Primary Care Physicians

Most health insurance plans that use managed care strategies to contain costs, whether it be a PPO insurance plan or an HMO insurance plan, require you to select a primary care physician who you will visit to treat routine health problems, provide preventive care, monitor your health and diagnoses, and refer you to specialists should the need arise.

Most insurance plans recognize that different people have different health care needs depending on their life stage. As a result of this, you will be allowed to specify a primary care physician for each member of your family. You can list your pediatrician as the primary care doctor for your children, and separate or the same internists, and family care physicians for you and your partner. You can also change your primary care physician at any time by notifying your insurance company.