Staying with the same healthcare provider for the long-term can have a number of benefits for your health, your bank account, and even your health insurance plan. A long term plan should include staying with providers you trust.

First, healthcare providers can treat only with the information they have in front of them. Someone who has seen you only three times will have a very different picture of your health and lifestyle habits than one who has seen you routinely for 10 years.

Long-term healthcare providers also have the advantage in that they can track trends in your health. Perhaps they notice over time that as you get to major milestones, you begin to suffer from symptoms that are attributable to stress. They also may notice mental health changes, such as realizing that the lethargy you feel may be depression, rather than a hormonal or other problem.

Once a patient and healthcare provider are comfortable with each other, they are likely to feel more comfortable with a back and forth relationship. The patient may feel more confident saying, for instance, that she is strapped financially and needs a less expensive medication. Long-term health providers are more likely to go out of their way for someone who is a dedicated patient to help with offering free samples or finding a good generic drug option.

Another benefit is that you will not have to deal with someone who isn't familiar with your health insurance plan when filing your insurance and making payments. A good long term plan includes knowing what procedures are covered and how much you will have to pay, and providers are likely to help more with this information with long-term patients.

If you decide to stay with the same healthcare provider long-term, you also will learn when that person's offices are likely to be very busy, which can help you minimize the amount of time you wait to see your provider.

In addition, the provider may be willing to help you by giving you a prescription for a common ailment without seeing you. If you've had an ear infection every year for the past few years, a provider may call in an antibiotic without you coming in, just on your word and a knowledge of your medical history, which can save you the cost of a doctor's visit or copay.

Using the same provider over the long-term also can help that person to coordinate your care if you see a number of specialists. One central person who is generally updated on medications and conditions may be able to provide a better whole-person view than a doctor who is treating only one body system.