How to choose healthcare providers covered by insurance? Does it matter?
I am 22f and have only been under my parents’ insurance until recently. I’m still under theirs (BCBS) but am also on my state’s Medicaid, as well is my son. Whenever I got us approved for Medicaid, I genuinely had no idea how to go about choosing our PCP. Honestly, I picked whatever name popped up in the “choose your PCP” page that was located in the hospital’s family practice. Looking back, I have no idea if this will make a difference. That doctor (and all doctors the insurance even has listed) don’t actually actively practice at the family practice in the hospital, as it’s a residency program. My son sees the same doctor every time he goes for his well-child visits, but I’m not sure if his doctor is “in network” or if it’s more of a practice thing. It makes me incredibly nervous because I have social anxiety and need to schedule myself an appointment here soon too, but since my “chosen PCP” doesn’t work there, does it matter? Is it more about the individual being in network or is it the practice? I know these are questions I should have asked before, but I am so socially uncomfortable that I couldn’t ask for help.