Picking a PCP: Tips for Finding Your Perfect Primary Care Physician
It’s important to have a relationship with your primary care doctor (PCP), but sometimes you might want a new doctor depending on circumstances. So what do you even look for in a PCP, or how do you even find the one who will work with you best? Today, I’m going over the best practices when deciding on a primary care physician and what you should look for when on the search. Your PCP is the mechanic to your body and makes sure everything is working properly. What kind of relationship do you want with yours?
The Different PCP Types
There are many different types of PCP. There are family medicine doctors who work with people of all ages, and internal medicine doctors who generally care for people age 14 and up and have a broad understanding of the internal organs of the adult body. For many women, a gynecologist physician is a resource for understanding the female body. Some pediatricians are trained to take care of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. Medical doctors are licensed to practice medicine and have 4 years of medical school experience. You also might have a PCP that has help from mid-level providers to help take care of patients, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Each PCP varies a little so it’s important to pick one that is best suited for you.
In Network or Out?
Depending on your plan, your doctors will most likely need to be in-network. This means that the PCP has a contract with your insurance, which gives you a chance to receive discounts; it also means you will pay less out-of-pocket for visiting your in-network doctor. An out-of-network PCP means you will have to pay in full if you visit them. So how do you know which network to choose? If you know of a doctor who you might have a good relationship with, but they aren’t in your carrier’s network, it might be a good idea to get an out-of-network plan. If you are looking for a certain type of specialist, it will probably be easier to find someone who can help in your network than trying to find one outside and paying that bill.
Recommendations
You can always ask family members, co-workers, or friends for suggestions on a physician you feel comfortable with. Be sure to visit the doctor to get a feel for if you will be comfortable with them. Your health is important and having someone in your corner is important. Picking a PCP can be difficult, but these tips should help you narrow down your selections. For more tips on finding your perfect PCP, click here.
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The first place you should start when looking for a primary care doctor is determining whether they are in-network. Thank you for these tips.
These are some great tips for finding and choosing a primary care physician. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing tips on finding your perfect primary care physician. Our health insurance is part of our monthly and/or annual expenses, and I like how you’ve mentioned it would be easier to find someone in your network for a chance to receive discounts or pay less out-of-pocket, depending on your medical plan. We would surely be considering getting a primary care doctor who has a contract with our insurance provider to save on whatever we can, depending on our needs. Thank you!
My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor to help her, and it would be important for us to know that we could find the right one. If we decide to find a doctor, I will be sure to look for one who specializes in her needs, so I could be confident that we could trust in our choice of who we should hire.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a doctor who is within your insurance network. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor to help us if we choose to find a new doctor, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we choose to find a doctor, I will be sure to look for one who will accept our insurance plan.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a doctor who specializes in your needs. My wife wants to find a new doctor for her specific needs. If she does, I will be sure to mention that she should find a specialist.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a doctor who is within your insurance network. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor who is close to our new home, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we choose to find a doctor, I will be sure to check if they are within our insurance network.
I like the tip that you gave to check if a doctor is within your insurance network before you hire them. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor for our kids. If we do, I will be sure to look for one who is within our insurance network.
I like the tip that you gave to look for a doctor who is within your insurance network. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor to help us when we will need them, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we decide to find a doctor, I will be sure to look for one who is within our insurance network.
It was very helpful when you suggested to choose a PCP who is the right type for your needs. We want to find one to help our family when we move to a new home. When we do, I will be sure to check their specialties to see if it will match our needs.
Thank you for your comments. You can always call one of our agents to ask questions or to get help. We’d love to help you. The number is (844) 410-1320
These tips are important for anyone to follow if they truly want to find the perfect primary care doctor for them. Thanks for posting!
You’re welcome and thank you for your comments. I’m glad you like our posts.
Thanks for the tip on choosing a doctor that is in-network, so that we won’t have to pay as much in pocket as if we got an out-of-network primary care physician. My kids are getting into more injuries and we are looking for a good doctor that works really well with kids. We plan to find a good facility nearby that will meet the needs of our family.
I didn’t know before how important it is to find a doctor who you might have a good relationship with, so I appreciate that you mentioned it. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor to help us with whatever medical needs that we may have in the future, and it would be great if we could enjoy seeing who we would choose to hire. When we look for one, I will be sure to consider if we will have a good relationship with them, so we could find the right one to help us.
You made a good point when you said that I should ask for recommendations for a good primary care physician from my trusted friend and family. My boyfriend moved into my city a few months ago. He’s looking for a primary care physician, so I’ll try to ask some of my loved ones for recommendations soon. Thanks.
Levi, you can certainly look at your insurance carrier’s provider list and find some close to you. But also I found a good place to get recommendations was from Nextdoor and Facebook, from friends and neighbors. We hope you have a glorious 2021 and stay safe.