Finding a new primary care doctor feels a lot like dating. You’re looking for someone who listens, shows up when it matters, and doesn’t make you feel rushed out the door. Except the stakes are higher because this person will manage your health for years to come. Knowing the right questions to ask a new doctor before committing saves you from the frustrating cycle of switching providers every six months.
Maybe you just moved. Maybe your old doctor retired. Maybe you sat in a waiting room for 90 minutes one too many times. Whatever the reason, you deserve a provider who actually fits your needs, not just the first name your insurance company spits out.
Here are 17 questions organized by theme. Print this list, bring it to your consultation visit, and don’t settle until you find someone who checks the boxes that matter most to you.
Before Your First Visit
Doing a little homework before you walk through the door makes the whole process smoother. Here’s your prep checklist:
- Check your insurance network first. Log into your insurer’s website or call the member services number. Confirm the doctor is in-network and accepting new patients. Networks change quarterly, so don’t rely on a list from six months ago.
- Pull together your medical records. Request records from your previous doctor, including lab results, imaging, medication lists, and immunization history. Most offices can send digital records through a patient portal.
- Write down your full medication list. Every prescription, over-the-counter med, supplement, and vitamin. Include dosages and how often you take each one.
- List your health concerns and priorities. What matters most to you right now? Chronic condition management? Preventive care? Mental health support? Having clarity on your priorities helps you evaluate whether this doctor is the right fit.
- Prepare your family health history. Parents, siblings, grandparents. Note any major conditions: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders. This gives your new doctor context they can’t get from your chart alone.
Availability and Access
1. Are you currently accepting new patients?
This sounds basic, but don’t skip it. Some practices list doctors as available online even when their panels are effectively full. “Accepting new patients” might mean a three-month wait for your first appointment. Ask specifically: how soon can I get in for an initial visit? If the answer is more than 4 to 6 weeks, consider whether that delay works for your situation.
2. What are your office hours, and do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
Standard 9-to-5 hours don’t work for everyone. If you have a demanding job or kids in school, you need flexibility. Some practices offer early morning, evening, or Saturday hours. Others have started offering extended hours through nurse practitioners or physician assistants in the same office.
Also ask about telehealth. Virtual visits for straightforward issues (medication refills, rash evaluations, follow-up questions) can save you hours of commute and waiting room time.
3. How quickly can I typically get a same-day or urgent appointment?
Life doesn’t schedule itself around your doctor’s calendar. When you wake up with a fever of 103 or your kid has an ear infection, you need to be seen that day. Ask how the office handles urgent requests. Do they hold open slots each morning? Is there a nurse triage line? Will you get redirected to urgent care every time something comes up?
A practice that can’t see you within 24 to 48 hours for urgent issues will send you to the ER for things that don’t belong there. That’s expensive and inefficient.
4. What’s the typical wait time once I arrive for my appointment?
Chronic 45-minute waits aren’t just annoying. They signal an overbooking problem, which means your actual face time with the doctor will probably feel rushed too. The best practices respect your time. Average waits under 15 to 20 minutes are reasonable. Anything routinely beyond 30 minutes is a pattern, not a one-off.
Communication and Philosophy
5. What’s your approach to patient communication between visits?
This one reveals a lot. Can you message your doctor through a patient portal? How quickly do they respond? Some doctors reply within 24 hours. Others take a week, or their staff handles everything.
Find out whether you’ll communicate directly with the doctor or always through a nurse or medical assistant. Neither is inherently wrong, but you should know what to expect. For ongoing chronic conditions, direct physician communication can make a real difference.
6. How do you approach preventive care versus reactive treatment?
Some doctors are proactive. They’ll remind you about screenings, order routine bloodwork, discuss diet and exercise at every visit. Others wait until something breaks. You want a doctor whose approach matches your values.
If you’re the type who wants annual comprehensive bloodwork, a doctor who only orders tests “when there’s a problem” will frustrate you. If you prefer minimal intervention, a doctor who orders 15 tests at every visit might feel like overkill.
