Home > Learning Center > Doctor Referral Service

Doctor Referral Service

Probably the best way to find a doctor is by utilizing family and friend referrals. This way you can ask specific questions, and you will trust the people giving you the referrals. Other options for finding doctors include browsing online or in the yellow pages for possible names to research. There are also referral services available at many hospitals. In many cases, a doctor referral service is your best option.

Even after you’ve found your go-to doctor, however, that won’t be the end of your need for referrals. Your particular health problem might also require a specialist. In these instances, often your regular family doctor will refer you to someone else. In fact, insurance companies often require that this measure be taken when you go to a specialist.

Insurance companies make this requirement to ensure that people don’t rush off to expensive specialists for any minor concern. In short, insurance don’t want the patients to make the claim as to whether a specialist is required, but would prefer a licensed doctor do so instead. This saves them money, of course, but also can give you expert guidance as to what kind of specialist you need, and what kind of specialist will work best with you particular health needs—of which your physician will already be acutely aware.

Part of the logic of requiring these referrals is to make people think about their decisions—sometimes in a panic people will want a number of tests done, but after going through the process and talking their concern over with their physician, that might not be the case. Specialists do tend to perform many tests automatically, and of course insurance companies would prefer to avoid paying them if unnecessary.

However, once you receive a doctor or specialist referral, in most cases your insurance will cover the subsequent visit. Your doctor’s referral letter might be used to call attention to a customer service department or medical group which will help you talk to an authorized person who can help you make sure you are receiving all the insurance you should be as you pay your bills.

If you do need to make a formal complaint regarding denial of payment by your insurance company, you will need the referral letter. Any other important documents should also be attached to your request. This will help you better be able to explain your case. Attaching these documents helps lend your case credibility, which is the main reason insurance companies require a doctor’s referral in the first place.

A doctor referral service can also be obtained online, if you want to get a more diverse opinion than just your family and friends. There are a number of referral networks available on the internet. These are designed to allow you to search for specific criteria as you seek to find the best doctor to meet your needs. These networks can be especially valuable if you’ve just moved to a new area and don’t know anyone yet.


Doctor Referral Service | Family Doctor | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home

Copyright © 2009