Acceptance of Medicare Assignment in Austin (Cedar Park, Pittsburg: area, location, specialists)

[motherofthree]

I had a hard time b/c she was a new patient. But again, that was 4 years ago so I don't know if things are better or not. My neighbor is a doctor with ARC and he told me then he was not accepting new medicare/medicaid patients because he already had too many and the amount medicare pays him is so little.

[PittsburghAustin]

Don't know yet. ARC will only accept PHC as an Medicare Advantage Plan, so I will have to change all my doctors. Big change, so I will have to study all my options.

[rangergrit]

Medicare is really hard for new patients wanting high quality doctors. Medicaid is even harder. Expect things to keep getting worse. Austin is somewhat below average for Docs accepting medicare.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by rangergrit

Medicare is really hard for new patients wanting high quality doctors. Medicaid is even harder. Expect things to keep getting worse. Austin is somewhat below average for Docs accepting medicare.

Really? I phoned several of the specialists' office today that accept the Humana HMO product. All said that they would accept straight medicare and medicaid.

[rangergrit]

My bad. I was referring to primary care docs, not specialists.

[clarksvillemom]

my two cents on this is to stay away from any Medicare HMOs/Advantage plans and keep straight Medicare. Not perfect but a hell of a lot better than those other "Medicare" plans

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by clarksvillemom

my two cents on this is to stay away from any Medicare HMOs/Advantage plans and keep straight Medicare. Not perfect but a hell of a lot better than those other "Medicare" plans

the problem there is that many people can't really afford to pay the Part B premium plus an additional premium for a supplement. Like it or not, the Med advantage plans are an affordable alternative.

[rangergrit]

MA may be a more affordable option, but you should carefully look at which docs accept the plan. You probably will not be happy when you can't pronounce any of their names. The docs that accept Humana and many other MA plans are pretty much the same as those who accept Medicaid.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by rangergrit

MA may be a more affordable option, but you should carefully look at which docs accept the plan. You probably will not be happy when you can't pronounce any of their names. The docs that accept Humana and many other MA plans are pretty much the same as those who accept Medicaid.

I don't think that you meant it in a bad way, but my Dad's cardiologist hails from India; I thought that he was one of the best and most personable doctors that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was a truly compassionate man who stood with our family when Dad had his bypass surgery recently.

[PittsburghAustin]

If you already had doctors before you went on medicare, they will keep you on. If you have moved into the Austin Area and have no relationship with the doctors here you have a problem. I liked ARC because of the people who recommended it to me before I moved here two years ago. They had one primary care doctor who would take new Medicare clients and he was in Cedar Park. Lucky for me he is good.
I hate when people say to me, I don't have a problem with doctors seeing me, how come you do? My first question is did you already have your doctors before you went on Medicare. Guess what the answer is?
By the way in PA, doctors have to take medicare. But they limit the medicare clients they see by giving appointment times to new people way down the road. I don't know what is going to happen when all these new people get on the rolls with the health act. More people with health insurance but no more doctors to treat them.