FFY: How to Find a Doctor or Hospital in Your Insurance Network

If you are a former foster youth, you may have questions about how to find a doctor or hospital that is in your insurance network. Navigating the health care system can be confusing and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this blog post, we will provide you with tips on how to locate a medical provider that accepts your insurance. 

Step 1: Check Your Insurance Card 
The first step in finding a doctor or hospital that is in your insurance network is to check your insurance card. This card will typically contain information on the company that provides your coverage, the type of plan you have, and contact information for customer service. It may also include a list of hospitals and doctors that accept your plan. Make sure to review this list carefully as it could save you time and money when seeking medical care. 

Step 2: Connect with Your Insurance Provider 
If the list of providers included with your insurance card does not seem comprehensive enough, don’t worry—you can always connect with your insurance provider for more detailed information. Call the customer service number on your card, or visit their member website. When you call them up, make sure to ask any questions you may have about which hospitals and doctors accept your plan as well as what services they offer. The customer service representative should be able to provide you with an updated list of providers who are within the network so that you can make the best decision for yourself and any dependents. Their online tool will likely be able to guide you to providers as well. 

Step 3: Check Online Resources 
In addition to contacting your insurance provider directly, there are also online resources available that can help you quickly find a doctor or hospital in your network. For example, many websites allow users to search by zip code for nearby providers who accept their specific type of plan. This is an especially helpful tool if you need to find a specialist or if there are no providers close by. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you go this route, be sure to ask them if they are "in-network" with your specific insurance plan. "Accepting" your plan but being "out-of-network" will likely increase your costs.                              

Locating an appropriate doctor or hospital within an insurance network can be tricky but certainly not impossible! By following these three steps—check your insurance card, contact customer service at the company providing coverage, and use online resources—you will be well on your way to finding quality health care providers who fit your needs! With this knowledge under your belt, all that’s left is taking advantage of it! Good luck!