Working out which specialist
Cardiology, dermatology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology — the right referral starts with a defensible working diagnosis.
Everyday medical care
The right specialist, for the right reason.
Knowing you need a specialist and knowing which specialist are two different problems — and picking wrong costs you months. A visit is where a physician works out what you are actually dealing with, whether specialty care is the right next step, and what should happen while you wait.
Book a Visit
$79
one-time visit · full total shown before you confirm
- No insurance and no membership required
- A physician licensed in the state where you are located
- Video, phone, messaging, or in person where offered
What the visit covers
A referral is only as good as the thinking behind it.
Specialty appointments are hard to get. It is worth being sure you are booking the right one.
Referral when clinically appropriate
Your provider can issue a referral when the evaluation supports specialty care.
Workup before you go
Specialists often want labs or imaging already in hand. Your provider can order what is appropriate so the appointment is not wasted.
A plan for the wait
Specialty appointments take time. Your provider covers what to do in the meantime and what would mean you cannot wait.
Documentation that travels
Visit notes and orders stay in your account so you can share them with whoever you see next.
A second opinion on the path
If you have already been told to see someone and it does not sit right, that is a reasonable thing to discuss.
How it works
Three steps, start to finish.
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Tell us what you need
Describe the problem and anything already tried, upload prior results, choose a visit format, and confirm your details.
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Meet your provider
A physician licensed in the state where you are located evaluates you and discusses whether specialty care is the right next step.
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Keep everything together
Any referral, orders, and visit notes stay in your account, ready to share with the specialist you book.
Before your visit
What to have ready
None of this is required — it just makes the visit faster and the plan better.
- A timeline of the problem, and everything that has already been tried
- Prior test results, imaging reports, or notes from other providers
- Your insurance details, if a specialist will be billing them
- Your current medications and allergies
- Whether you have already seen anyone about this, and what they said
Straight answers
What this visit will not do
We would rather tell you this now than after you have paid for a visit.
- A referral is not an appointment. Booking with the specialist is still yours to do, and their availability is theirs.
- We cannot guarantee a specialist or insurer accepts it. Many plans require the referral to come from an in-network primary care provider.
- A referral is not automatic. Your provider may decide the problem should be worked up further first, and will explain what that involves.
- Urgent problems need urgent care. If your symptoms cannot wait for a specialty appointment, say so during the visit — or call 911 if it is an emergency.
Visit formats
Meet the way that fits your day.
Which formats are open to you depends on the provider, the service, and where you are located. You will see the options actually available to you when you book.
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Secure video
Face to face with your provider from wherever you are.
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Phone
No app, no camera, no setup — just a call.
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Secure messaging
Write out what is going on and reply when you are able.
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In person
Offered by some providers for some services and locations.
Frequently asked
Common questions about referrals.
01 Will my insurance accept this referral?
That depends entirely on your plan. Many plans require the referral to come from an in-network primary care provider. If that matters for your situation, it is worth checking with your insurer before you book.
02 Do you schedule the specialist appointment for me?
No. The referral and any supporting documentation come out of the visit, but booking with the specialist is up to you.
03 Can I get a referral without a visit?
No. A referral is a clinical recommendation, and it has to come out of an evaluation by the physician making it.
04 What if I do not know which specialist I need?
That is exactly what the visit is for. Working out what you are dealing with is the part that determines who you should be seeing.
05 Can you order tests the specialist will want?
Often, yes. When your provider knows what the specialist is likely to need, ordering it in advance can save you an entire appointment.
