Do you need an referral to see a dermatologist?

No, unless your...: One can go to see a dermatologist without a referral unless one has a restrictive insurance plan such as an HMO or a POS plan that requires a referral. If one has a PPO plan, a referral is almost never needed unless one has a rare, restrictive PPO plan that requires a referral. For better insurance coverage, one should see a dermatologist inside her insurance plan network.

Variable: Some specialists require a referral from another provider and others accept self-referrals. Does your health insurance company specify if they require a referral from a primary care provider?