What is the main reason for a patient to receive an assignment of benefits?

The main reason for a patient to receive an assignment of benefits is to allow the insurance company to pay the provider directly. An assignment of benefits is a formal agreement where the patient authorizes their insurance company to send payment directly to the healthcare provider instead of reimbursing the patient first. This streamlines the payment process, ensuring that healthcare providers receive their payment more quickly and reducing the financial burden on patients, who might otherwise need to pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement from their insurance companies later.

Other options may imply permissions or requests related to healthcare, but they do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of an assignment of benefits. For instance, giving permission to treat pertains to consent for medical procedures rather than financial transactions, requesting a prescription renewal is a separate process entirely, and changing a primary care physician relates to insurance plan details rather than the payment mechanisms between the patient and provider.