Real answers · Your bills and your plan
Do I need a referral to see a specialist?
The real answer
Your plan’s own rules decide when you need one, within limits the law sets. Most plans that have you name a primary care doctor must let you pick any in-network one who is available to take you, and an in-network pediatrician for your child. And a plan that covers obstetric or gynecologic care cannot require a referral or authorization for a woman to see an in-network OB-GYN (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-19a(a), (c) and (d)).
The house’s version
Your doctor has looked you over and decided you are someone else’s problem. Congratulations: you have been referred.
A parody, from Referrals.