates a more affordable option for those who may not have a primary care physician and eliminates the need for the ER to be someone's only choice for medical care."

Every virtual visit is led by MemorialCare physicians or nurses—never contracted third parties—ensuring personalized, high-quality care. The pay-as-you-go program doesn't require monthly or annual subscriptions like other health systems. MemorialCare's virtual health services extend beyond physical care, offering virtual mental health support as well.

"Our mission is about creating access that serves and benefits everyone in our community, treating everyone with the love, dignity and respect they deserve through health care," says Dr. Kim. "This program allows us to extend our reach without asking for monthly or yearly subscriptions."

Care is available anytime by calling (877) 696-3622 or visiting memorialcare.org/get-care-now.

About MemorialCare
MemorialCare is a not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system with 225 care locations including leading hospitals—Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach; MemorialCare Medical Group and MemorialCare Independent Physicians; MemorialCare Research Program; MemorialCare Select Health Plan; and numerous outpatient health, imaging, surgery, urgent care, physical therapy, breast health and dialysis centers throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. A leader in virtual health care service since 2020, MemorialCare's "Get Care Now" feature is open to anyone who needs primary or virtual care in California. Accolades include Nation's Best Health Systems and Workplaces, Best of Orange County and Long Beach Hospitals and Medical Groups, U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and "high performing" in more than 30 clinical categories, and Newsweek World's Best Hospitals, Top 100 Hospitals, Best Maternity Hospitals – and more. Visit memorialcare.org.

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SOURCE MemorialCare