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So Medicare does not cover an annual physical. Well that sucks. This is new information to me (I have a couple of years to go) and I have had an annual physical every year for at least 25 years. It seems weird to expect people to simply stop getting physicals...kind of counter-productive. How do people get coverage for an annual physical?
I'm getting the best exams I've had in 20 years. They do all the blood work, EKG and other tests.
Whether they code it Physical or not is up to them but I feel like it's the same thing.
So Medicare does not cover an annual physical. Well that sucks. This is new information to me (I have a couple of years to go) and I have had an annual physical every year for at least 25 years. It seems weird to expect people to simply stop getting physicals...kind of counter-productive. How do people get coverage for an annual physical?
Wow, sorry to hear that. Guess it's not unexpected, given they say their patient rolls were 50% Medicare. Practices can't survive with that high of a Medicare patient load. You may remember Robyn55 (now deceased). She and hubby joined Mayo's Jacksonville Medallion Concierge program when their PCP left Mayo and Mayo would not keep them as regular Medicare patients. Of course, it is ridiculously expensive - $6,000/person; $10k couple. I'm guessing there will be a long wait for acceptance as a regular Medicare patient, as Mayo will want to get that percentage under 30%, I would imagine.
Thanks for bringing that up. I had looked into it last year and thought as well it was quite expensive. But if they'll take me as a Medicare patient for an additional $6k a year, I think I'll do that. It would give me an "in." I think their standard of care is pretty good. I was trying to qualify for Fasenra with the old clinic, maybe Mayo could expedite that.
My physicals, for the past 10 years, include a full CBC. They had noticed a low WBC and wanted to test further. Everything eventually turned out to be fine..but the dr has wanted me to get a CBC each year since..
I'm not an expert, but as I understand it you should have no problem with getting this annually if your doctor feels it's medically necessary based on a previous test. The routine blood work that Medicare covers every 5 years is for people who don't have any identified reason to get tested more often. Some people just like to know, to have it checked annually even though they haven't had any problematic results previously just to make sure things haven't changed... and they think it's worth it to pay for that themselves.
Posting this for informational purposes. No burning question.
I tried to schedule a colonoscopy with my multispecialty clinic back in California. They informed me I would need to have a physical first. OK, fine. I scheduled it. Only they coded it as a Medicare Annual Well Visit, which is NOT a physical. I did not know that then.
When I arrived this am for the appt, I was told, "Your Medicare is Inactive." And they blew me off. I traveled 750 miles for this?
I called Medicare. My coverage is Active, has never been INactive. I've paid about $4,000 in premiums and envy taxes (aka IRMAA) since enrollment late last year. I have yet to get any actual health care due to bureaucratic screw-ups.
However, the Medicare rep said that I didn't qualify for an Annual Well Visit, since that can't happen until a year after my Part B coverage became effective. So not until 2/2020. And again, it isn't even a physical. But the clinic coded the visit as an AWV anyway. You can guess why: A sure and certain reimbursement from Medicare without having to chase down payment from me. (Medicare doesn't cover physicals.)
But my coverage is Active. The clinic still says it isn't. I have two more appts with them, both of which I will have to cancel. And I was supposed to get a referral for a cardiologist, which won't happen now.
If anyone has a reliable health care provider in the PHX metro that knows their posterior from a hole in the ground when it comes to Medicare, please let me know. I'm leaning towards HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea because it's close to my home but I'm willing to drive further. Thanks.
I've never heard of a "well visit". I switched from regular Kaiser to Kaiser Sr Advantage. I get all the shots and checkup. Same doctor etc. Must be a Medicare thing...
I've never heard of a "well visit". I switched from regular Kaiser to Kaiser Sr Advantage. I get all the shots and checkup. Same doctor etc. Must be a Medicare thing...
Thanks for bringing that up. I had looked into it last year and thought as well it was quite expensive. But if they'll take me as a Medicare patient for an additional $6k a year, I think I'll do that. It would give me an "in." I think their standard of care is pretty good. I was trying to qualify for Fasenra with the old clinic, maybe Mayo could expedite that.
An update.
I called Mayo's Medallion Program here in Phoenix. They've got a waitlist of 750 people and it's closed.
I called Mayo's Medallion Program here in Phoenix. They've got a waitlist of 750 people and it's closed.
It "might" open up in January. Might.
I probably just saved $6,000.
Cryin' out loud! Lots of people with the $$ for concierge, clearly. Of course, AZ is a retirement haven with many wealthy people.
Did you put yourself on the list?
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Im on Senior Advantage, no emails about "Well Visits". But I do get regular labs and exams. 
Might.
