2025 has been a year of much needed changes on the medical front. Over the past six months, I’ve moved our whole family to a new dental practice, and after more than a decade with the same primary care doctor (Travis went there too!), I finally decided I’d had enough of that office’s endless incompetence and jumped ship.
Here’s the thing about switching healthcare providers: even if you end up loving the new place, the process is still a giant pain in the butt. There are forms to fill out, records to hunt down, and a million little details you don’t realize you’ll need until someone asks for them. Totally worth it once you’re settled, but actually making the change? That part takes work.
Through this process, I’ve learned some tricks to make it less stressful:
Tip 1: Don’t Forget Your Insurance Card
Sounds obvious, right? However, our health insurance companies no longer send physical cards and you need to have the app to access them. This can be kind of a pain when the doctor’s office is in a dead-zone and the app won’t load. For me, I screenshot the benefits card I need so that it’s ready to go.
Tip 2: Bring a Medication List
Write down every single prescription, over-the-counter med, and supplement you take, including dosages and how often you take them. When the nurse asks, you can just hand over the sheet instead of scrambling to remember if your vitamin D is 1,000 or 2,000 IU. EVERY TIME I do this, it is very much appreciated.
Tip 3: Keep an Appointment & Surgery History
Before your first visit, jot down the dates of key appointments from the past year, including mammogram, dermatologist check, eye exam, whatever applies. That way you’re not scrolling through your phone trying to remember when you last had a mole check. Same goes for the dentist: when switching to a new provider having your last cleaning date handy makes it easy to schedule the next one without risking an insurance overlap.
Tip 4: Bring a Questions List
Some intake visits might feel rushed, or you may just get nervous or distracted while you’re filling out a million forms. If you have anything you want to make sure to discuss, write it down so you don’t forget. Bonus tip: if you’re seeing a specialist, bring relevant info with you. I’m currently keeping a food diary so that I have it ready for when my allergist appointment comes up.
Healthcare transitions rarely feel seamless, but a little prep work makes a big difference. Once you have everything gathered, you can focus on the reason for your visit instead of fumbling through your phone trying to fill in the blanks.