
You can visit a specialist if you need expert care for a specific type of problem. Specialists are surgeons, heart doctors, allergy doctors, skin doctors, and other doctors who work in one area of health care.
Most specialists will ask you for a referral from your primary care provider (PCP) before you make an appointment.
How to Make an Appointment
The steps below outline the steps you might need to get a specialist appointment.
Your PCP office might have different steps. Contact your PCP office for specific details on Specialty Referrals in your health care network.
- Talk to Your PCP
- Visit your PCP to talk about your health needs and ask to see a specialist.
- Your PCP will help you decide which specialist to see. The specialist you see may depend on your health needs, insurance, and when the specialist can see you.
- PCP Sends Referral
- Your PCP will send your referral to the specialist by letter or fax.
- Specialist Reviews Referral
- Before you can make an appointment, your referral must be reviewed by the specialist.
- The referral gives you approval to see the specialist.
- Schedule Your Appointment
- Once your referral is reviewed, you will get details on how to make your appointment.
- For specialist care that is not urgent, you should get an appointment within 15 business days.
- If you do not get appointment details for the specialist, talk to your PCP office for help.
- Contact Your PCP
- Your specialist and PCP should work together to give you the best care.
- Contact your PCP after seeing the specialist to talk about the next steps in your health care.