Language desk / reviewed term
What does Referral mean?
A direction or approval from a primary-care clinician to see a specialist, required by some plans.
Illustration — not a plan price
A plan may require a referral even when the specialist appears in its network directory.
The actual plan document controls. Verify its definitions, network, exclusions, dates, and amounts before relying on the illustration.
Definitions here are never for sale — no plan is recommended on a comprehension page.
Source: HealthCare.gov — Health insurance plan and network types · Verified 2026-08-11 · Reviewed by the MedicalRecords.com editorial team · Last reviewed August 11, 2026