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Question about Medicare

13 years ago

I'm very confused on choosing a Part B provider. I've been looking at a plan with one company and my daughter who is a nurse says she has no faith in the doctors that accept Medicare under this plan. According to my understanding there are only 5 doctors for our county. If I went with another insurance company would the doctors be different?

Comments (7)

doteroo
Original Author
13 years ago
I found my own answer. I'd delete the post but can't figure out how. Sorry!
maifleur01
13 years ago
But it is a question that many in areas with few doctors do wonder about. Although only hubby is on Medicare because of problems with current insurance company I will be moving to a different carrier. But the carrier must cover the doctors hubby already sees. So far none cover all of them so I too much do investigation of similar problem
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Did you look at the AARP plan? My mom and aunt had that one--up till last year, it was a lot less than what you're saying you're paying (I don't know about now), and mom and aunt rarely had to pay anything for their medical needs (I know once mom went to the eye dr. and ended up owing .50!--and the dr. asked for it, do you believe!). When Aunt had an ER visit/hospital stay/rehab stay because of a burst appendix--she paid only $100 for the ambulance ride between the hospital and rehab facility. Medicare and her AARP insurance picked up EVERYTHING else. You do need to speak with someone in your area, who understands insurance, and who is NOT trying to sell you anything. How about contacting your local senior advocacy center--they generally have knowlegeable people who can help you, or can direct you in the right direction to find someone. Good luck.
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juellie -- Your contribution is so valuable here. Thank you! As for a doctor NOT accepting Medicare assignment...how many patients would he have? Even ten years ago we had an awful time trying to find a new internal medicine MD. The big money is in specialties, and few new doctors think they will recoup expensive training by being a plain old internist. Some MD's were already going into what I call 'Retainer Medicine'. (You retain an MD for a set annual fee.) We've been so pleased with the medical group we did find. Calls are returned the same day. They will make an appointment today or tomorrow if necessary. Nobody garbles a prescription request. Why, there's even good medical care! LOL However, they have just been bought by one of the huge hospital groups here. It's been cut-throat competition between three major hospital groups who are absorbing smaller hospitals and grabbing medical practices. (Ours is a profitable demographic.) DH and are repeating for 2012 what we did this year: Medicare Part B ($2400); Aetna Medical Supplement ($744 from DH's former employer); Two different Medicare Part D plans (two premiums totaling $866). That's $4010. We will pay for our 'discounted' prescriptions: $3738. The total is now $7748. We'll also have dental bills. This is more than my food budget. We are able to pay...for now. This game of insurance and pharmacutical industries owning Congress has got to stop!
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doteroo
Original Author
13 years ago
This is what I found out but it may or may not help you. I was looking at two plans with Humana. It was the more expensive plan and the 5 doctors have agree to accept medicare patients. With the other plan which is a few dollars cheaper you can choose your own doctor but only if they are willing to accept the plan. This is the most confusing mess I've ever seen!!!!
vala55
13 years ago
What ever you look at compare it's price with BCBS supplemental. I have medicare and BCBS and pay nothing but the premiums. Between both insurances I don't even pay the deductibles. No papers to fill out, you can use any doctor or hospital you want.
itsmesuzq
13 years ago
I have to make my choice in a couple of months (birthday is Dec) and I'm in a quandary as to stay with my HealthNet or change to something else. I like the idea that vala55 suggests, but where can I find out about the costs of the BCBS premiums? Do you think that AARP would have the info?

Yikes I thought this was going to be easy! lol

Thank you for any advise offered.

Susan
vala55
13 years ago
Just Google BCBS and see what you come up with. I don't know if it is offered everywhere. There was something about it moving out of Kansas a few years back, but still takes care of us because of the aircraft plant and it's many retires who have it.
doteroo
Original Author
13 years ago
You might want to google Senior Educators. It's an insurance service. I went to their web site and left my number and a few minutes later a very nice gentleman called me. He called me several times and helped me pick out a plan and no it wasn't the most expensive either. They can tell you about any plan that's available in your area and they will follow up later at the proper time and see if you want to change your plan.

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