How to Get Continuity When Switching Insurance Companies

A change of insurance providers often means that the list of available doctors changes. Managed health care organizations each have their own lists of specialists and internists available to participants. Most patients do not appreciate being forced to find new doctors when they change insurance providers, and doctors typically have an easier time treating familiar patients with known medical histories. Sending patients to new doctors can result in repeated tests and other costly practices to help the doctors treat new patients.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask your doctor if he is part of the managed health care group that provides your new insurance plan. If possible, choose an insurance option that includes your doctor when changing insurance providers. This may not be possible, as employers often change group insurance carriers without consulting their workers.

• 2

  Ask your doctor if she is willing to keep you as a patient, provided your state has continuity protection for pregnant patients and those with serious diseases. Under such insurance regulations, the doctor must agree to continue administering care to any patient changing insurance providers, and the providers must pay for the doctor's services.

• 3

  Call your state's insurance regulatory department or insurance commissioner's office. Ask about any laws designed to help patients retain doctors that new insurance groups do not cover. Some states have regulations that provide continuity protection to patients who are not under a self-insured company plan.

• 4

  Fill out an official request for continuity protection to continue receiving care through the physician from your former insurance plan if your state has such regulations. The state will order the insurance provider to honor visits to your doctor under your coverage plan.