If your doctor recommends home monitoring for blood pressure or other vitals, an upper arm blood pressure monitor is a worthwhile investment. Tracking readings at home gives your doctor much more useful data than the single reading taken in a stressful office visit.
7. How do you feel about patients doing their own research and bringing questions?
The answer to this question is a character test. Good doctors welcome informed, engaged patients. They’ll help you sort credible research from internet noise. They’ll appreciate that you’re taking ownership of your health.
If a doctor gets defensive or dismissive when you mention something you read, that’s a compatibility issue you won’t fix. You want a partner in your healthcare, not a gatekeeper.
8. What’s your philosophy on prescribing medications versus lifestyle changes?
This matters more than most people realize. Some doctors reach for the prescription pad as a first resort. Others emphasize diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep before turning to medication. Most good doctors use both, adjusting the balance to each patient.
There’s no universally “right” answer here, but your doctor’s default approach should align with yours. If you’d rather try lifestyle modifications before starting a statin, you need a doctor who’ll support that (while being honest about when medication becomes necessary).
Logistics and Office Operations
9. Which insurance plans do you accept, and how does billing work?
Confirm your specific plan, not just the insurance company. A doctor might accept Blue Cross but not your particular Blue Cross HMO plan. Ask about copays for office visits, whether preventive visits are covered differently than sick visits, and what happens if you need lab work or referrals.
Also ask about billing practices. Do they bill insurance directly? What’s the process for disputed charges? Is there a financial counselor on staff who can help navigate coverage questions?
10. What hospital are you affiliated with, and where would I go for emergencies?
Your primary care doctor’s hospital affiliation matters more than you’d think. If you’re hospitalized, your doctor (or their practice group) may be the ones managing your care. You want that hospital to be reasonably close, in-network, and well-rated.
Ask whether your doctor has admitting privileges or whether a hospitalist would take over. Both models work, but you should know the arrangement before you’re in a hospital bed wondering who’s in charge of your care.
11. How does your office handle referrals to specialists?
Referrals can be a smooth handoff or a bureaucratic nightmare. Find out: Does the office coordinate referrals, or are you on your own? Do they send your records to the specialist automatically? Will your doctor stay involved in managing your overall care even when specialists are in the picture?
The best primary care doctors serve as the quarterback of your healthcare team. They coordinate between specialists, make sure recommendations don’t conflict, and keep the big picture in focus.
12. How do you handle prescription refills and after-hours calls?
Running out of blood pressure medication on a Friday at 5 PM shouldn’t require a trip to urgent care. Ask about the refill process. Is it automated through the patient portal? How much lead time do they need? What’s the after-hours protocol for prescription emergencies?
For general after-hours concerns, find out whether there’s an on-call physician, a nurse advice line, or just a voicemail that gets checked Monday morning.
Credentials and Experience
13. Are you board-certified, and in what specialty?
Board certification means the doctor has passed rigorous exams in their specialty and maintains continuing education. For primary care, you’re looking for board certification in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. Pediatricians should be certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
You can verify board certification yourself through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) at certificationmatters.org. It takes two minutes and it’s free.
14. Do you have experience managing my specific health conditions?
If you have diabetes, thyroid issues, PCOS, anxiety, chronic pain, or any ongoing condition, this question is non-negotiable. A doctor who sees three diabetic patients a year isn’t the same as one who manages 200. Volume matters, especially for complex or overlapping conditions.
Don’t be shy about asking for specifics. “How many patients do you manage with [your condition]?” is a perfectly reasonable question. Their comfort level answering it tells you something too.
15. Who covers for you when you’re unavailable?
Doctors take vacations. They get sick. They have families. When your doctor isn’t available, someone else handles their patients. Find out who that person is. Are they in the same practice? Do they have access to your medical records? Will they follow your existing treatment plan?
