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I think when older people talk about rationing of healthcare it is because they have experienced difficulty finding a doctor who would accept Medicare. This is a form of rationing and when adding large numbers of people onto a new government plan logic says that it will become worse. I turned 65 about a year ago. When I called my gynecologist who I had seen for several years for a regular exam, I was told that she did not accept Medicare. Essentially I was "thrown out the door" with no referral when I asked if they knew a doctor who did accept Medicare. When I did find a new doctor, it was only after I had successfully convinced the receptionist that I really was very healthy and hadn't been to the hospital since I gave birth 40+ years ago.
Even those on private insurance can say the same thing if the doctor they want to see doesn't accept their insurance. Maybe the insurance company has a record of not paying the bills in full, giving the office the run-around, etc.
I know for a while one pediatric dentist office ONLY accepted Medicaid.
You can't blame Medicaid on the doctor not telling you where you can find another doctor who can/will accept Medicaid.
No group, no HMO, no private. The only choice is to self-insure and very few have the financial means to do that.
As someone else suggested, do some research before speaking of things you have no first-hand knowledge of.
So, basically, Mary_Moon, the elderly DO have an option for healthcare coverage while the regular person who is not old enough to quality for Medicare has NO options if they have pre-existing conditions or can't afford coverage. Is this correct???????? Yes, LET'S do some research of things. Please. Let's.
Even those on private insurance can say the same thing if the doctor they want to see doesn't accept their insurance.
You are correct -
The problem is though - MORE and MORE doctors are dropping Medicare - and dropping Medicare in record numbers.
It is one thing when there is a problem with an insurance company sending / reimbursing the doctors. It is a complete other thing when the reimbursement is SO LOW that the doctor / provider simply can't afford to deal with them.
Even those on private insurance can say the same thing if the doctor they want to see doesn't accept their insurance. Maybe the insurance company has a record of not paying the bills in full, giving the office the run-around, etc.
I know for a while one pediatric dentist office ONLY accepted Medicaid.
You can't blame Medicaid on the doctor not telling you where you can find another doctor who can/will accept Medicaid.
Excuse me, but this was not MEDICAID -- it was MEDICARE. If you don't know the difference please do some research. Just a hint - Medicare is what I paid for with every paycheck deduction over 40+ years of working and that I still pay almost $100 from my SS check every month. Medicaid is a government paid benefit for which the recipient contributes nothing.
Also I had private insurance until reaching 65 and never had a doctor who refused to accept it.
Yes the GOP voted as a block against Medicare and the same against Social Security.
Absolutely right and now that the elderly protest a democratic program they are terrorist instead of the "victims" that they were portrayed to be when dems were using them as useful fools.
Original poster complaining about seniors not paying their fair share for medicare. Each year of the 40 years you work, 1.45% of income [part of fica] pays for Hospital part A. If you want to see doctors in your remaining years, you have to pay for it. That's part B coverage. The current cost is $98 a month and removed automatically from SS benefits. But it only covers 80% You pay the 20% out of pocket. You can purchase an optional supplemental plan to cover the 20%. The average policy is $145 a month.
Now, if you want to talk about who is not paying their fair share, that would be medicaid recipients.
Actually you raise a very good point -- the only part of Medicare that a senior does not have to pay for monthly is Part A (Hospital). Since I have not been to the hospital since having my son 40+ years ago, I guess the OP should have no problem with me.
Excuse me, but this was not MEDICAID -- it was MEDICARE. If you don't know the difference please do some research. Just a hint - Medicare is what I paid for with every paycheck deduction over 40+ years of working and that I still pay almost $100 from my SS check every month. Medicaid is a government paid benefit for which the recipient contributes nothing.
Also I had private insurance until reaching 65 and never had a doctor who refused to accept it.
We have had private health insurance for 30 years thru the company my husband works for. While things have been pretty stable for the last 4 years (same insurance company/same Doctor) there was a period of time where every year or two the employer would switch carriers and/or medical groups would drop out of certain plans. We had 4 doctors in four years once, which was a pain since my husband has ongoing issues from diseases and injuries. We even had Kaiser for a year.
So yes, it can be tricky even with private insurance.
That's often the case in the southern states. Just like the educational system in the South is degraded. It's not the case at all in Oregon. My aunt was at a V.A. hospital, and the folks there were wonderful.
"My aunt was at a V.A. hospital, and the folks there were wonderful."
You're right, the people there are wonderful to use your words, but the care there SUCKS.... Try getting an appointment...aint (aint was just for you) gonna happen!!!!
""""Just like the educational system in the South is degraded."""
Did that comment make you feel a foot taller??????
We have had private health insurance for 30 years thru the company my husband works for. While things have been pretty stable for the last 4 years (same insurance company/same Doctor) there was a period of time where every year or two the employer would switch carriers and/or medical groups would drop out of certain plans. We had 4 doctors in four years once, which was a pain since my husband has ongoing issues from diseases and injuries. We even had Kaiser for a year.
So yes, it can be tricky even with private insurance.
Yes, I understand that occassionally a doctor is not on every plan, but it is MUCH more common for a doctor to say that they will not accept medicare due to problems with dealing with the federal government bureaucracy. From that perspective, if the feds become the only game in town then doctors will have no choice if they want to stay in business.
Our government has mismanaged any government program into bankruptcy. How come everyone just ASSUMES that the fat, bloated government is suddenly going to see the light and do health care better and cheaper than the current system??????? Come on people wake up....Medicare....sucks....Medicaid...sucks....Soc ial Security....almost broke...U.S. Post Office...boy is that a model of efficiency!!!! In 2007 Hussein Obama was recorded saying that his ultimate goal is a single payer government system of health care and that he wanted to eliminate private insurance. The guy is a proven LIAR and cannot be trusted. Incrementalism is the word of the day...get your foot in the door with a hybrid national health care plan and increase it each year until they get to single payer. Wake up America...once they get it we will NEVER get rid of it. You want to see Medical Doctors and Specialists flee from Medical Schools.......adopt this plan and you will see........any plan that would control or cap what a Doctor could earn will mean less doctors and less coverage, and ultimately rationing as private health insurance is forced to bankruptcy......
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