Which documents should a patient bring to their appointment?

Patients should bring insurance cards, identification, any available physician orders, and physician referrals to their appointments as these documents are essential for confirming their identity and coverage. The insurance card is crucial for verifying eligibility for benefits and ensuring that the provider can bill the insurance company for services rendered. Identification helps confirm the patient’s identity, which is essential for security and accurate record-keeping. Physician orders provide necessary information for the healthcare providers about tests or treatments that need to be conducted during the visit, while referrals are important for specialists to validate that the patient has been directed to them by their primary care physician.

While documents like completed surveys, medical history, treatment plans, and consent forms for treatment may also be important for some appointments, they do not always serve the foundational purpose of establishing eligibility for services and facilitating the billing process. Therefore, focusing on insurance information and related identification establishes a clear basis for the appointment to proceed smoothly from an administrative standpoint.