Primary care doctors - accept Medicare assignments (West, Ingram: insurance, price)

[Sun12ise]

Hello I could use a little help please. I have elderly family moving to the area and they are in need of a family doctor that will accept Medicare assignments. Unfortunately my doctor does not and the one refered by their doctor has since retired. Looking to stay on the north side - stone oak, central, or east. Even medical center would will ok. Can anyone recommend a nice, competent doctor with short office wait times, easy and fast scheduling and will take their insurance? I know it's a tall order! Thanks in advance.

[Tree Frog]

We have been very happy with Dr. Brieger at Westover Hills. I know it's not quite the location you wanted, but he accepts Medicare. His recommendations for mil's specialists have been excellent.

450-9900 11212 Hwy 151, bldg 1, suite 100

[24annie]

Check out Wellmed. I have been with them for 10 years and am very happy both with my primary care doctor and any specialists that I have been referred to. I use the one at Ingram but they have offices all over and specialize in elder care.

[Sun12ise]

Any others recommend a dr?

[steve807]

I've got one in Stone Oak, good bedside manor when I get to see him, but he is near retirement and does not prescribe anything in the way of sleep, anxiety, or other medicines he considers to be specialist referral.

He reads the blood test results and says OK or 'you need to see a specialist'. I see him once a year and his PA the other times.

I'd recommend getting a Medicare Advantage plan that does NOT require referrals. They are running about $80 / month and have the benefit of giving big Rx discounts (even if they don't pay much for prescriptions).

I've bumped my coverage up to two major coverage Medicare supplements, one for Rx one for Dr/hospital this year that give heavy coverage but at a higher price than Medicare Advantage. Together they cost over $200/month (and that is on top of the Soc Sec $104 / month).

[steve807]

Check the web for Dr ratings. There's even comprehensive 'for pay' Dr evaluation websites.

You don't want to make a mistake with your Dr selection.

[ashbeeigh]

After working with seniors in a social service setting I am going to second the WellMed reccomendation. They have several different locations throughout the city, accept medicaid and are soley focused on seniors. I'm sorry I have no specific reccomendations, though.