Can I make an apointment to see a specialist at a hospital or do I HAVE to go through my GP?
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ANSWERS: 3
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You need to check with your insurance company. You can always make an appointment with whatever kind of doctor you want, but your insurance may or may not approve it unless you get a referral to the specialist. (I am assuming this answer is for anyone in the US, I don't know how other countries work.)
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I see from your profile you're in England, me too! You have to be referred by your GP if you're planning to use an NHS specialist. If you have private health insurance such as BUPA I'm pretty sure you can refer yourself. However, sometimes you still need a referral letter from your GP if you make an appointment at a private hospital. I just made an appointment to see a dermatologist at a private hospital, but I need to get a referral letter from my GP, even though I'm already under that dermatologist in an NHS hospital! They're easy to get though, doctors don't care when you're paying.
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You can make an appointment with whomever you choose, but if you have health insurance, and you want them to pay on the claim from that visit, you should call the insurance company first and find out if you have to be referred to the specialist by an approved doctor.
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