Switching primary care doctors is more common than many people realize. You might have moved, changed insurance, had your doctor retire, or simply want a practice that fits your family better. The process is simpler than it seems. This step-by-step guide covers how to switch primary care doctors in Northern Virginia without a gap in your care.
Common Reasons People Switch Doctors
- A move to a new neighborhood or a new commute
- A change in insurance or a new employer plan
- A doctor retiring, relocating, or leaving a practice
- Difficulty getting timely appointments
- Wanting options like same-day visits or telehealth
Step 1: Check Your Insurance
Before you choose a new doctor, confirm that the practice is in network with your insurance plan. Your insurer's website or member services line can tell you which practices are covered.
If you have an HMO or a plan that requires a designated primary care physician (PCP), you will also need to update your PCP with your insurer. Some plans let you do this online; others require a phone call. Making the change before your first visit helps avoid claim issues.
Step 2: Choose a New Practice
Think about what matters most to you:
- Location: close to home or work
- Services: annual physicals, sick visits, and ongoing care for chronic conditions in one place
- Access: same-day sick visits, telehealth, and office hours that work with your schedule
- Convenience: lab work on site or next door, an online patient portal, and easy communication with your care team
Step 3: Schedule a New Patient Visit
Call the new practice to confirm they are accepting new patients and book a new patient appointment. Try to schedule it while you are healthy, rather than waiting until you need a sick visit. New patient appointments can take longer to get than visits for established patients.
Step 4: Transfer Your Medical Records
You have the right to access your medical records and to have them sent to a new provider. There are two common ways to do it:
- Ask your new practice to request them. You will usually sign a records release form at your new doctor's office, and they will request records from your previous practice.
- Request them yourself. Contact your previous doctor's office and ask for a copy of your records, or ask that they be sent directly to your new practice.
It can take some time for records to arrive, so start the request early. Bring anything you already have, such as recent lab results, to your first visit.
Step 5: Bring the Right Information to Your First Visit
- Insurance card and photo ID
- A list of current medications, vitamins, and supplements, with doses
- Names and contact information for any specialists you see
- Your family health history
- Vaccination records
- A list of questions or concerns
Step 6: Plan Ahead for Prescriptions
If you take regular medications, make sure you have enough to last until your first appointment with your new doctor. Your new doctor will review your medications and take over prescribing when appropriate.
Do You Need to Tell Your Old Doctor You Are Leaving?
You are not required to explain why you are switching. If your new practice requests your records, your previous office will know you have transferred care. If you have upcoming appointments with your old doctor, cancel them so the time can go to another patient.
Switching to Family Medicine at Anna Health
Anna Health offers family medicine for adults at four Northern Virginia locations: Reston, Tysons, Woodbridge, and Arlington Boulevard in Fairfax. Our family medicine offices offer same-day visits, telehealth appointments, and convenient lab work through Labcorp, either on site or next door.
Many of our patients already see Anna Health for OB/GYN or fertility care and choose to bring their primary care to the same practice. Find a family medicine location near you, or call (571) 786-1492 to schedule a new patient visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to switch primary care doctors?
Updating your insurance and booking a new patient visit can take as little as a few days. Records transfers can take longer, so start that request as soon as you choose a new practice.
Will my new doctor have my old test results?
Only once your records are transferred. Bring copies of any recent results you have to your first appointment so your new doctor can review them right away.
Is there a cost to transfer medical records?
Policies vary by practice. Some offices send records to your new doctor at no charge, and some charge a fee for copies. Ask your previous office about its process when you make the request.