You should feel confident that the coverage doctor is someone competent and informed. “The on-call doctor” with no further details isn’t a great answer.
Practical Compatibility
16. What does a typical appointment look like with you?
This gives you a window into their style. How long are standard appointments? (15 minutes is common but limiting. 20 to 30 minutes allows for real conversation.) Do they do their own intake, or does a medical assistant handle everything first? Do they use a computer during the visit, and if so, does it feel like they’re talking to you or typing at a screen?
Some patients prefer efficient, get-to-the-point visits. Others want a doctor who chats, asks about their life, and builds a personal connection. Know what you want and ask whether it matches.
17. Can I schedule a “meet and greet” visit before committing?
Many practices offer brief introductory visits (sometimes free, sometimes billed as a standard office visit, typically $150 to $300 without insurance). This is your chance to evaluate the office, the staff, and the doctor without the pressure of a medical appointment. You’re interviewing them. Treat it that way.
If the practice doesn’t offer meet-and-greet visits, ask if you can speak with the doctor by phone for five minutes. Some will accommodate this. The ones who won’t might not be the relationship-focused providers you’re looking for.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
Walking in prepared makes the best possible first impression and ensures your new doctor has everything they need.
- Photo ID and insurance card. Both sides of the insurance card. Some offices also need a secondary insurance card if you have dual coverage.
- Complete medication list. Every prescription, OTC medication, supplement, and vitamin, with dosages. If you’re not sure about dosages, bring the bottles.
- Medical records and recent lab results. Request these from your previous doctor at least two weeks before your appointment. Include immunization records, surgical history, and any recent imaging.
- Family medical history. Write it down. Include parents, siblings, and grandparents. Note conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, mental health disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
- List of current health concerns and questions. Prioritize your top three issues. If you bring a list of 15 things to a 20-minute appointment, you won’t get through them all. Focus on what matters most and schedule follow-ups for the rest.
- Your pharmacy information. Name, address, and phone number of your preferred pharmacy. This speeds up the prescription process.
- A notebook or phone for notes. You’ll absorb a lot of information. Write down instructions, recommendations, and follow-up steps so you don’t have to rely on memory. A dedicated health journal with sections for symptoms, medications, and appointment notes can be more useful than loose papers or random phone notes.
Typical Cost Range and Factors
Understanding what you’ll pay helps you budget and avoid surprises. Here’s what new-patient visits and ongoing primary care typically cost.
New Patient Visit (without insurance): $200 to $400, depending on the length and complexity of the visit. An extended initial consultation with a full health history review runs toward the higher end.
Established Patient Visit (without insurance): $100 to $250 per visit. Quick follow-ups for a single issue are on the lower end. Complex visits addressing multiple conditions cost more.
Annual Physical/Wellness Exam: Most insurance plans cover this at 100% with no copay under the ACA. Without insurance, expect $150 to $350.
Copays with Insurance: Typically $20 to $50 for primary care visits, depending on your plan. Some high-deductible plans require you to pay the full visit cost until you meet your deductible.
Lab Work and Bloodwork: Routine panels (CBC, metabolic panel, lipid panel) run $100 to $500 without insurance. With insurance, you’ll typically pay $0 to $50 for preventive labs, more for diagnostic tests.
Telehealth Visits: Usually $50 to $150 without insurance. Many insurance plans now cover telehealth at the same rate as in-person visits.
What Drives the Cost Up: Specialist-level primary care (concierge medicine runs $1,500 to $5,000 per year in membership fees), extended appointment times, out-of-network providers, and practices that charge separately for portal messages or phone consultations.
What Drives the Cost Down: In-network providers, preventive visit coverage under the ACA, community health centers (which use sliding-scale fees based on income), and taking advantage of annual wellness visits that are covered at 100%.
