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primary care provider

What is a primary care provider?

Your primary care provider (PCP) is the medical provider (usually a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner) who can assess a wide range of medical conditions, coordinate care with specialists, and be your first point of contact when a new medical condition arises.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan may require you to get a referral from your PCP before you can see a specialist. For these plans, a PCP is essential and your plan will assign one to you if you don’t select your own. Referrals are not required by Medicare Advantage PPOs (preferred provider organizations) or Original Medicare,¹ but many enrollees still choose to have a trusted PCP for their primary care and care coordination needs.

Footnotes

”Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage” Medicare.gov. Accessed May 30, 2025 ⤶

What preventive services does Medicare offer?

Medicare covers a number of preventive screening services that make early diagnosis and treatment possible. What’s more, many beneficiaries can receive these screenings at low cost or no cost thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which eliminated cost sharing for a long list of Medicare preventive services.

Will all doctors accept my Medicare coverage?

Q: Will my doctors accept my Medicare card? A: Q: Will all doctors accept my Medicare coverage? A: The answer depends on what type of Medicare coverage you have, and whether you’re already a current patient.

What preventive services does Medicare offer?

Will all doctors accept my Medicare coverage?

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primary care provider

What is a primary care provider?

What is a primary care provider?

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What preventive services does Medicare offer?

Will all doctors accept my Medicare coverage?

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Will all doctors accept my Medicare coverage?