The Advantages of a Primary Care Provider

For CarePartners of Connecticut Access PPO members, choosing a primary care provider (PCP) is optional. However, a PCP can provide you with important advantages that make it easier to stay healthy. 

A PCP is a doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant who provides, coordinates, and helps you access a range of health care services. 

How can a PCP help you?

With a PCP, you have someone who is looking out for you. In addition to providing routine checkups, preventive care, and treatment for common illnesses, your PCP:

• Helps coordinate your care 
• Can make informed decisions about your health
• Makes sure you get the care that is right for you
• Helps you avoid unnecessary expenses, such as duplicate tests
• Can identify potential safety concerns, such as harmful drug interactions
• Will assess your overall health and make recommendations to help you stay healthy
• Can develop a personalized health plan to support your needs and goals

To ensure you are realizing these advantages: 

• If you already have a PCP, make sure to let us know 
  • Either by adding your PCP’s name in your secure online member account 
  • Or by calling Member Services at 1-866-632-0060 (TTY: 711) 
• If you don’t have a PCP, selecting one is easy 

  • Use our Doctor Search to find a PCP near you 

  • Once you choose a PCP, log in to your secure online member account to add your PCP

  • Or call Member Services at 1-866-632-0060 (TTY: 711) and we can assist you

How to add a PCP to your secure online member account:

• Log in to your secure online member account
• Under your ID card image, click ‘Select a New PCP’ to get to the ‘Manage My Account’ page
• On the ‘Manage My Account’ page, scroll down to the ‘My Information’ box and click ‘Edit’ on the PCP line   
• You’ll be taken to the Provider Search tool 
  • If you know the name of the PCP you want to choose, click ‘Doctors by Name’ and type in your doctor’s name (you can search by first or last name) 
  • To search all available doctors, click ‘Doctors by Specialty’ and then enter ‘PCP’ in the search field. You can add in preferences such as mileage, language spoken, gender of provider, and more.
• Once you see the list of PCPs, select a PCP by clicking ‘Add as Primary Care Provider’ 
• You’ll be asked 3 questions to verify your selection, then confirm your selection by clicking ‘Confirm Primary Care Provider Selection’   
• You should see your PCP selection reflected in your account in 1-3 business days   
• Your PCP selection is effective beginning the first of the following month 

If you don’t have a secure online member account, signing up is easy and only takes a few minutes.