Red Flags vs. Green Flags
| Red Flag | Green Flag |
|---|---|
| The office can’t tell you whether the doctor is accepting new patients or quotes a wait time over 3 months for an initial visit. | New patient appointments available within 2 to 4 weeks, with clear communication about scheduling. |
| The doctor dismisses your questions or seems irritated when you ask for explanations. | The doctor welcomes questions, explains things in plain language, and checks that you understand. |
| You consistently wait 30+ minutes past your appointment time with no acknowledgment or apology. | Wait times are usually under 15 minutes, and staff communicates proactively if there’s a delay. |
| The doctor defaults to prescriptions without discussing lifestyle modifications or alternatives. | Treatment plans include a mix of medication, lifestyle changes, and preventive strategies tailored to you. |
| After-hours coverage is unclear or nonexistent. You’re told to “just go to the ER.” | There’s a clear after-hours protocol: nurse advice line, on-call physician, or same-day urgent availability. |
| The office loses paperwork, can’t find your records, or has no functional patient portal. | The office uses a modern EHR system, has a patient portal for messaging and records, and keeps organized files. |
| The doctor doesn’t ask about your medical history, medications, or family history at a first visit. | The first visit includes a thorough review of your health history, medications, and family background. |
Money-Saving Tips
- Use your annual wellness visit. Under the ACA, most insurance plans cover one preventive wellness visit per year at no cost. This includes basic screenings, vaccinations, and health counseling. Schedule it and actually go.
- Stay in-network for everything. An in-network doctor who orders labs at an out-of-network facility will still cost you out-of-network prices. Confirm where your labs, imaging, and referrals are processed.
- Ask about cash-pay rates. If you’re uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, the cash price is often 40 to 60% less than the insurance-billed rate. Always ask before assuming the insurance route is cheaper.
- Use community health centers for primary care. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offer primary care on a sliding fee scale based on income. Visits can be as low as $20 to $40. Find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
- Bundle your concerns into fewer visits. If you have three things to discuss, schedule a longer appointment and cover them all at once instead of making three separate visits with three separate copays.
- Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) every time. Billing errors are common. If a preventive visit gets coded as a diagnostic visit, you’ll pay a copay you shouldn’t owe. Call your insurance to dispute incorrect coding.
- Maximize your HSA or FSA. Copays, deductibles, prescription costs, and many OTC medications are eligible expenses. Paying with pre-tax dollars saves you 22 to 37% depending on your tax bracket. Even a medical records organizer is an eligible expense if you use it to manage your healthcare documents.
Quick Reference Checklist
Print this and bring it to your consultation. Check off each item as you get answers.
Availability and Access
- Are you accepting new patients, and how soon can I be seen?
- What are your office hours? Any evening or weekend availability?
- How quickly can I get same-day or urgent appointments?
- What’s the typical wait time once I arrive?
Communication and Philosophy
- How do you handle patient communication between visits?
- What’s your approach to preventive care?
- How do you feel about patients bringing their own research?
- What’s your philosophy on medication vs. lifestyle changes?
Logistics and Office Operations
- Do you accept my specific insurance plan?
- What hospital are you affiliated with?
- How does the referral process work?
- How do you handle prescription refills and after-hours calls?
Credentials and Experience
- Are you board-certified, and in what specialty?
- Do you have experience with my specific health conditions?
- Who covers for you when you’re unavailable?
Practical Compatibility
- What does a typical appointment look like?
- Can I do a meet-and-greet visit before committing?
Glossary
Board Certification: A credential awarded by a medical specialty board (like the American Board of Family Medicine or the American Board of Internal Medicine) indicating that a physician has completed residency training and passed comprehensive exams in their specialty. Board-certified doctors must also complete ongoing education to maintain certification.
Patient Portal: A secure online platform where you can message your doctor, view lab results, request prescription refills, schedule appointments, and access your medical records. Most modern practices use one, and it’s become an essential tool for managing your healthcare between visits.
