Can an insurance company flip flop a doctors classification as a specialist or general?

When I go normally (preventive visit) to the doctors he is considered as a general doctor and my copay is the normal amount. Recently I went to the same doctor because I was sick, the insurance company is now calling him a specialist and are charging me a higher copay. Is this normal? I thought that the doctor was label as a general or specialist no matter what I go to them for. Thanks for your help!

There are different answers for you for certain situations. All doctors and specialists have provider codes that is submitted with claims. If you chose this doc as your primary and it is on your application then he should be submitting claims as office visits as your primary. If he submits a claim under his specialist provider code then you are charged the higher copay. It is determined by his submission info. You can go on the carrier website and look at the provider directory to see if the doc uses two different codes for primary and specialist.

You are going to have to consult the terms of your policy, and be prepared for some close reading of potentially unintelligible prose. You should quest the insurance company on this matter, and be sure to document you inquiry with notes, or put your questions/protests in writing and keep a copy. You should act quickly because your policy might have a time limit on when you are considered to have waived any rights to appeal a company decision. You can also lodge a complain with your state department of insurance, or whatever agency regulates insurers in your state.

It is possible that the physician recently became a specialist after completing additional schooling in their chosen specialty. It is in the physician's best interest to be designated a, "specialist," in a chosen field, as reimbursement from the insurance company will be higher for services rendered.
The suggestion would be to find another general practitioner in your insurance network, resulting in a lower co-pay.