healthcare in retirement

[texdav]

I thnik you would ahve to see waht is expected by americans in the health care. A women recently described going through both systems to have two children. Basically she said that she got less pre-care;the hospital was rundown. her birth was by a nurse practioner;she was in a twelve bed ward and couldn;t wait to leave;so pressed to release her one day early. Then afterwards the followup was by a nurse practiioner that didn't seem to know anything really.Plus the related wait for serious surgeries that other talked about.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by texdav

I thnik you would ahve to see waht is expected by americans in the health care. A women recently described going through both systems to have two children. Basically she said that she got less pre-care;the hospital was rundown. her birth was by a nurse practioner;she was in a twelve bed ward and couldn;t wait to leave;so pressed to release her one day early. Then afterwards the followup was by a nurse practiioner that didn't seem to know anything really.Plus the related wait for serious surgeries that other talked about.

Which system are you talking about?

[carp killer]

I think the medical system we have now is going to collapse. There will be a mass of old people who will need services with no medical insurance in the next ten years. Medicare is going broke and not enough workers to fund with pay roll taxes. Lots of illegal immigrants and under insured workers using the emergency room as their primary care system. Medical and drug costs rising faster than the rate of inflation. Medical insurance rate premiums rising faster than the rate of inflation. Drug and medical insurance companies pouring in millions of dollars to lobby and influence the government.

It can't sustain that for much longer.

[donsabi]

I posted earlier but here is an update; I have been in northeast TN for three months and have not found an MD who will accept me yet. I have gone to the Medicare website and viewed all Medicare doctors in the area and all have refused me. They tell me they accept Medicare patients but have me fill out an application and then tell me they refuse to treat me but do not give me a reason. Since retiring I have lived in DE, NC, SC, PA, and now TN and TN is the only place I have experienced this action. I am a veteran and will be getting my medical care from the VA while I am here. I am against doing this because of my Medicare entitlement and the fact that our veterans medical care is so terribly overburdened. I think the way veterans and seniors are treated in this country is a disgrace. I have nine months on my lease here in TN and I will be departing here for a place where I can get good medical care. It is really sad to think that I must go to the expense and effort of moving because TN does not have doctors who honor their Hippocratic oath that states, "treat all who seek treatment."
Don

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by donsabi

I posted earlier but here is an update; I have been in northeast TN for three months and have not found an MD who will accept me yet. I have gone to the Medicare website and viewed all Medicare doctors in the area and all have refused me. They tell me they accept Medicare patients but have me fill out an application and then tell me they refuse to treat me but do not give me a reason.
...

Does your application show a medi-gap supplemental policy? If not that may be the reason you are having such a difficult time as many practices have been hurt by short payments.

My family has a number of people that are vets and treated very well at VA hospitals... in fact my mother does better with VA care than she ever did with private practices and insurance.

[donsabi]

cdelena,
I have BC/BS as a secondary insurance. Typical previous Medicare payment showed they were paid 95% of their total bill by Medicare, BC/BS, and my copay. Medical providers over charge to make up for the short fall. Keep in mind I had no problem in DE, NC, SC, or PA. So where's the problem in TN? If they don't want Medicare patients they should state that right up front.
As to VA health care, I said they were "overburdened." I believe there are veterans who have no other care and to bog down the VA system with veterans who are entitled to Medicare is just wrong. I did not mention anything about the quality of VA care.
Don

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by donsabi

cdelena,
I have BC/BS as a secondary insurance. Typical previous Medicare payment showed they were paid 95% of their total bill by Medicare, BC/BS, and my copay. Medical providers over charge to make up for the short fall. Keep in mind I had no problem in DE, NC, SC, or PA. So where's the problem in TN? If they don't want Medicare patients they should state that right up front.
As to VA health care, I said they were "overburdened." I believe there are veterans who have no other care and to bog down the VA system with veterans who are entitled to Medicare is just wrong. I did not mention anything about the quality of VA care.
Don

I understand your logic regarding overcrowding but as far as funding the VA does collect from both Medicare and supplemental insurance in many cases. I certainly do not know why TN healthcare providers are universally refusing Medicare patients without explanation.

[duke1946]

FYI.....by statute, the VA cannot collect from Medicare.....they can collect from third party insurers and supplemental insurance, but not Medicare....

best of luck