Over 65: Can I get a primary care physician there? (Anchorage: income, living in)

[TootsieWootsie]

I read somewhere that if you did not have a primary care physician that you have seen BEFORE you hit Medicare age at 65 y.o. that you would not be able EVER to get a primary care physician. Is this true?
Do the physicians there not want to take Medicare? This happens in Austin, Texas, for something like 55% of the physicians (not wanting to accept Medicare patients). True there also?
Are there no HMO's or PPO's there?
Are there any people living there over 65 y.o. at all--despite statistics I have read that some people are moving to Alaska for retirement, I know of none myself (but, then again, I don't know everyone do I?).
Can anyone give me the skinny on living in Alaska after 65?

[Rance]

I've known probably a couple hundred over 65 that live or lived here in my rural community. Most wouldn't even have considered leaving for warmer climates.

[TootsieWootsie]

Does nobody know about health care there for over 65?

[Wrennie]

Don't know about specifically for 65, nor do I know for the whole state, but I can tell you that most doctors in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough aren't taking new patients...I would assume that means of any age...and that what we do have available is, for the most part, of very poor quality. LOTS of medical fly-outs going on in this area. What specialists we do have come in sporadically, are high priced, and are widely considered to be quacks. I would assume that most areas would be similar, if not worse....except possibly for the Los Anchorage area...

[mexicomike]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

I read somewhere that if you did not have a primary care physician that you have seen BEFORE you hit Medicare age at 65 y.o. that you would not be able EVER to get a primary care physician. Is this true?
Do the physicians there not want to take Medicare? This happens in Austin, Texas, for something like 55% of the physicians (not wanting to accept Medicare patients). True there also?
Are there no HMO's or PPO's there?
Are there any people living there over 65 y.o. at all--despite statistics I have read that some people are moving to Alaska for retirement, I know of none myself (but, then again, I don't know everyone do I?).
Can anyone give me the skinny on living in Alaska after 65?

Dear TW:
There was an article in the Anchorage Daily News this past May saying that there were no primary care providers in Alaska taking on new patients. This is becoming a problem nationwide per a recent article in the AARP Newsletter. Apparently, all the wouldbe doctors want to go into the higher-paying, lower workhours "specialties." It is not strictly a matter of pay, but....... I would be interested in hearing any more current info as I am also considering moving (back) to Anch.
MM

[RAMFEB31]

MM is right. Very few would be medical students are considering primary care simply because of not only lower income as compared to the specialist but also the extreme long hours. Part of the prob is the amount of paperwork medicare force on them. Put a slightly off code for a procedure and they reject or only give partial payment. Then, it is resubmitting some more paper for a pittance. So U can understand why the primarys are restricting or eliminating medicare patients once they become fully established. Dedications is great but 10-12 hour days, 6 day a week gets a little old after a few years. This is a fact. I have 5 in the medical field and only one is primary. She has tried to restricted the number of medicare patients to long timer,family or just close friends of the family. The other 4 now are essentially working bankers hours and still do better in compensation. It takes true dedication for a good primary care physician w/the will to live in a small town to practice. And yes, I've been on mediicare for over a decade
and I am looking for retirement in Alaska. Do I fear having a medical prob that cannot be solved locally?
Absolutely! But I believe my health will improve living in an area w/clean air and slower living.