Medicare and Medicaid Kinda Sucks

[Mr Sparky]

I say that because, goodness, it’s so hard to find the right doctors with it. Like a lot of good doctors I could be going to won’t accept it and then I have to settle for less desirable doctors in exchange because of that. I would switch insurance but that might screw up a lot of my current benefits that may not be transferable or even available on other insurances. I don’t know what the hell to do, except to stick with what I know, even if it is a bit crappy. But I am thankful that I have something.

[Charlie B53]

I see that through our Son.  He is overdue for a recert with Social Security Disability and needs a current psych eval.   Very few around that will accept medicare, and those that do are booked solid until mid-October.

He may get cut off as untimely.   I guess I am going to have to go in with him as he can't deal with it alone.  Find out what, when, where, etc. to get him by until Oct.

[PrimeTimer]

I remember my late mother had trouble finding a doc that would take a new patient on Medicare unless they had secondary or supplemental insurance to go with it. Was most frustrating. I think docs don't like Medicare because Medicare is a govt agency and slow at paying them for their services and pay a lot less than what regular insurance pays.

[Simon Dog]

I find that pretty much all of the big name places in Boston take Medicare, including all the xplant programs.   The low reimbursement rates with medicare have the biggest hit on the availability of primary, non-specialist, care as the reimbursement rates for those services are money losers.  It's not uncommon for MDs to continue serving their long term patients who have transitioned to Medicare, but refuse to accept new patients.

The requirement for secondary/supplmental is that the MD wants to be paid that 20% deductible, and it's rare for people to not have secondary insurance but have the resources to pay that 20%.

[PrimeTimer]

My mother was indeed a rare one and pretty wonderful at that. Thanks to my father, after working her rear off 24/7 for more than 30 years, she was practically penniless.   

[Mr Sparky]

Does anyone here live in the state of Florida? I wonder which insurance is more acceptable here? Though I am not sure I could afford it, since I have no job and am almost 100 % dependent on SSI and SSD.

[Shaks24]

I'm in East Tennessee. I have had Medicare and Supplement F since 2013. Knock on wood. To this point I have not run into any healthcare providers that did not accept Medicare.

[nursey66]

We are from MN, Have BCBS cost plan for the supplement to the part B. It's 109 a month and pays everything , except around 45 dollars a month for the anti rejection drugs , of which we have to pay 20% . The part D drug plan is 26 dollars a month with 1 dollar co- pays We are extremely satisfied with our Medicare Plan . We have no Medicaide assistance .

[Fabkiwi06]

I'm in Nashville, and for the most part I've been able to get all the doctors I've wanted with my Medicare/Medicaid. The only issues I've really found is the super long wait times for certain specialists.

[Mr Sparky]

I'm in Nashville, and for the most part I've been able to get all the doctors I've wanted with my Medicare/Medicaid. The only issues I've really found is the super long wait times for certain specialists.

Yes!!! That right there drives me up a wall! 

[Whamo]

I just got my Medicare bill.  Last time it was $404; this times it's $927!