New to Getting a Referral and Prior Authorization? Start Here
Getting a Referral and Prior Authorization: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
The steps that may be needed before you see a specialist or have a test or treatment covered: a referral from your primary care doctor, approval from your insurer, and the Explanation of Benefits that follows.
Key takeaways
- Referral: HMO plans usually require one from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist; many PPO plans do not
- Prior authorization: insurer approval required in advance for some tests, procedures and medicines
- Most useful single change: Ask your doctor's office whether a referral or prior authorization is needed, and whether it has been sent.
- Commonest mistake: Booking a specialist before checking your plan's referral rules.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
Skipping a required step can leave you with the full bill, and knowing your rights is the difference between waiting and chasing.
Start here
Two things, and nothing else until both feel routine.
- Ask your doctor's office whether a referral or prior authorization is needed, and whether it has been sent
- Keep reference numbers, dates and the names of people you speak to
Then add these
Once the first two are automatic, these are worth adding.
- Compare each bill with your EOB before paying, and query anything that does not match
- Tell your doctor if symptoms get worse while you wait, since that can change the urgency
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Referral | HMO plans usually require one from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist; many PPO plans do not |
| Prior authorization | insurer approval required in advance for some tests, procedures and medicines |
| If you are denied | you have the right to an internal appeal and, if that fails, an independent external review |
| Explanation of Benefits (EOB) | a statement from your insurer showing what was billed, paid and what you may owe; it is not a bill |
| Urgent requests | can be reviewed on a faster, expedited timeline |
Common early mistakes
- Booking a specialist before checking your plan's referral rules
- Assuming silence means approval, since requests do get lost
- Accepting a denial without asking why and whether to appeal
- Paying a bill before the EOB arrives
Related topics
- Medicare and Medicaid Appeals: What the Evidence Actually Says (Medicare and Medicaid)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Reading an Explanation of Benefits (Health Insurance and Costs)
- Physical Therapy Services: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Rehabilitation)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Benefits and Financial Support (Long-Term Conditions)
Where to go next
- What People Get Wrong About Getting a Referral and Prior Authorization
- A Q and A on Getting a Referral and Prior Authorization
- Getting a Referral and Prior Authorization — the reference entry
- Using Health Services: The Complete Guide
- The Evidence on Asking for a Second Opinion, Without the Hype
- The Evidence on Leaving Hospital, Without the Hype
When to speak to a doctor
Do not wait for an approval or specialist appointment if symptoms worsen sharply — new or increasing pain, bleeding, weight loss, or anything that frightens you. Contact your doctor the same day, and call 911 for an emergency, which never needs prior authorization.
Where this comes from
- HealthCare.gov — Referral
- HealthCare.gov — Preauthorization
- HealthCare.gov — Appealing a health plan decision
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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