Picking a physician to care for your family used to be as simple as asking a friend or two for a recommendation and then calling to make an appointment. Today, simply arranging a time to see actually visit with a family doctor — and not a physician’s assistant — can often be as stressful as the visit itself.
Recent health care changes, even those just going into effect now, have also forced insurers to do more than simply offer up a list of in-network and out-of-network choices for consumers. Today, you’ll probably want to start the process of picking a physician by talking to your insurer rather than only consulting your inner circle. While that’s a tough concept to grasp at first, some trust needs to be placed in your insurer. After all, they’re genuinely looking out for your wellbeing; the healthier you are, the better off they are.
The big news right now for those not covered by an employer’s insurance program is the federal government’s Open Enrollment Period, which begins November 15, 2014 and lasts until mid-February. During this time — and only during this time — families can pick and choose a new plan from the ConnectForHealthCo.com marketplace. If you’re without health insurance, the government will penalize you nearly $1,000 on average for a mid-income family of four.
It’s worth noting that certain situations are granted an exception to the Open Enrollment Period. But, for most families looking for a plan not provided by an employer’s insurance plan, November 15 needs to be marked on the calendar in a big red marker.
Colorado families buying insurance through the government’s marketplace may be able to take advantage of the Child Health Plan Plus program. (Visit Colorado.gov/hcpf for more details.)
Once you’ve worked out your insurance situation, it’s time to select — or, at the very least, rethink, your primary care physician.
Figure out what you need.
Unfortunately, the average family spends more time researching when they switch to a new Internet provider than finding a new doctor, but that doesn’t mean you should.
Every family’s situation is different and it’s important to select your next physician based on criteria more specific than peer recommendations. Ask your friends, certainly, but also make a concerted effort to realize that you can custom tailor your doctor to your family’s demands.
A physician who is part of a group practice may offer more choices for you and your family to see different specialists all under one roof. However, group practices are often heavily in-demand and can sometimes result in a lengthy wait for appointments.
Searching is easy.
All major insurers have comprehensive physician databases on their websites, but one notable change that has occurred over the last few years is that these now allow users to search for more than just a convenient doctor. Now, insurance firms promote doctors based on their specialties, which allows users to narrow down exactly what conditions are ailing them – assuming, of course, they’re not seeking emergency treatment.
Searching for a doctor well versed on treating a particular condition might not be conducive to finding a family physician, but it does help narrow the playing field if there are pre-existing health concerns.
Secondary research.
The Internet, as you can imagine, is full of information about your doctor. Various doctor rating sites offer up at least a glimpse into what other patients have experienced, but these are worth taking with a rather hefty grain of salt. Rarely are satisfied patients so moved to go online and post a glowing review of their doctor. Instead, as with just about any product or service evaluation, an overwhelmingly large number of online reviewers are disgruntled. A negative review or two shouldn’t necessarily scare you off, although it may be an impetus to investigate further.
Simply typing the doctor’s or the practice’s name into a search engine may yield the best results. For example, the physician may have been named in a malpractice suit or, on the other hand, they may be the humble recipient of a major award. Either way, that’s probably something you’d like to know.
Give them a try.
You’ll never know it until you try it. Once you’ve done your research and narrowed down to a doctor or two, consider interviewing their office. A brief phone call or even a quick visit to speak with a nurse could answer some questions.
Think about the following questions:
• At what hospital does the doctor have admitting privileges? Is that hospital highly regarded and convenient to you?
•Does the office process lab work and X-rays in-house or do they send those elsewhere? In-house processing is faster but usually more expensive.
• If the physician is away, who covers for them?
• How are insurance claims handled?