If you've been seeing a doctor that you're familiar and comfortable with, the idea of switching to a new one may be an unpleasant subject. Unfortunately, sometimes people have to change health plans, or a doctor's group becomes no longer affiliated with a health plan, forcing the patient to find a new doctor. If you're in this predicament, read on for some tips to help you find the best doctor possible for your needs.

Ask Your Former Doctor

One of the best ways to find a new doctor is to ask the doctor you can't see anymore for advice. Most doctors tend to network with fellow primary care providers and others may remain associated with doctors they used to go to school with. Since your former doctor knows about your medical needs and your personality, asking for their advice is a great place to start.

Contact Your Health Plan

Whether you've switched to a new health plan or your health plan just won't cover your former doctor anymore, try giving them a call. Most health plans can not only provide you with a list of all doctors in your area that they cover, but many also poll their patients on a yearly basis to determine wether doctors are meeting expectations. This poll information is typically available to health plan members, so ask them to give you a list of the highest-rated doctors that are close to you.

Check Patient Opinions

Whether you use one or both of the above tips, you can follow up with this tip, too. Consider looking up any doctors you're potentially interested in switching to on customer or patient opinion websites. Doing a web search for the doctor's name and location may yield some reviews that patients have left that will give you a better idea of the care you can expect from the doctor before making a decision.

Shop Around

Once you've chosen someone, don't be afraid to switch again if you're not comfortable with them. Even if the doctor you initially choose is perfectly qualified for the job, there's a personal component to choosing the right doctor, too. If you don't feel like you and your new doctor get along well, repeat the first three steps until you find one that's right for you.

Finding a doctor can be tough, and nobody wants to have to suddenly give up their doctor for a new one. Even so, you shouldn't delay in finding a new general practitioner. Take the time to thoroughly research your options and find a doctor that can offer the services and care that you need.