Concierge Medicine: A practice model where patients pay an annual membership fee (typically $1,500 to $5,000) for enhanced access, including longer appointments, same-day availability, direct physician communication, and comprehensive annual exams. Insurance is still used for labs, imaging, and specialist referrals.
Hospitalist: A physician who specializes in caring for hospitalized patients. Many primary care doctors no longer manage their patients’ hospital care directly. Instead, a hospitalist takes over when you’re admitted and coordinates with your primary care doctor after discharge.
Sliding Fee Scale: A payment structure used by community health centers and some private practices where your cost is based on your household income and family size. Patients at or below the federal poverty level may pay as little as $0 to $20 per visit.
Helpful Tools and Resources
A dedicated health journal with sections for symptoms, medications, vitals, and appointment notes keeps everything in one place. Much more useful than scattered notes on your phone, especially when you're managing ongoing conditions.
If your doctor recommends tracking blood pressure at home, an upper-arm cuff monitor gives accurate readings your doctor can actually use. Home readings are often more reliable than office readings because you're more relaxed.
A binder or folder system designed for medical documents: lab results, insurance cards, medication lists, and doctor visit notes. Essential when switching to a new doctor and getting your entire health history organized.
- ABMS Board Certification Verification (certificationmatters.org) - Verify any doctor’s board certification status for free. Takes two minutes and gives you peace of mind about their credentials.
- HRSA Health Center Finder (findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov) - Locate federally qualified health centers near you that offer sliding-scale primary care. A great option if you’re uninsured or underinsured.
- Medicare Care Compare (medicare.gov/care-compare) - Compare doctors, hospitals, and other providers based on patient experience scores and quality metrics. Useful even if you’re not on Medicare.
- Healthgrades (healthgrades.com) - Patient reviews, doctor backgrounds, hospital affiliations, and insurance accepted. Helpful for initial research, though take individual reviews with a grain of salt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many doctors should I “interview” before choosing one?
Most people benefit from consulting with two or three before deciding. You don’t need to do full appointments with all of them. A phone call with the office, a review of their online presence, and one in-person visit is usually enough to know whether it’s a good fit. Trust your instincts about communication style and office culture.
Is it okay to switch doctors if I don’t like the one I chose?
Absolutely. You’re not locked in. If the relationship isn’t working, whether it’s communication issues, long waits, or a philosophical mismatch, switch. Request your records be transferred (the office is required to provide them), and move on. Your healthcare is too important for a provider who isn’t right for you.
Should I choose a doctor close to my home or close to my workplace?
It depends on how you’ll use the relationship. If you mainly need routine checkups once or twice a year, proximity to work might be more convenient. If you have ongoing health issues that require frequent visits, closer to home usually wins. Also consider where the affiliated hospital is, because that’s where you’ll go in an emergency.
What’s the difference between an MD and a DO?
Both are fully licensed physicians who can prescribe medication, perform surgery, and practice in any specialty. MDs (Doctors of Medicine) and DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) complete similar training. DOs receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment, which involves hands-on techniques for the musculoskeletal system. In practice, the differences in day-to-day patient care are minimal.
Can I see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant as my primary care provider?
Yes. Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) provide primary care in many settings. They can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, order tests, and manage chronic diseases. In many states, NPs practice independently. The quality of care is comparable for most primary care needs, and wait times for appointments are often shorter. Some patients prefer working with NPs or PAs because they tend to spend more time on each visit.
Next Steps
You’ve got the questions. Now use them. Start by narrowing your search to two or three in-network providers who are accepting new patients. Call each office, ask a few screening questions over the phone, and schedule a visit with the one that feels most promising.
Bring this checklist to your first appointment. Write down every answer. Pay attention to how the office runs, how the staff treats you, and how the doctor communicates. Your gut feeling after that first visit usually tells you what you need to know.
Finding the right primary care doctor takes a little effort upfront, but it pays off for years. A provider who knows your history, respects your time, and treats you like a partner in your own healthcare is worth the search. Don’t settle for less.