Doctors refusing new Medicare patients ? (medical, plan, clinic, Tennessee)

[marmac]

To all senior retirees---------have you ever moved to a location and found out there are no doctors there willing to accept new Medicare patients?

I was reading an old thread last night where a retiree moved to NE Tennessee and despite him and his wife having no history of illness/disease, can't find a doctor who will accept new Medicare patients.

Is this becoming common in many parts of the country ?

[texdav]

I knoiw that many are because of reembursement rates.There is a shortage of primary physicans in this country that is getting worse. I know my doctor is not accepting any new patients because his practice is that large. That plus more and more top specailist will nto take anyhting but pri9vate insurnce because of the rates. Last I heard the average was 20% more remebursement between medicare and private insurance.

[katjonjj]

Originally Posted by marmac

To all senior retirees---------have you ever moved to a location and found out there are no doctors there willing to accept new Medicare patients?

I was reading an old thread last night where a retiree moved to NE Tennessee and despite him and his wife having no history of illness/disease, can't find a doctor who will accept new Medicare patients.

Is this becoming common in many parts of the country ?

There is always an alternative. In my town we have a prominent clinic that does not accept new Medicare patients (original Medicare) but does accept patients with Part C (MedAdvantage).. so it is always a good idea to consult with a local agent or ask the clinic/doctor if they will accept MedAdvantage plans for new patients.

[brightdoglover]

In rural area or small towns with few options, it's quite common. (note to retirees, eh?)

[marmac]

I had planned on re-locating in the near future and that is a problem that I hadn't even thought of before.

Will it become a bigger problem if a health care bill get signed and part of the funding involves cuts in Medicare spending ?

[auntbee]

I have definitely had that problem here. I had to call several gynecologists who would accept Medicare before I finally found one here. I'm still looking for a primary care doctor. I found one, but an office visit to him for a checkup was so brief it meant nothing. He just did lab work and listened to my chest. He wasn't even interested in my medical history (I'm diabetic). I wondered if that was because he wasn't going to make much off the visit.

[stan4]

Yup. Not only that, many docs who have been your doc for years will stop seeing you when you turn 65 and go on medicare. That happened to my dad. He had to go find a new internist. And this is in a very populated big city with plenty of docs to go around.

[marmac]

Totally amazed by the responses.

At age 64, I was clueless as to what next year will mean.

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by marmac

To all senior retirees---------have you ever moved to a location and found out there are no doctors there willing to accept new Medicare patients?

I was reading an old thread last night where a retiree moved to NE Tennessee and despite him and his wife having no history of illness/disease, can't find a doctor who will accept new Medicare patients.

Is this becoming common in many parts of the country ?

I live in a rural area, if they turned down medicare they would have to move out. These are rumors meant to scare seniors

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by Boompa

I live in a rural area, if they turned down medicare they would have to move out. These are rumors meant to scare seniors

Not a rumor at all. Many doctors are being pushed to the wall due to high insurance premiums and slow (very slow) pay from state,federal and medical insurance companies. One has to remember that doctors run a business as well a treat patients. The money has to come from somewhere.....on time.