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How do I know which doctor I am allowed to see on my medical insurance?
I have been suffering from what I believe are anxiety attacks. I am not sure and want to go to the doctors to make sure. My mom won't take me because, well, she's my mom. We have medical insurance (cigna). I was told that I could go to your average family physician for mental health check ups. Well I have my medical card and I have money, I was wondering if I could just call any doctor's office and set up an appointment or if I have to call specific ones in order for it to be covered.
I live in Utah
17 Female.
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Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
What doctors you can see will depend on the type of insurance you have. There are basically two types of medical coverage; HMO and PPO. PPO is Preferred Provider Option; having this type of insurance allows you to go to any doctor that accepts cigna insurance. HMO insurance requires that you go to a cigna doctor who is an HMO provider. This doctor is referred to as a gate keeper as you must first see this doctor in order to see any specialist.
If it is not shown on your insurance card as to the type of insurance you have, then call the customer service number on the insurance card to find out. While speaking to the customer service representative, and once you find out if you have HMO or PPO coverage you can then ask how to find a list of doctors who accept cigna insurance in your area. You will most likely be directed to their website.
The biggest differences between HMO and PPO is that with the HMO you pay nothing more, generally, for doctors visits or testing. This is a covered under the HMO policy. The draw back is that your family doctor is their gate keeper, the one that controls what doctors you can see. The family doctor is suppose to treat what they can before allowing you to see a specialist.
The PPO plan allows you a choice of doctors from their preferred provider network. No referrals are required to see specialist though you will have a co-pay at time of treatment. Tests, hospital stays and other things are covered usually on an 80/20 type basis.
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If you want to be certain you could call the office ahead of time and ask them if they accept your insurance, Another option would be you could see if you could find a clinic that would accept your medical insurance but if there were to be a small fee afterward that they would allow you to go on a sliding scale. ( Pay little amounts every month ) One place that allows this is Thundermist. You can google it up to see if they have one in your local area and if not then you can ask this question when you call as well.
Good luck!
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