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I have been hoping for years to retire to N/E Tennessee. I have recently retired after a routine operation left me disabled two years ago. I live with my wife & my severely handicapped adult step-son. I have a good pension + I am not looking for charity but I do need very good Healthcare. I do have excellent Health Insurance ( United Healthcare ) & will qualify for Medicare next year.
I am still seeking to retire to N/E Tn & it has been suggested to me that I could obtain the quality healthcare that my family requires in Kingsport ( to a lesser extent ) & Johnson City ( to a greater extent ) .....If this is so; Why are so many people complaining about so many problems & difficulties that they have experienced with obtaining suitable Doctors, Surgeons & Healthcare in the Tri-Cities area ?
How bad is the Healthcare in Tri-Cities ?
How difficult is it to find a good Doctor to accept a new patient ?
Is there a shortage of Doctors in this area ?
Lastly, If all of this is true ?......How good could the Healthcare be if there is a shortage of Good Doctors & the few Good Doctors refuse to accept new patients ?
My parents (in their 60s) had United Healthcare until about a year ago. The main problem they had was that many doctors (especially primary care/family physicians) would not take this type of insurance. When it came to specialists, they had to use a variety of doctors in all three of the Tri-Cities. Neurologist in Bristol, OBGYN and Dermatologist in Johnson City, Eye Doctor and Ear Specialist in Kingsport--you get my point. Things may have changed and there may be more doctors on the plan. Fortunately, my parents are now on Blue Cross/Blue Shield. What is considered to be good insurance in one part of the country is not so good elsewhere. You know this, I'm sure.
I realize that I will probably get flamed for this but I personally have not seen great results from the healthcare system in the Tri-Cities. I could tell you many stories about family and friends but I won't list all that on the forum, but I haven't been impressed with the quality of the doctors and hospitals there. It is especially bad when you have some sort of "mystery illness" that takes diagnostic ability and savvy to figure out what is going on and what the best course of treatment should be. Most people I know, when they have a more serious problem (cancer, alzheimers, etc. ) end up going to Vanderbilt, Duke, Univ of VA or some other med center for even routine visits with specialists. I think the Tri-Cities is perfectly capable of handling routine medical care.
Let me clarify (I can't find the edit button on my message right now)
I was not trying to imply that United is not good insurance and I'm afraid maybe it came across that way. What I was trying to say is that some companies that are particularly strong in some areas are less strong in others or accepted by less doctors. I don't know why that is.
My parents (in their 60s) had United Healthcare until about a year ago. The main problem they had was that many doctors (especially primary care/family physicians) would not take this type of insurance. When it came to specialists, they had to use a variety of doctors in all three of the Tri-Cities. Neurologist in Bristol, OBGYN and Dermatologist in Johnson City, Eye Doctor and Ear Specialist in Kingsport--you get my point. Things may have changed and there may be more doctors on the plan. Fortunately, my parents are now on Blue Cross/Blue Shield. What is considered to be good insurance in one part of the country is not so good elsewhere. You know this, I'm sure.
I realize that I will probably get flamed for this but I personally have not seen great results from the healthcare system in the Tri-Cities. I could tell you many stories about family and friends but I won't list all that on the forum, but I haven't been impressed with the quality of the doctors and hospitals there. It is especially bad when you have some sort of "mystery illness" that takes diagnostic ability and savvy to figure out what is going on and what the best course of treatment should be. Most people I know, when they have a more serious problem (cancer, alzheimers, etc. ) end up going to Vanderbilt, Duke, Univ of VA or some other med center for even routine visits with specialists. I think the Tri-Cities is perfectly capable of handling routine medical care.
Let me clarify (I can't find the edit button on my message right now)
I was not trying to imply that United is not good insurance and I'm afraid maybe it came across that way. What I was trying to say is that some companies that are particularly strong in some areas are less strong in others or accepted by less doctors. I don't know why that is.
