Referral Tips to Ensure an Easy Visit with Your Dermatologist

When you need to see a dermatologist, the first thing that crosses people’s minds is “Will my insurance cover it?” There is often a lot of confusion about which dermatology procedures are covered by insurance. So we’ve put together this list of tips to help clear up some of the confusion and make sure you’re financially prepared for your dermatology appointment.

Let’s begin by determining when and why a dermatology procedure would be covered by insurance. Insurance companies almost always cover treatments that are considered “medical necessities.” In other words, the patient must require treatments that’ll improve their overall health in order to qualify for coverage.

These conditions may include skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, shingles, infections, rashes, various skin allergies and more. To get a full list of medical conditions and their treatments covered, call your insurance provider.

As far as cosmetic procedures are concerned, most cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance Why? Because many cosmetic dermatology treatments are considered elective procedures and not medical necessities, thus having no impact on your overall health. There may be exceptions, however, for conditions like severe acne that would otherwise be deemed a non-medical necessity.

Now that you have a basic idea of what is and isn’t covered, you can follow these tips to help your appointment run smoothly.

Tip #1: Go over your insurance policy.

Your insurance plan will most likely give you a simple overview of your coverage. You may have had your policy mailed to you but it may also be available online.

Tip #2: Make a call to your insurance company.

Reading your policy by yourself just may raise more questions than it can answer. To avoid misinterpreting the information in your policy, go ahead and call your insurance provider. They’ll be able to answer your questions directly and help you with your particular circumstance.

PRO TIP: Be sure to ask if a referral from your primary doctor is required.

Tip #3: Find out if your dermatologist will accept your insurance.

You wouldn’t want to go through the stress of choosing a dermatologist that is right for you and setting up an appointment only to find out that they don’t accept your insurance. Save yourself the trouble and find out beforehand.

PRO TIP: If your dermatologist does not accept your insurance or your insurance won’t pay for your treatment, you may inquire about alternate payment methods like setting payment plans.

BONUS Tip #4: Make sure to choose a great dermatologist.

Knowing what to expect from your insurance company is great, but choosing the right dermatologist is just as important. As we mentioned, you need to be sure your dermatologist will accept your insurance. But beyond that, here are 4 things to keep in mind when making your choice:

1) Make sure they are board certified.

There’s nothing more comforting than knowing that your dermatologist has received proper education, training, and experience. If they are certified, they’ll proudly display their credentials either in their office or on their website. If you don’t see credentials of any kind, leave. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

2) Research clinic info.

The clinic or hospital in which your dermatologist works should have readily available info on the net. Do a quick search to find out the type of doctors that are employed there and their respective ratings as well as the rating of the institution as a whole.

3) Determine if gender matters to you.

For some, especially women, people prefer to have a dermatologists that is the same sex. If this matters to you, it is perfectly reasonable, so feel free to browse and find a dermatologist that you would be most comfortable with.

4) Consider communication abilities.

Being able to comfortably and easily communicate with your dermatologist is crucial. You need to be able to clearly understand what is being conveyed to you, while also being able to easily communicate back.

Our experts at The Dermatology Group are a diverse group of experienced dermatologists. We will gladly help you go over your treatment options and questions while providing resources and advice. Give us a call today!