"I'm sorry" we're no longer accepting Medicare Patients.....

[Rerun]

My 30 months ended on February 29, 2008.  So, now my Primary Insurance is "Medicare", and my secondary is Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Well, I can't find a doctor.  I can't even get a mammogram.  What am I supposed to do?  I know how the Jews felt in WW!!.   I should get a yellow M and put it on my arm.  Do I go stand in line at the Union Gospel Mission for a free meal and medical check-up??

What do you guys do?     

[Sluff]

That is just ridiculous Rerun, I can not believe this crap. All these people abusing the welfare and health care programs and getting away with it, and the people who need it the most are struggling. Where do all those people go to get Doctors to accept their free insurance? pisses me off.  Take care my friend and let us know your next step, when you get it figured out.

[mikey07840]

Rerun,

Have you tried talking to your doctors? (Most of my doctors don't accept new Medicare patients, but have told me as and existing patient, they will accept medicare.)

Hope it helps.

Mikey 

[flip]

I've never had this problem. I saw a new doctor(dermatologist) last week and had no problem. I have Medicare as a primary and United Health Care as secondary. Something ain't right somewhere.

[Roadrunner]

If you don't get any answers call you local congressman or other politician running for election this year.  Does your state have a medical ombudsman?

Try everyone, your church, friends, till you find someone who can send you in the right direction.

[2_DallasCowboys]

Rerun,

Have you tried calling Blue Cross and explaining to them
about the non acceptance of the Medicare?  Maybe they
can recommend Drs who do take the Medicare.

My niece, who lives in Northern New Jersey (we are in
Southern)  told me that many Drs. up there no longer
accept the Medicare.  I cannot believe the Gov. allows
the damn Drs to pull this crap, what are these people
supposed to do?

I hope you can get help real soon, let us know


Anne

[stauffenberg]

More than half of the cost of training physicians is paid for by government grants to universities, ultimately paid for by you, the taxpayer.  Most medical students finance part of their education by government grants, for which the cash and interest support payments again come from you, the taxpayer.  Finally, all doctors practise medicine only because they are licensed by the state, which represents the democratic will of the people.  Taking all these considerations together should require doctors to practise medicine in a way that serves the public rather than just their private greed, and an essential aspect of public service is accepting all Medicare patients who seek treatment.

One of the major arguments of the medical profession against the introduction of free, government-run healthcare for all people is that this is not necessary, since doctors will always take 'charity cases' for free if necessary.  The fact that they won't even take Medicare cases because the fees won't fatten their wallets sufficiently belies this argument.

Rerun, your argument about feeling like a Jew in Europe in World War II because of your medical conditioin is exactly what I felt when I left the United States forever at age 28 because of the cruel way its medical system interacted with my own pre-existing medical condition.  Many of my professors had been Jewish refugees who fled Hitler for politicial security in America, but I was the reverse -- a medical refugee fleeing American capitalism for healthcare security in Europe and, eventually, Canada.

[The Wife]

I don't understand how these kinds of things can take place, nor can I offer any suggestions as we're not in the States.  You need a doctor and hope this problem is resolved soon.

[kevno]

I honesty do not know what to say to you Rerun Sorry i can not give any advise. With living in the UK in one respect i am very lucky, we do not have to pay for our medical treatment. Hope you get it sorted out very quickly. Take care Rerun

[thegrammalady]

so if i'm understanding this correctly the doctor you were seeing will no longer see you because he now has to bill medicare first then blue cross. did he not bill blue cross then medicare before, or only blue cross and you were paying the balance??? can't he refer you to someone? i guess i just don't get it.

[David13]

The way that I understand it (and I am not sure if this is applicable in every state) is that physicians are required by the government to accept a certain number or percentage of Medicare patients in their practice.  Once they have reached that number, they can then turn away any other Medicare patients.  Just another example of the greed that is at the heart of the American medical system.

[flip]

Fortunately it doesn't apply to dialysis centers and hospitals. I will do some research and see what is required in this area. I've heard that some dialysis centers are not taking patients who don't have supplemental insurance. It's something that needs to be investigated.

[Rerun]

so if i'm understanding this correctly the doctor you were seeing will no longer see you because he now has to bill medicare first then blue cross. did he not bill blue cross then medicare before, or only blue cross and you were paying the balance??? can't he refer you to someone? i guess i just don't get it.

I moved from Sacramento to Spokane just as my 30 months was over and Medicare took over as primary.  I assume that if I had been an established patient somewhere I wouldn't have a problem.  But still, the problem is out there.  We pay into the system for years and when we need it the greedy doctors don't take us.

[Rerun]

The way that I understand it (and I am not sure if this is applicable in every state) is that physicians are required by the government to accept a certain number or percentage of Medicare patients in their practice.  Once they have reached that number, they can then turn away any other Medicare patients.  Just another example of the greed that is at the heart of the American medical system.

David, you are exactly right.  My question is who is monitoring these doctor's offices to make sure they have their quota, and not 25 dead people on their Medicare list?

[UNIBALLER]

I wish you the best of luck in resolving this asap.

As a Canadian I am very thankful that I, my family, or any of my fellow citizens don't have to endure outrageous situations like this. But at the same time I'm outraged and dumbfounded how a government, a society, and any other person can allow something like this to happen. I just don't understand how people can put financial gain and profit over another persons health and ultimately a human life.

Good luck and hopefully you can find a solution soon.

[okarol]

Head for Canada Rerun!

We have one doctor that doesn't bill Medicare. So we tried to bill directly, but Medicare is set up to get billed by the providers only. Period.
So we billed Blue Shield, who notifies Medicare that it has to pay their portion first. Nuts, huh?

[keefer51]

Rerun what i do isn't right in some peoples eyes but i have no choice. I just don't get it done. If they give me new meds and insurance won't cover it i don't take them. If there is a test or something that isn't dialysis related i just don't get it done. Don't get me wrong i still have alot of fight in me just not enough for those idiots.

[David13]

The way that I understand it (and I am not sure if this is applicable in every state) is that physicians are required by the government to accept a certain number or percentage of Medicare patients in their practice.  Once they have reached that number, they can then turn away any other Medicare patients.  Just another example of the greed that is at the heart of the American medical system.

David, you are exactly right.  My question is who is monitoring these doctor's offices to make sure they have their quota, and not 25 dead people on their Medicare list?

Rerun, my understanding is that physicians' offices are routinely audited by insurance companies to make sure that their billing practices are correct.  However, although I would hope that it is the case, I am not sure if the government actually monitors them to make sure the number of Medicare patients they are reporting is correct.

[willieandwinnie]

Rerun, try this site.

http://www.medicare.gov/Physician/Home.asp?bhcp=1

This situation is just wrong and I hope you can get it fixed soon. 

[gorwell1984]

My 30 months ended on February 29, 2008.  So, now my Primary Insurance is "Medicare", and my secondary is Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Well, I can't find a doctor.  I can't even get a mammogram.  What am I supposed to do?  I know how the Jews felt in WW!!.   I should get a yellow M and put it on my arm.  Do I go stand in line at the Union Gospel Mission for a free meal and medical check-up??

What do you guys do?     

My God I'd have to shoot someone!
Call aakp in Tampa, Florida. American Association of Kidney Patients - 3505 E. Frontage Rd. suite 315 - Tampa, FL 33607. Tell them your story. I'll bet they get something going!

Best of luck,
Rick/George Orwell 1984