Find the right primary care provider

As you get older, your health needs change and become more complex. A primary care provider (PCP) can help you navigate these changes, while looking at the whole picture. Your trusted partner in health, this doctor knows your medical history and is ready to help when anything comes your way.

Primary care and preventive care go hand in hand. Just as you take your car in for maintenance to avoid a breakdown later, taking care of yourself and getting regular checkups can prevent health issues and catch them earlier on.

Best of all, most health plans include an annual preventive care checkup that's covered at 100% when you use an in‑network provider (Check your plan or contact us for specific information about your health benefits).

• Sign in and use Find a Doctor
  First step? Take advantage of the tools at your fingertips at regence.com. Find a Doctor can help you search for a primary care provider nearby. Remember to sign in first, so you get personalized results showing you providers in your network who accept your health plan. Going to a provider in your plan's network helps you avoid out-of-network costs if your plan has out-of-network benefits, or having to pay in full out of pocket if it doesn't.
• Choose the type of provider you want
  Primary care providers can be doctors, physician assistants or nurse practitioners, and they can specialize in family practice, general practice, internal medicine or geriatrics. A geriatrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of older adults and has completed training to become certified in geriatrics. And they're not just for the very old or frail—they can be a good fit for anyone over the age of 60. To find a provider by specialty, sign in and use Find a Doctor, then search for "geriatrics" or the specialty you want.
• Do a quality check
  When it comes to your health, quality matters. Do your research and look for a board-certified provider, which means that they're not only licensed, but they've completed more training and passed a rigorous process of testing.
• Read reviews and ask around
  Did you know you can read provider reviews on Find a Doctor? See what other patients have to say about their experience. And once you find a good provider, help other Regence members out by leaving a review, too. Your family or friends might also have a recommendation. Find out why they did or didn't like the doctor, and keep in mind that everyone's different and what works for a friend may not work for you.
• Reach out and have a conversation
  Compatibility might be the most important deciding factor when choosing a primary care provider. Do you feel comfortable with them? How do they explain things? Do they listen well? Sometimes you can schedule an introductory phone call before scheduling an appointment, or you can go in for a face-to-face visit. And it's always OK to decide that someone isn't a good fit and continue your search.
  

When it comes to your health, choosing a primary care provider is one of the most important decisions you'll make, and it's well worth it to find the right one. Having a go-to doctor can improve your health—and your overall health care experience.