By: Rachael Heger

Most of us remember going to a doctor’s appointment as a kid, getting a sucker or a sticker after a shot, and maybe an early dismissal from school.  What you probably don’t remember is how your doctor was chosen and how that appointment was made.

This survival guide aims to break down how to find a doctor and make an appointment, no parents needed.  For the purposes of this guide, we’ll assume you have health insurance, either through your job, through the Marketplace, or because you’re on your parents’ as you’re under 26. 

While you might want to see a specialist for a specific issue, chances are you need to find a Primary Care Provider (PCP) first.  You can ask trusted friends for a recommendation for their doctors, or you can search online for a PCP near you.  Looking for a physician through your health insurance provider’s website is also a good option.  You can learn a little bit more about them on websites, but the first and most important questions to ask are: 1) Are you accepting new patients? And 2) Do you accept my insurance?  Even if you see that the answers are ‘yes’ to both of those online, you need to double-check with the office before your appointment.

You might be able to schedule an initial appointment online.  If so, you’ll need to provide information from your insurance card, such as the plan and group numbers.  If you can’t schedule through a portal, a short phone call will generate an email with an invitation to an online portal.  

You could be asked if you are OK seeing a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or a Physician’s Assistant (PA) instead of a physician.  For a routine exam, annual check-up, or establishing care, this is usually fine.  If you have a more chronic or complex issue, you can choose differently. 

Don’t be surprised if it takes months to get into a doctor.  It’s a great idea to make an appointment when you don’t have any big issues, so you can establish care.  Once you’re officially a patient, it’ll be easier to get in when you do actually get sick.  

When it’s the day of your appointment, be sure to bring these things with you to your appointment: 

  • Photo ID
  • Insurance card
  • Credit card for copay
  • List of medications/vitamins/supplements and dosages
  • A written list of questions for your doctor

So long as you’re not in danger, everything you tell your doctor will be confidential.  To get the best care, it’s really important that you’re honest, especially about the hard stuff: drinking, drugs, and the number of sexual partners.