Your insurance may require you to receive services from a designated network of doctors. These network providers have agreed to offer your insurance carrier a preferred discount on services.

• A plan that requires you to designate a primary doctor or network, and also requires you to see that doctor before seeing a specialist, is a primary driven plan.

• An open access plan allows you to see any doctor or facility within your network whenever you want.

Some insurance plans also ask that you call ahead before a hospital stay or surgery. This gives the carrier an opportunity to help make sure you are getting the right care at the best price. Contact your carrier.

What this means for YOU:

It is in your best interest to use a doctor in your insurance plan’s network and call ahead before major procedures. That way so that you can take advantage of the doctor’s discount given to you and your insurance company, and be sure you’re always getting the best price.