Maybe I'm reading between the lines but it seems that you are saying that you have to travel throughout the tri-cities region to find various SPECIALTIES among Doctors ?
United Healthcare has a Blue Cross Blue Shield Component to it + it pays 100 % ( less $ 18 ) in network & 80 % out of Network so I fail to see what the problem is ?
It seems to me that you are implying, as others have, that there is just a shortage of quality Physicians + Hospitals in Tri-Cities ?
It also seems kind of hypocritical that one reads the websites of these Hospitals, Physicians Groups & Newspaper Articles on same attesting to the Wonders of a new Hospital that has just been erected or a new Doctor's Group yet................ Patients relate " horror stories " expressing the difficulties experienced through these Hospitals/Groups in finding quality healthcare here ?
What I'm trying to say is that my parents had to travel throughout the Tri-Cities region to find a specialist that would both accept their insurance and accept them as a patient. I know there were some doctors on the insurance plan (a neurologist in Johnson City that specialized in the condition my parent has) who were not taking any new patients.
If I recall correctly, at least at the time (and again things could change) there were only about five family practicioners in Bristol that would accept UHC. The one my mother chose (as it turned out) did not have admitting privileges to Bristol Regional Medical Center. I don't know if the others did or not. She had to be hospitalized and it became a big ordeal b/c her family doctor could not come to the hospital to treat her and had to find another doctor who was willing to do the admission and treatment and subsequently transferred her records into that doctor's care. Maybe things have changed with UHC now.
I really don't know about the relationship between United Healthcare and BCBS. I never read the specifics of my parents insurance policy (or any other UHC policy for that matter) so I'll have to reserve comment on that. I'm sure it varies from plan to plan. My mother simply told me that their insurance *changed* from UHC to BCBS.
My personal opinion is that there is a shortage of *quality* physicians in that area. I have only anecdotal evidence to support this. My personal knowledge would be of several friends and family that had poor results from different types of procedures from different doctors at both the Johnson City and Bristol Medical Centers. Even silly stuff like my friend's baby who was delivered without a doctor present because he decided to leave the delivery room to take his wife home (she was at the hospital for some reason). Fortunately there were nurses there.
I think there is a certain type of physician who is willing and able to practice in major metro areas and/or be associated with major research hospitals (Duke, Mayo Clinic, etc. etc.) and then there is the type of physician who would choose a small town setting where there is a slower pace of life, less competition, more earning power--whatever might make a doctor choose the Tri Cities. Many physicians I knew (growing up with their kids) said they came to the Tri-Cities fresh out of their residencies because there were few doctors there and a great living to be made. This was in the 70s and most of those doctors are still practicing in the Tri-Cities today. Whether this is still true today (for new medical graduates or other doctors who have come since) I don't know.
It should come as no surprise that a hospital or doctor's group would trumpet their own expansion and achievements on their own websites. It is no secret that the Tri-Cities has been actively trying to market itself as a retirement destination (that in itself is a form of economic development and this area continues to need economic development) and part of that strategy would have to include news stories and websites that promote the healthcare options in the region. Most retirees have to at least consider availability of healthcare for their future.
I really hope someone on here will chime in with personal experience using United Healthcare and specialists in the Tri-Cities. I think that would help a lot.
Two articles, one dealing with medicare and why your doc is dropping it, the other article dealing with fee based medical care.
They are based in Tennessee but the problems are nation wide, long but well worth the read.
My opinion on medicare, some milk the system and get by, most have no other choice but to find alternatives beyond medicare and drop it, it definatly needs to be retuned but will it be done with the medical system in mind or the gov in mind, my bet is that the gov will come out on top, naturally leaving the docs once again out on a limb, who gets the shaft in the end, docs and the elderly.
Article 1
It took 15 phone calls before Diana Erben found a doctor who would take her as a new patient. It will take an additional six months before that doctor will see her.
