How should I prepare for my first doctor's appointment?

Who is this for?

Medicare Help Center - How To - bcbsm.com

If a doctor’s visit is on your calendar, this will tell you what to bring so your first appointment goes smoothly.

There are a few different reasons you might see a doctor for the first time. But there’s no difference in how you should prepare for that appointment. When you remember to bring these things with you, both you and your doctor will get the most out of your visit.

The cards in your hand

The two most important things to bring to your first doctor appointment, or any appointment, are:

  • Your insurance plan ID card(s)
  • A valid photo ID, like a driver’s license

Which insurance card should you bring?

  • If you have a Medicare Advantage plan like Medicare Plus Blue℠ PPO or one of our BCN Advantage℠ HMO or HMO-POS plans, you only need to bring that card.
  • If you have Original Medicare paired with MyBlue℠ Medigap, a Blue Cross® Medicare Supplement plan or Legacy℠ Medigap, you’ll need both cards: your government-issued Medicare card, and your supplement plan card.

Questions and answers

Your doctor is sure to have some questions for you. You should ask questions too. Here’s how you can both get answers. To your first appointment, bring:

  • A list of medications, vitamins and supplements you’re taking.
  • Your medical history. You or the doctor you’re seeing can request this from your primary care physician or a previous doctor.
  • A list of specialists you’ve seen.
  • Your list of questions.

Need an easy way to remember all these things? We have a checklist you can download and print (PDF). It even includes ideas for questions you can ask.