Find Doctors In-Network: A Simple Guide to Insurance Coverage

Health insurance isn't any good if you don't know how to find a doctor who works with the plan in which you're participating. Joining a new insurance group can be quite intimidating until you learn the ins and outs of the system. You must be willing to become proactive about your own health care to determine which types of doctors you need to make an appointment with. Then you can narrow your focus to finding one specific doctor that will accept your new insurance.

Step 1

Call the customer service number on the back of your health insurance card. Ask the representative to mail you a copy of the insurance manual for your county. This manual should list all of the doctors, including specialists, who are currently accepting the insurance.

Step 2

Question the insurance representative while you are on the phone instead of waiting for her to mail you a manual, especially if you're in immediate need of a doctor. The insurance representative will have ready access to a list of all of the doctors accepting the insurance. She can give you names, numbers and addresses over the phone.

Step 3

Contact the doctor you received information on to confirm that he does indeed still accept your insurance. If the manual hasn't been updated, there is a chance that the doctor has opted out of the insurance. If that is the case, move on to the next doctor on your list.

Tip

You can also visit your local hospital's webpage. Hospitals often list each doctor affiliated with the hospital, as well as the insurance that each doctor accepts.

Provide your doctor with some information on your insurance and ask him to consider accepting it, if he currently doesn't.

Warning

Do not make an appointment with any doctor that does not accept your insurance. If you do, you will be liable for the entire balance.