One of the first things you should do when you move into a new town is find a good family practice doctor and establish a relationship with them. While you might not need one right away, it's better to have them waiting in the wings for when you do get sick.

A good family practice doctor can take care of most of your everyday ailments, but there will be times you'll need a specialist, especially if you have a particular condition that needs maintenance. Your family practice doctor can provide referrals and recommendations, and in fact your health plan may require it.

The biggest benefit of a family practice doctor is that they can treat everyone in the family. This is ideal in a situation where you and another family member are ill at the same time: you can go in to see the doctor together, saving time and (hopefully) money.