age management physician (insurance, how much, school)

[ladyinred29]

I am looking for an age management physician who can prescribe bio-identical hormones and who cares about prevention and accepts insurance

[Dr. Mark]

Unfortunately, any doctor who practices age-management medicine must do so outside the traditional insurance model. Why? They are not reimbursed appropriately for the time spent and services offered. To practice true pro-active preventative care the initial consultation typically takes approximately 2-3 hours. The average cash price for that is $500-1,000 which is appropriate for a well educated physician who went to school an average of 12 years and is faced with extreme scrutiny on every medical decision by the legal community. Traditional insurance would cap this visit at about $75 (which doesn't even take into account the high overhead most doctors incur at around 65-75% of their reimbursement). Hey, at that rate they might as well flip burgers at McDonalds! You see, really good healthcare which is preventative and highly customized comes at a price. But in light of the advanced benefits which typically lead reduced sickness and disease, less urgent care and surgery, better quality of life and perhaps even improved healthspan and longevity this price is in reality life's best bargain. I wish you and all those who seek this type of care a long and prosperous life.

[Zayetz]

I agree with the previous poster, if you are looking at bio-identical hormone therapy in Florida, you are most likely going to end up dealing with a physician who will be cash-pay only. But there are a number of good physicians here who use bHRT, and you can shop around. Ask what they charge for initial consults, ask how much time they will spend with you, and make sure you ask upfront what the total charge for testing/labs will be. With the economy the way it is, you may be able to find a bargain.