Veteran, Senior Citizen, Retiree health care in Oregon (Portland, Salem: insurance, credit)

[Old-Migrant]

I am a Senior Citizen, a retiree, and a veteran who recently moved to Salem, Oregon. I have
Medicare A and B, and Blue Cross Standard Option as secondary insurance. In searching for medical
providers, I checked the Medicare website to find doctors in Salem who accept Medicare and found
none. Not only do they not accept medicare as payment in full (participating providers) it seems
that they do not accept medicare at all.

While there are doctors who accept Blue Cross, it seems to be irrelevant since Medicare
must be the Primary Payer.

Also, the Veterans Administration has only one clinic in Salem, a CBOC clinic, which seems to
suggest that health care through the VA is very limited as well.

So what does a person such as myself do for medical care? I have read many sources that indicate
that Oregon is a popular destination for retirees, so it seems that I must not be alone in this
predicament.

Any suggestions or advice is appreciaated.

Medicare

[Larry Caldwell]

Access to care is a big problem for Oregon seniors. Thanks to east coast chicanery, Medicare in Oregon only pays 60% of what it pays in Florida. Docs take a loss on every Medicare patient they treat.

If you are looking for a primary care doc, Blue Cross may be able to put you in touch with someone who will take you, or the Marion_Polk Medical Society has a doctor search page at Marion-Polk County Medical Society. Pick either internal medicine or family medicine , get a list of docs accepting new patients, and start calling.

[Nell Plotts]

Have you tried signing up with the VA? My brother used them as his health care provider in Portland and received excellent care. Unfortunately you are out of Kaiser NW's service area. When brother turned 65 he signed up with their Medicare Advantage Plan, including dental (which is optional but is only available when you first sign up with them). Kaiser care is top notch.

When I moved back to Portland I was in the same situation. I ended up with Providence which accepted Medicare patients. I have been very happy with their system.

[Minervah]

I think all the medical providers in Portland will accept Medicare or have plans of their own like Advantage Plans that work through Medicare. The problem is you would have to travel to Portland for medical services.

[Nell Plotts]

My first choice for an internist (@ West Side Internal Medicine) was closed to new Medicare patients which is why I chose a Providence physician. Both have admitting privilages at Providence hospitals.

[StealthRabbit]

There may be a VA bus / van from Salem to services in Portland. This is often the case in other states.

I know many VA recipients who retired to Roseburg for access to care (and better weather).

OR is not nice to Seniors (High taxes, low thresh-hold).

VA in Vancouver WA runs a bus to Portland VA, frequently, as many OR retirees come to WA

[Silverfall]

One of the issues we have in Salem is that we don't have enough doctors for the population here. We are short about 150 family/internal medicine doctors in town. What this means is that they don't have to take reduced payment clients and so they don't.

I would suggest getting your medical through VA.

[Nell Plotts]

Actually OR treats its seniors from a tax standpoint quite well, I know because I am one. SS isn't taxed, they receive a special deduction for their medical expenses and there is a retirement income credit.

[Hawk J]

VA gives a gas mileage allowance. I drive about 65 mile one way to Roseburg VA Hospital. Nice scenic drive. I've always been treated very well there, by everyone.

[Terryj]

In Oregon the only full service VA hospital left is in Portland and most of the larger communities have VA clinics. The VA system in Oregon is good, I've never had a problem with them. I live in Medford and use the White City VA clinic and on occasions I'm sent to Roseburg or Portland however the VA always provides a housing and mileage allowance. If an emergency arises I can use the local hospitals and the VA reimburses the hospital.