how to find a doctor

10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a New Doctor

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When looking for a new physician, some people just search 'doctor near me' and hope for the best. However, just because a doctor is close doesn't mean they're the best fit for you, or even a good one. Rather than taking a chance on a stranger with your family's health, try asking these questions before making your choice.

Do They Accept My Insurance?

It may seem obvious, but checking with your insurance company first to make sure a doctor's services will be covered should be the first thing you do before visiting any doctor. If they do not accept your insurance, you'll be paying out of pocket or filing for out of network coverage, both of which are expensive which is expensive. While it can be a hassle to have to call, it will be an even bigger pain to have to deal with huge medical bills.

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What Sort of Copays Should I Expect?

Don't let your insurance company off the line quite yet! Depending on what insurance plan you have, there may be a copay for certain types of visits. For instance, office visits may have a copay, while physicals might not. Depending on your insurance plan and anticipated medical needs, it might make sense to choose one doctor over another based on copay policies.

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What In-Office Services Do They Offer?

Many primary care providers offer in-office services, including wart and skin tag removal, cryotherapy, trigger point injections, botox, X-rays, EKGs and more. If you have a history of dermatological problems, are interested in plastic surgery, or expect to need any other medical services in the future, you could save yourself time and money by choosing a general practitioner whose office can cover your needs without forcing you to see someone else.

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Are They Accepting New Patients?

Once you're done speaking with your insurance provider, it's time to deal with the doctor's office. Healthcare is always in high demand, and that means you also need to check the availability of your desired doctor. If they accept many kinds of insurance or have a particularly good reputation, they might already have too many patients to take on more, leaving you out of luck.

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What Is the Average Wait Time?

Different doctors have different workloads, and some office staff are just better at processing documents and patients in a timely manner. A doctor might not be able to answer this question directly, but by looking at online review sites, such as Healthgrades or Vitals, you can get an idea of how long people have to wait to see a given doctor, not to mention other thoughts fellow patients might have. Just be sure to take the reviews with a grain of salt — after all, not all bad reviews are necessarily reasonable.

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Do They Accept Walk-Ins?

If you have a primary care provider that allows existing patients to walk in and receive instant care, you know that when you suddenly get sick, you can rely on them to take care of you. This is a great option for kids, as scheduling an appointment around school days can be a hassle. Just be aware that the added convenience might also come with longer wait times.

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Can They Treat My Condition?

If you have a chronic medical condition and are looking for a new doctor, consider making familiarity with that condition one of your key criteria. While most general practitioners have at least some familiarity with most conditions, choosing someone who specializes in care in that area can ensure you receive better treatment and don't end up repeating tests and procedures that you know haven't helped in the past. You can usually find this information on a doctor's website.

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How Large Is Their Staff?

There are advantages and disadvantages to having a family doctor who works at a big hospital. While you might receive more personalized care and even build up a personal relationship with a physician at a smaller hospital, a larger healthcare facility is likely to provide more services and have plenty of choices available if something comes up and your regular doctor can't see you.

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Do They Have Hospital Affiliation?

If a physician has a hospital affiliation, that means that even if they're part of a small practice, they also also have an extensive network to fall back on and can refer you to the right people in the event that you need a specialist. If they're all part of the same hospital network, there's also a good chance that whoever they recommend will also be covered by your insurance, although you should always double check.

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Can They Manage My Medication?

If you are on a psychotic medication or any other controlled substance, there might be additional barriers for some doctors as they may not prescribe controlled substances under certain conditions. Call and ask if they would be willing to work with you on managing these medications and see if they can even help you find a dose that works.

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