VitaSpan guide · 4 min read
Public records tell you who a provider is. Only the office can tell you what it is like to be their patient. These questions fill that gap.
Access
Access problems are the most common reason people drift away from a provider, so ask about them first.
- Are you accepting new Medicare patients right now?
- How long is the wait for a routine appointment, and for an urgent one?
- Do you offer telehealth visits?
- Which hospital or hospitals do you work with?
Coverage and costs
Never assume. Ask, and write down the name of the person who answered.
- Do you accept my specific plan?
- Will referrals or prior authorisations be needed for common services?
- Which services are usually billed separately?
Communication
Ask how you would reach the clinical team with a question between visits, how quickly messages are usually answered, and whether results are shared through a portal or by phone. A good answer is specific. A vague one is information too.
After hours and continuity
Ask who covers when your clinician is away and what to do in the evening or at the weekend. Knowing this before you need it is calming.
Keep the answers together
The value of a question list is in the comparison, so record every answer in the same place. VitaSpan lets you save providers and keep your checklists and notes for each one on your device, so when it is time to decide you can see the options side by side.
General information only; it is not medical or insurance advice.