Shhhhhh. . . I went Secret Shopping for a Doc (community, friend, years)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

Guess the Hippocratic Oath went out with "under God."

Not where we live, on both counts!

[Bette]

Originally Posted by boogie'smom

Interesting! I always wonder if doctors refusing to see Medicare patients is a myth. It is certainly a popular notion.

My plan is to continue paying cash, and, if I decide to enroll in Medicare, to let Medicare reimburse me. I hope this is still possible.

I've had some interesting experiences throughout my life and I've paid for doctor visits most of the time b/c it's cheaper and then file it, however, I am exempt from anything vision related so that was always paid by check or credit card.

[Ariadne22]

I've said this before, but will repeat. Drs. refusing Medicare patients is most often reported on CD by residents of GOP governed states, primarily in the "south" - NC, TN, GA, AL, AZ, TX, etc. However, there are reports of this practice in certain areas of CA, as well.

We have a very large older population in Milwaukee. There is no refusal of Medicare patients here that I've ever heard of. We are home to several really large hospital networks and a Medical teaching college/hospital one mile from my house.

Originally Posted by Heidi60

Is this a nation wide trend?

No, it's not a nationwide trend. From my perspective, it is a political/regional trend based on comments made on CD over the past couple of years. Although Curmudgeon lives in a red state and he has no problem whatsoever. The link he provided on rural Medicare clinics shows many in even the recalcitrant areas cited by some of the posters.

Originally Posted by sweetana3

This makes me more grateful for where we live. Mom, who is 80, moved here from another state. She got a Medicare Advantage plan and immediately found a primary care doctor right across the street from her complex. She has received good care and her plan is associated with the hospital only a mile away.

We do live in a big Midwestern city with great health care facilities and probably more competition for patients.

You're in a northern industrial state - Indiana, aren't you? I'm pretty certain MN, WI, IL, Indiana, don't have these problems. The UHC Advantage network where I live is huge - covers all hospital and most doctors. No problem, here.

Originally Posted by Bideshi

That is fortunate. We are planning to retire in Colorado Springs and have been trying to locate a doctor that will accept new Medicare patients, and after two years looking have found a grand total of = 0.

Again, a different political mindset/philosophy of many residents. Find a Kaiser network in Colorado. People who participate in Kaiser plans are very happy. Here's one in Colorado Springs:

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org...vZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

[RMD3819]

I am confused about something.

The first post stated the hospital administrator interviewed physicians who all denied refusing Medicare patients, but the OP found exactly that.

Were the docs lying or just unaware of what the office folks were doing?

[baileyvpotter]

Originally Posted by Seeker5in1

I am not wealthy, lol whatever that means, in case anyone is wondering. It is my experience that people who have money don't want to pay for their own health care any more than people who can't afford it.

Also, part of the problem is that many going into medical school are going into specialized areas
because they can make much more money. This has created a shortage of internists and general practitioners.
Regarding health insurance, there may be some who cannot afford it, think they will never need it
or have minor health problems. For those of us who pay for their own health insurance we do it
because things can happen & life can throw you a curve example: a car accident due to some nut.
If paying by cash, that person would need a substantial savings account.
What's next.... a self check counter like in a supermarket?

[seeriously]

We live on Cape Cod where there is a large elderly population and docs couldn't survive if they didn't take on medicare patients. This said, my husband's primary care physician who is close to retirement age himself dropped my husband when he got to be medicare age. So I don't know. I'm 63 and when searching out a new physician I now ask if they're BCBS preferred and do they accept medicare because I don't want to change again down the road.

[Ariadne22]

Further comment regional differences. Medicare reimbursement rates vary by region.

It would be interesting to know reimbursement rates for doctors in states which are more prone to denial of service for Medicare patients than in the northern, higher COL areas?

Also, by population. Less densely populated areas more prone to deny Medicare?

Are the two connected? Less densely populated areas = lower reimbursement rates?

One, somewhat astounding, article on the subject, here:

Michael Kitchell: Medicare reimbursement varies by region | Ames Tribune

[Umbria]

Originally Posted by Ariadne22

Further comment regional differences. Medicare reimbursement rates vary by region.

It would be interesting to know reimbursement rates for doctors in states which are more prone to denial of service for Medicare patients than in the northern, higher COL areas?

Also, by population. Less densely populated areas more prone to deny Medicare?

Are the two connected? Less densely populated areas = lower reimbursement rates?

One, somewhat astounding, article on the subject, here:

Michael Kitchell: Medicare reimbursement varies by region | Ames Tribune

I think you may be right about the regional differences. I haven't heard 1 person claim to be having trouble in this area. I recently had an MRI and I asked my doc if medicare patients were a "problem". Either she was a good actress due to the subject being hush hush or she clearly believed it wasn't. I mentioned that maybe it was in certain states where there were an overwhelming # of retirees and she thought that might be the case and mentioned it was probably more prevalent in the southern states

I understand this study was done in the Midwest but the Midwest is a big area.

[whirnot]

Originally Posted by mic111

Did you call and also try to make an appt. saying you had X brand insurance (that they accept) and see if they took you on or got you in sooner?

That was my thought, that way you get a true Idea if they are actually full or just discriminating.

[MG120]

Originally Posted by Ariadne22

Further comment regional differences. Medicare reimbursement rates vary by region.

It would be interesting to know reimbursement rates for doctors in states which are more prone to denial of service for Medicare patients than in the northern, higher COL areas?

Also, by population. Less densely populated areas more prone to deny Medicare?

Are the two connected? Less densely populated areas = lower reimbursement rates?

One, somewhat astounding, article on the subject, here:

Michael Kitchell: Medicare reimbursement varies by region | Ames Tribune

Interesting article. Brings to mind a couple of things.

First, what's the logic behind the disparity?

I realize that in higher COL areas real estate, utilities, etc all cost more. But is that Doctor or Nurse really worth x numbers of dollars more than the one getting paid less to do the same thing? What’s the profit margin?

Second, you or Umbria may be onto something as far as age and demographics are concerned. Are there more Medicare eligible people living in southern states?

I bet the answer is yes.

And if there are, does that skew the numbers lower for reimbursement? Like all insurance, the larger the pool, the cheaper the rates.