THE BENEFITS OF SELECTING A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

There are many benefits to having a primary care physician that go beyond annual checkups. Selecting a primary care physician (PCP) is an important part of managing your health and taking full advantage of your medical benefits. Here are three reasons to have a primary care physician:

  1. You have someone you can trust
    When you find a PCP you like, they can follow your health over time, and get to know you, and you can get to know them. A trusting relationship with your PCP can help improve your care because you will be more comfortable discussing problems or changes.
  2. You can get specialty care
    When it is necessary, your PCP can refer you to the right specialist. Because they know you, they can suggest someone with the right qualifications and an approach that matches your health goals, values and desired outcomes.
  3. You can earn the maximum in HRA funding each year
    In order to receive the maximum amount of HRA funding each year, PPO plan participants must complete the annual Personal Health Assessment (PHA), and Kaiser plan participants must complete the annual Health Profile — both require the confirmation of your Primary Care Physician. Don’t miss your chance to avoid a higher deductible next year. By taking the time to find a physician now, you’ll be ready when it comes time to complete your PHA or Health Profile.

For Kaiser Plan participants:

When you choose a doctor, they must be a primary care physician, or as Kaiser calls them — a Personal Care Physician (PCP). PCPs are doctors who practice one of these areas of medicine:

  • adult or internal medicine (specializing in adult care)
  • family or general medicine (health care for you and your whole family)
  • pediatric medicine (care for patients from birth through age 16 to 18, depending on the facility)

In some areas, depending on your plan, you may have even more options for selecting a PCP, such as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. If you are a new member, you will be able to choose from a list of PCPs who are currently accepting new patients. Once you’ve selected a provider, you can change at any time, for any reason.

Click here for instructions on how to find and choose a personal care physician.