An admitting privilege is a special right provided to a doctor in a hospital to be able to admit various patients to any particular hospital. In terms of individual health insurance, it can have a positive impact because patients can receive admission to specialized hospitals on account of their doctors' rights. This admission is typically provided for therapeutic services or specific diagnostic services for patients. Every hospital will have an individual listing of all those doctors who have admitting privileges within that hospital. Within the context of health insurance quotes, prices of insurance policies might increase if certain medical procedures require prior admitting privileges because with lesser accessibility to these medical services, the quotes on such policies might rise out of demand. On the other hand, it could also reduce rates if there are no such restrictions imposed, as it will entail easy accessibility to a plethora of medical treatments.

In Indiana, there has been a huge debate as to whether doctors who perform abortions need to obtain admitting privileges or not. However, seeking admitting privileges would also entail that access to abortion services would become more difficult. If a similar trend is seen for other common ailments or procedures, it might signify a difficulty in getting access to such treatments easily in hospitals. Keeping this in mind, it might influence prices of health insurance quotes in a negative manner, resulting in skyrocketing rates.

Persons who are no longer employed or who opt for individual health insurance usually prefer added flexibility in being able to choose their doctors. Having a physician of choice who also possesses admitting privileges can mean a huge advantage to the patient. While costs of an individual insurance policy tend to be significantly higher than those of group health insurance policies, the insured do not mind paying a little extra to gain admission to specific hospitals of their choice.

The admitting privileges will tend to vary based on whether it is granted to a physician or a non-physician. In some instances, if a non-physician has admitting privileges, it would usually be restricted to independent patient treatment. Therefore, if such a patient needed to be admitted in the hospital, it would necessitate physician's order. Certain physicians might have admitting privileges, but it would be restricted to consultative types of services. Hence, when it comes to an individual health insurance policy, what matters is the extent of privileges and the kind of medical treatments or services offered as per the privilege. Only then can a decision be taken as to whether to choose that particular medical center or hospital.

Health insurance quotes have become more price competitive and with admitting privileges, the rates usually tend to reduce.