This is not true, many specialists will not book you for an appointment without a referral, no matter what your insurance is. Call one up and try, some will book you but many will not. My friend was told to see a rheumatologist by an emergency room physician. The first 10 or so she called said she couldn't book an appointment without a referral from her PCP. She finally got one to see her with an ER referral rather than a PCP referral. A self-referral would have had no chance.
If you saw a concierge specialist that is cash pay only they'd probably see you no matter what though.
Yes. They don't have time to deal with hypochondriacs who just show up. Unless you are an existing patient asking for followup, or have a referral, many will not schedule you or will maybe give you an appointent six months from now.
Whether you need a referral typically depends on your insurance plan, not the doctor you want to see.
This is not true, many specialists will not book you for an appointment without a referral, no matter what your insurance is. Call one up and try, some will book you but many will not. My friend was told to see a rheumatologist by an emergency room physician. The first 10 or so she called said she couldn't book an appointment without a referral from her PCP. She finally got one to see her with an ER referral rather than a PCP referral. A self-referral would have had no chance.
If you saw a concierge specialist that is cash pay only they'd probably see you no matter what though.
Yes. They don't have time to deal with hypochondriacs who just show up. Unless you are an existing patient asking for followup, or have a referral, many will not schedule you or will maybe give you an appointent six months from now.