Erben, who moved to Murfreesboro last month from California, will play the waiting game because she must. As a Medicare patient, it's her only option in a time when Tennessee physicians say they are restricting the number of new Medicare patients they accept.
Fee based medical practice, healthcare is a mess but these characters (docs) need to move on, hang up the white coat and don’t let the door hit you in the a**.
Margie Derryberry has been a patient of Dr. John Chauvin for 15 years. But that's about to change because Derryberry can't afford to pay a new $1,500 annual fee that Chauvin plans to charge patients on top of the cost of their insurance.
The fee is part of Chauvin's bid to trim his patient rolls to about 600 people — down from 2,500 — so he can spend more time with each one and offer what he sees as extra preventive care.
But for Derryberry, 71, of Robertson County — and for other middle-income patients — the hefty fee raises questions about equal access to medical care at a time when some national studies say 40 percent of U.S. adults are already uninsured or under-insured.
Daddyo49,
I posted under TN instead of the Tri-City area by mistake. I guess I had a senior moment. After four months I still do not have a GP. I did manage to find an ENT and a cardiologist. It is unbelievable that I can find specialist but no GP. Today I went to three different doctors office and one told me, "no Medicare patients," and I filled out the applications at the other facilities. One of these applications was 6 pages. Now I wait until they call to tell me the doctor has declined to treat me.
The one doctor I did find was the worst doctor I had ever run into anywhere. I wouldn't let him treat my dog. He sent me a bill for $280 of which he got about $260 from Medicare, BCBS and my copay. The cardiologist I saw for 10-15 minutes sent me a copy of the bill which totaled $440. In PA my GP charged $120 per OV and my cardio charged $280. With the prices of the medical care in Kingsport you would think they would welcome Medicare patients with opened arms. I also went to one MD's office who was accepting patients but "cash only", not taking any insurance.
I have now met several locals and many tell me horror stories of Holston Medical. I only hope I never never need to go to the hospital here.
My good news is that I got my first VA appointment established and now I can get to see their doctors. The bad part is that the VA is in JC and that is 30 miles one way.
My opinion of the Tri-City area after four months has degraded to the point that I regret moving here. Yes, real estate and rentals are cheap, and the electric is the lowest I seen anywhere, but I find myself paying it back out in other ways, i.e., 9.5% sales tax.
I will be leaving TN as soon as my lease expires. I am sure glad I decided to rent instead of buying.
Daddyo49,
I posted under TN instead of the Tri-City area by mistake. I guess I had a senior moment. After four months I still do not have a GP. I did manage to find an ENT and a cardiologist. It is unbelievable that I can find specialist but no GP. Today I went to three different doctors office and one told me, "no Medicare patients," and I filled out the applications at the other facilities. One of these applications was 6 pages. Now I wait until they call to tell me the doctor has declined to treat me.
The one doctor I did find was the worst doctor I had ever run into anywhere. I wouldn't let him treat my dog. He sent me a bill for $280 of which he got about $260 from Medicare, BCBS and my copay. The cardiologist I saw for 10-15 minutes sent me a copy of the bill which totaled $440. In PA my GP charged $120 per OV and my cardio charged $280. With the prices of the medical care in Kingsport you would think they would welcome Medicare patients with opened arms. I also went to one MD's office who was accepting patients but "cash only", not taking any insurance.
I have now met several locals and many tell me horror stories of Holston Medical. I only hope I never never need to go to the hospital here.
My good news is that I got my first VA appointment established and now I can get to see their doctors. The bad part is that the VA is in JC and that is 30 miles one way.
My opinion of the Tri-City area after four months has degraded to the point that I regret moving here. Yes, real estate and rentals are cheap, and the electric is the lowest I seen anywhere, but I find myself paying it back out in other ways, i.e., 9.5% sales tax.
I will be leaving TN as soon as my lease expires. I am sure glad I decided to rent instead of buying.
