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They can force us, by law, to accept a rentor that we think it unwise to rent to. I can't even ask if they are in the country legally. Why can doctors not be also required to accept Medicare patients by law. Why are we the only ones without protection from discrimination?
And don't forget: Hector and Consuela just came from Mexico; they're going to breed Democrats. Now whom do you suppose is going to get good health care?
And don't forget: Hector and Consuela just came from Mexico; they're going to breed Democrats. Now whom do you suppose is going to get good health care?
I think many of us are aware of who is going to get the good health care but I didn't want to get too sidetracked on that. Yet, this is part of the problem.
I agree that this is a matter of serious concern, and that it is scary. However, we do have options: We can enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, where all the doctors who work for the plan will automatically take us because we are enrollees. There is never any question about this. Now there may well be things about Medicare Advantage Plans that some people don't like, so I'm not saying they represent a perfect solution, but it sure beats being totally without medical care, and for many people, they are the path of choice anyway under Medicare.
I don't see the Medicare Advantage Plan as a good option. As you probably have read, Escort, I was enrolled in Humana's Gold Choice Med Advantage Plan this past year and they are cancelling this particular plan. Because it is neither an HMO nor preferred provider plan, it has no physician network. I believe the future of Medicare *supplement* plans is more secure. However, if physicians stop taking Medicare, we're all up a creek (except for those who came here illegally, of course).
The physicians who are required to treat those of us without network physicians are the ER docs. Unfortunately, there is already an increasing number of the cases already being treated in the ER's which are NOT emergent.
My wife and I was on Medicare, and a Supplement Plan "G" in 2009, and we chose a Medicare Advantage HMO Plan for 2010. I had prostate cancer surgery in June, and was in the hospital 2 times, and an out-patient procedure once. The treatment was better in this plan than before, because of the Primary Care Doctor that was in control of it all. With all that I had, it was still much cheaper than the Supplement premium and a Part "D" premium and deductiables.
It is my understanding that the $500 million cut in Medicare, is to the Medicare Advantage Plans. With that in mind I am considering on going back to Medicare and Supplement, because I have a guarantee Issue with the supplement.
Does this make since, or am I jumping to, too many conclusions.
My wife and I was on Medicare, and a Supplement Plan "G" in 2009, and we chose a Medicare Advantage HMO Plan for 2010. I had prostate cancer surgery in June, and was in the hospital 2 times, and an out-patient procedure once. The treatment was better in this plan than before, because of the Primary Care Doctor that was in control of it all. With all that I had, it was still much cheaper than the Supplement premium and a Part "D" premium and deductiables.
It is my understanding that the $500 million cut in Medicare, is to the Medicare Advantage Plans. With that in mind I am considering on going back to Medicare and Supplement, because I have a guarantee Issue with the supplement.
Does this make since, or am I jumping to, too many conclusions.
I just learned that some Medicare Advantage plans are HMO's; others, such as the one I was on the past year, are not. I'm glad your treatment was good in 2009. Was possible loss of plan funding the only reason you chose to go back to a supplement?
So what are we supposed to do with this mess started with Obama Healthcare? Can we elect people who can turn things around? What do we do when we cannot find anyone who will take Medicare and we cannot afford self-pay? Just die?
This is a bunch of BS. Obamacare has nothing to do with it. The 500 Mil cut in medicare are just cut future increases and the most of the new healthcare laws have not even take effect yet and it had very little to do with medicare.
I new health care program will insure 32 more americans and stop the abuses from the insurance companies.
My guess is that these posts are from people who work for or being fooled by the insurance companies into.
There are so many misconceptions on this thread on Obamacare and Medicare, I don't know where begin, but here is a start.
Obamacare has NOTHING to do with doctors not acccepting Medicare patients. This has been going on for a long time because of the ridiculously low rate of reimbursement to physicians who take assignment.
Example: last year I saw an orthopaedic specialist - his fee $114, Medicare reimbursement $35. He had to write off the rest. He is in a big health care organization (not HMO) whose docs are required to take Medicare patients. Of course, I saw him for all of about 5 minutes. Internist I see complained right to my face about Medicare reimbursement rate, like I could do anything about it. I tried to locate a health care plan on my own - everything had a Medicare carve-out.
One of the goals of Obamacare is to INCREASE Medicare reimbursements to doctors, not decrease it. There was legislation in place to do just that. Hasn't been acted on yet, that I know of. Seniors need doctors and their hands are tied because of their age. Any plan they want is tied to Medicare. We can't do a thing about it, other than agree to pay out of pocket.
Medicare is NOT being defunded by $500 billion dollars. Basic Medicare services have not been cut in Obamacare. The rate of growth over the next ten years of Medicare expenses is being reduced by $500 billion dollars.
Advantage planswere paid a 14% premium for their management of Medicare patients. Consider it outsourcing by the government. A capitalist principle. The government no longer wants to pay this 14% premium. Thus Advantage plans are cutting back on the Silver Sneakers and other stuff like that.
Every month the Advantage plans received about $700 from the govt for each enrollee - why do you think they are clamoring for your business? So far, I'm still getting flyers every day to enroll in an Advantage Plan. Nothing has happened there, nor will it. If I were not in a retiree employee health plan, I would probably first go to an Advantage Plan because it is cheaper.
Anyone on Advantage SHOULD NOT move away to a Medicare Supplement.
And, to the above poster, not sure if you could do it because of all your ailments. Med Supps don't take pre-existing conditions other than high blood pressure and cholesterol, or so I was told by a rep a few months ago and Obamacare has not changed that because they have coverage in Medicare.
This did NOT change under Obamacare - the preexisting disqualifier was always there in the Supp plans except under certain circumstances - like GM giving up health care coverage and 500,000 retirees having to replace it.
I just got notice from my former employer on next year's health insurance premium - NO CHANGE. Their insurance is self-funded. And, they've removed the $5million lifetime maximum to unlimited to conform with Obamacare. I heard from an employee this week, the employee premiums and deductibles and copays have not changed, either.
So, all this FEAR about Obamacare has not been realized that I can see.
The Medicare problems have existed for years long before Obamacare. The rich have been using boutique doctors and paying them up to $10,000 a year get around the low Medicare reimbursement rates. The rest of us - we eat cake. But Obamacare has NOTHING do with that - it's been a longstanding problem.
Last edited by Ariadne22; 11-05-2010 at 02:28 PM..
I just learned that some Medicare Advantage plans are HMO's; others, such as the one I was on the past year, are not. I'm glad your treatment was good in 2009. Was possible loss of plan funding the only reason you chose to go back to a supplement?
Yes, that is the only reason I am considering going back to a medigap.
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