3 Tips for Insurance Referrals for Your Dermatology Visit

When you’re not sure what to do about your skin issues, your primary care physician (PCP) may refer you to a dermatology practice. If this is your first time being referred to a dermatologist, here are a few tips to help you for your first appointment.

Make Sure You’re Covered Under Insurance

Regardless of which dermatologist you’re referred to, it pays (literally) to make sure your insurance will cover the cost of your appointment. While in most cases, a referral from your primary care physician does mean you’ll be covered under the same insurance, it’s always a good idea to double check. The last thing you want is to arrive at the dermatology office you were referred to and find out that they can’t accept the insurance policy that you’re covered under. The first thing you can do to make sure you’re covered is to ask your PCP when they give you the referral in the first place. On the off chance that they’re not sure, do a little bit of research on your own. A simple phone call to the practice you were referred to can usually provide answers. And if your insurance isn’t accepted, you’ll be prepared to ask your PCP for a different referral.

Make a List of Skin Concerns

One of the most important things you can do before your first appointment at the dermatology office your PCP referred you to is make a list of your current skin concerns. Odds are if you secured a referral, there’s a skin issue that your PCP believes a dermatologist could treat more effectively. For example, if you’ve been taking birth control for acne and haven’t been seeing results, a dermatologist may be able to find a more appropriate and effective treatment thanks to their experience specifically with skin care. If you write down this issue before your appointment, you’ll remember to bring it up first, which can help both your and your new dermatologist move things along more quickly. In addition, one of your skin concerns might tip your dermatologist off to an underlying issue that you weren’t previously aware of. Preparing your list before your first appointment is positively key to ensuring your referral turns into a lasting relationship with your new dermatologist.

Make Note of Medications You’re Currently Taking

It might not seem important to tell your new dermatologist what medications and supplements you’re taking because they don’t deal with skin. But the truth is that one or more of the medications you’re currently taking could be affecting your skin. If you’re unsure of the names of some of the medications you’re taking, ask your doctor for a list of the prescriptions you’ve been prescribed. In most cases, they can send this information over to the practice they’ve referred you to prior to your first appointment. With this knowledge on hand, your new dermatologist can devise the best acne treatment or determine if your current acne medication is having adverse side effects.

Referrals can be extremely helpful when you’re not sure where to turn for your skin issues. If you’re looking for a dermatologist to help you solve your skin problems, contact us today.