3 Important Questions To Ask Before Making a Doctor’s Appointment

10/11/2019

Not all health insurance is created equal. If you have medical insurance, you must ask the following questions before you arrange for a doctor's appointment.

Will My Health Plan Cover My Doctor?
Whether you already have a doctor or you're looking for a specialist, find out if your health insurance plan covers the doctor you choose. You may call your doctor and ask if your brand of insurance is accepted or you may find out by checking your provider's doctors' or specialists' directory from their website.

After verifying, ask a representative if you need authorization before you visit your doctor. Without approval, you might be charged with professional fees and procedures that your plan may have covered.
Will My Health Card Cover Procedures That I Need To Get Done?
Almost all private medical plan covers necessary procedures and services, including emergency services, newborn maternity services, and even prescription drugs. Essential procedures like drug tests, urine tests, imaging such as x-rays and ultrasound, and more. However, it pays to be sure.

Contact your health insurance provider and ask about your covered procedures so you'll be guided if your physician orders these. Meanwhile, some health plans offer additional coverage; therefore, you must check these out before you begin.
What Are The Costs?
Different health plans have separate policies. Most companies offer the best deals when you make an appointment with a doctor who's affiliated by your card. This is called in-network provider. Some plans may allow you to visit a doctor that has no contract with your health plan as an out of network provider. With an out of network provider, you will pay more out of your wallet.

Avoid surprises by getting to know the services that are and are not covered by your provider. Health insurance deductibles vary, so it's best to find these out before your actual consultation. Some insurance plans may only offer a co-payment for primary health care consultations before your deductibles are met. There are also some health insurance companies that provide discounts on services, including reduced prices on generic medications.

If you’re planning on visiting your doctor soon, it pays to find out this information so you can make smart decisions regarding your health.

At Berlin & Denys Insurance, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get the insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (800) 946-3303. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.

16 Comments

Eileen Benson link

1/29/2020 12:18:54 pm

Thanks for the tip to figure out what procedures are covered by our insurance so we know what to do when the physician recommends something. I'll be moving to a new city for my job next month and will need to find a reliable primary care doctor nearby. I'll follow your advice to help my doctor's appointments go smoothly in the future!

Victor Ursan link

3/5/2020 11:58:17 pm

These are great suggestions but there are some emergency situations where you have limited time and choices. What are your ideas for those scenarios?

rachel frampton link

6/1/2020 10:52:32 pm

My health has been unstable lately; that's why I'm currently looking for a primary care service that'll be able to help me throughout my condition at any time of the day. I'm glad you shared this; I'll make sure to contact my insurance provider and ask about my covered procedures. I'll also keep in mind to check various health plans as well because according to you, the policies differ depending on the company.

Shaylee Packer link

6/25/2020 06:32:51 am

As you mentioned, it is a good idea to find out if your health plan covers the doctor you are going to see. We recently moved to a new town, and need to find a doctor for the kids. I will have to keep these tips in mind as we continue the searching process.

Dr. Sanjay Sharma link

6/26/2020 05:00:04 am

Yes, exactly right, these are the most important questions. Except these, there is one more question that is, "Is it a permanent cure or a symptomatic treatment?".

Thanks for the nice post!

Rebecca Gardner link

7/13/2020 09:28:45 am

I'm glad you mentioned that we need to research the services offered by the health care provider to avoid surprises when we start seeing them. My husband and I will need to find a family medicine provider when we move to a new city for his job this September. Thanks for helping me feel prepared to get the most from seeing a doctor regularly!

Franklin White link

7/20/2020 08:40:13 am

Thanks for the tip to make sure the doctor you choose is covered by your healthcare plan. I have never been to a primary care doctor ever since I moved out of my parents' house. I'll get some insurance and find a doctor that excepts it.

Rosie Beckett link

8/17/2020 10:25:33 am

I got promoted to Director of Marketing at my company a few months ago, and that meant moving my family across the country. Now that we are all settled into our new home, it's time for us to get our yearly physicals at the doctor. I haven't had a chance to find a local doctor in my new area yet, and these tips helped me a lot! You make a great point that I should make sure the doctor I choose is an in-network provider for my insurance.

Daphne Gilpin link

12/7/2020 10:40:41 am

I like your suggestion to learn what specific services are and aren't covered before our appointment. I think my husband should go to a health clinic soon since he started having contact fatigue about two weeks ago. Thanks for teaching me what factors to consider to move forward confidently with finding a local health clinic!

Amy Winters link

1/12/2021 08:30:32 am

I like how you said that some plans allow you to visit out-of-network providers. My friend from church will be moving soon and is looking for a primary care network in her new area. I'll share your advice so she can ask the right questions when finding a primary care doctor that'll work with her family's insurance!

Eli Richardson link

2/22/2021 10:54:24 am

It really helped when you said it's important to ask about quotes before making a doctor's appointment. My sister just found out she's pregnant, and since she just moved to another part of town, she needs to find a new doctor. She's very careful when selecting her health care, so I think this article will benefit her. I appreciate your tips about what to consider before visiting a doctor.

Kristofer Van Wagner link

2/25/2021 09:38:54 pm

I do agree that before choosing a family physician, it is advisable for us to consider the costs. It makes sense for us to be aware of the costs as it will ensure that we are able to pay the treatment. Assuming that I need to be treated by a physician, I will definitely have a cost estimation before proceeding with a treatment.

kate hansen link

4/16/2021 03:12:38 pm

It's good to know that you should ask them what the costs will be. My husband has been dealing with some pretty bad back pain for the past couple of weeks, and he wants to make sure that he does everything right once he finds a place to get an appointment. I'll make sure to pass these tips along to him once he finds a medical clinic to go to.

Taylor Hicken link

7/1/2021 08:43:45 pm

I appreciated it when you shared that it is important to find out if your health insurance plan will cover the cost of your doctor's appointment. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is planning to take her son to a reliable clinic since he keeps on being sick lately. I will suggest to her going to a reliable primary health care that the insurance plan can cover.

Beverly Minyard link

8/2/2021 11:30:44 am

Thank you for mentioning making sure that they will take your insurance. I just moved to a new state after living in the same town my whole life and I am needing to find new health care providers. Thank you for the tips they definitely saved me a lot of time by making sure that a provider takes my insurance before making an appointment.

Adam Golightly link

8/20/2021 10:56:50 am

My dad has been having a lot of problems because he can't get around as much because he hurts. He would really like to get some help from a professional that will give a house call to see what is wrong. I liked what you said about how he should understand what will be paid for the visit, and if they fit within his insurance plan, or he may be paying more out of the wallet.

Berlin & Denys Insurance Blog