[Lisa]

This seemed counterintuitive to me, but if you have an issue that you think will need an orthopedic, don’t bother starting with a primary care doctor.

I’ve actually found it to cost LESS. Generally they have insight that a primary care doesn’t, even if it’s not a broken bone.

If the primary care does find something, they are going to send you on to an orthopedic anyhow, and many times they will want to do their own x-rays, so you are starting from scratch.

I know it varies, but to give you an idea, my son had a knee issue. After the insurance “adjustment” it was $127 for the visit and 3 x-rays.

Just the visit to primary care would have cost us more.

We have more confidence in the orthopedic’s views, and he was able to get in pretty quickly.

[Annette]

My insurance doesn’t allow for such things. In fact I had to see my GP, then the orthopedic gate keeper, then an orthopedic surgeon to flat out lied to me, then a second orthopedic surgeon.

[Kati]

Insurance usually makes you see the GP first to get a referral to go to the ortho.

[Stacey]

My son fell off his skateboard and went to urgent care. Who took X-rays and referred us to another office. And then second doctor referred us to a “sports injury” specialist.

But then it was several weeks out!!! No appointment available earlier.

We never went to the specialist because we were told it’d probably heal before then and it did.

Going to two doctors and seeing an xray was enough.

[Geri]

Unfortunately for most people it’s not up to them, you either have to have no insurance or a plan that doesn’t require you to get a referral from your primary care provider.

If you skip the referral, your insurance isn’t going to cover it if it’s required to have one

[Carol]

I agree with you, however; some specialist require a referral from the primary care.

It’s important to ask.

[Annmarie]

My ins co. Requires you too see your PC for referrals to specialists and for PT too.

[Donna]

When I broke some bones in my hand, I went right to an orthopedist. My insurance didn’t require a referral.

Saw him the next day had x-rays & casting done in the office.

[Patricia]

With a lot of insurance they require primary care provider referral so won’t always work for insurance coverage.

[Tina]

We have an orthopedic urgent care that you can go to instead of regular urgent care or er if you have an orthopedic issue.

Great money saver

[Stephanie]

Offices around here require a referral from a walk in, emergency room, or primary doctor.

Sometimes even one inside their own practice.

[Author]

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