Tips for Choosing a Primary Care Physician (PCP)

Your health matters. That’s why it’s important to have a primary care physician (PCP) you trust. Whether you’re new to Valley Health Plan or want to change your doctor, selecting a PCP is an important step to managing your healthcare and preventing serious illnesses. 

A PCP is the doctor who provides your routine, preventive, and basic medical care. You’ll visit this doctor for most of your medical needs, including annual check-ups, health screenings, prescriptions, vaccinations, medical treatments, and discussing important medical information. At VHP, your PCP will also be the doctor who refers you to see a specialty care provider if needed.

It’s important to have a good relationship with your doctor. You should feel comfortable talking with them about your health needs and goals. A good doctor will listen to you and explain health topics in a way you can understand. 

Changing Providers

Choosing your PCP gives you the control to select the right doctor for you. While VHP will assign new members a PCP if they don’t identify one, you can change your preferred PCP at any time on vhpconnect.org or by contacting Member Services at 888.421.8444. Learn more about changing your PCP here.  

Here are a few tips for choosing a new PCP:

• Stay in-network: Make sure your PCP is part of your health insurance network. Otherwise, you may have to pay out of pocket for your visit. 
• Decide what specialty you want: PCPs specialize in different types of medicine. Choose the specialty that fits your needs. 
  • Family Practice (all ages, from infants to seniors)
  • Internal Medicine (adults ages 18 and older)
  • Pediatric Medicine (newborns, children, and teens)
• Choose the right fit: You want a PCP understanding of your values and personal and cultural beliefs. Select a provider that is compassionate and understanding about your decisions regarding your health and well-being. You may also want to choose a PCP that speaks your preferred language. If they don’t, VHP provides members free interpretation services; learn more here. 
• Ask for suggestions: It’s okay to ask friends and family for a recommendation. Ask friends and family how comfortable they feel with their doctor and how easy it is for them to get an appointment. 
• Consider location: Do you want a doctor closer to home or work? Choose one with a location convenient for you. You’ll also want to think about the building itself: 
  • Is the office on the ground floor? 
  • Is there an elevator?
  • Does the office have a handicap-accessible entrance? 
  • Is there a parking lot, garage, or street parking? 

Think about what will make visiting the office more accessible for you so you don’t have to stress out on the day of your appointment. 

• Call the office: After you’ve found a few options, call the offices. You’ll get a feel for how friendly the staff is. You can also ask questions about after-hours care, appointment availability, and any accommodations you need. A few questions to consider asking are:
  • Do you take my insurance? 
  • Are you taking new patients? 
  • What are your office hours?
  • Is the PCP board-certified? In what field? 
  • How far ahead do I have to make appointments?
  • Are virtual appointments available?
• Pick a few doctors to consider: Your first choice may not currently accept new patients or have appointments available when you want them. It’s a good idea to have at least one backup option. 

Remember, it's better to choose your own doctor and find the right one for your needs. If you need help choosing a PCP, contact Member Services at 888.421.8444 (toll-free) or [email protected].

Other helpful links:

• VHP Provider Search – search for in-network doctors by plan.
• MDLive – get care by phone or video for VHP members and their eligible dependents. 
• Primary Care Access Program – for adults living in Santa Clara County who do not have access to health insurance.