Don
donsabi ----- WOW ----- First of all I am truly sorry that it has been so difficult for you to find decent Medical Care in N/E Tn. I worked in Law Enforcement for many years & used to investigate Medicaid Fraud in some of the worst areas of NYC ( Harlem, South Bronx, Bed Sty,etc. ). I thought I saw lousy healthcare there when I posed as a Medicaid Recipient hundreds of times but N/E Tn sounds no better. I became disabled after an on-the-job injury + I have a profoundly retarded non-ambulatory adult step-son who has Cerebral Palsy and lives with my wife & I.
Despite the fact that I pay hefty premiums for it, my United Healthcare Insurance affords me, my wife & my adult step-son excellent medical coverage with excellent medical providers.
Additionally, my step-son is on Medicaid ( by virtue of his disabilities ) and receives great medical care on Long Island through YAI ( National Adult Services ).
I am not looking to " live off the system " in Tn & am more than willing to pay my way, but I had hoped that I was leaving the lousy healthcare service behind when I stopped doing undercovers in NYC ?
I don't mean to be disrespectful but you make it sound as if N/E Tn's Medical Care has not advanced beyond the days of Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies ?
I just spoke to my oldest son who recently care back from a business trip to Church Hill, Tn. He concurred that the Tri-Cities area was one of the most beautiful areas that he has ever seen. I agree with him but I guess he did not get to see their Healthcare ?
With all of the retirees moving to Tn, it seems to me that Tn will have to begin to address these Healthcare problems & needs for ALL citizens pretty quickly.
Not disparaging donsabi's situation or what he is saying as it does seem like he is having these issues. However I just want to point out everyones situation is different. My parents moved here 7 years ago and Mom has ended up having a lot of health issues including cardiac, circulatory and major back problems which required surgery. She has been given the best of care by both her GP in Rogersville and specialists in Kingsport , all of whom are part of the Holston Medical group. Compared to the health care in Fl where they were, I am grateful they were here in N.E.TN when these issues are being dealt with.
I did not have any issues finding great GP here in JC either.
Again, just stating that everyones situations are different. Maybe a few phone calls to Holston Medical and Mountain States Health Alliance to find out if there are specialists available and taking new patients for your specific needs before you move would be a good idea.
just my 2 cents.
Daddyo49
I agree with your son about the Tri-City area plus the weather is pretty good here too. This area has a lot to offer anyone including seniors. This health care problem is unique and may be limited to the Kingsport area because of the large number of seniors residing here. I get the feeling that local doctors don't want to take on any new Medicare patients but are afraid to rock Medicare's boat by outwardly refusing.
Due to my previous posts I received a few PM's suggesting different doctors and I tried them with the same results. I also tried Holston Medical with no success. I tried using Medicare's doctors list but even there it states that any doctor listed may not be taking new patients.
I have not tried JC or Bristol because of the mileage so my experience is limited to Kingsport. However, it looks like I am forced to use the VA so I may try for a JC MD.
Another thing is the shopping mileage. Today is a good example. I took my dog to the groomer's, went to W-mart which was out of an item I needed, when to the other W-mart, stopped for coffee, went to the post office, and picked my dog up. Total mileage was 42 miles. For my vehicle that cost just over $8 for gas. I found that I do most of my shopping in JC and that is about 30 miles one way. When I shop there I can put on 60-80 miles in a heart beat. Top that off with 9.5% tax and it is easy to see how the local cost are comparable with more expensive areas. Last night I stopped for a one dip ice cream cone, $3.83, so not all things are cheap here.
I also suggest you look at the business, (store), listings for Kingsport and see if there the type of stores you need are here.
If I were to stay in TN I would move to JC or the Piney Flats area, which is the area I think would better meet my needs, but then I have no experience with medical care there yet except with the VA.
Don
Is your wife also experiencing the same problems in finding an appropriate physician in Kingsport?
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Unied Healthcare has Blue Cross Blue Shield
