Medicare Advantage patients helpless as their doctors get dumped

Conservative Intel ^ | 12/2/13 | David Freddoso

[The Old Hoosier]

Remember those Medicare cuts that the Democrats and the White House used to make Obamacare appear budget-neutral on paper? The ones that Republicans somewhat hypocritically railed against during the 2010 election cycle?

Well, that didn’t make the cuts any less real. So add 14 million more people that Obama lied to — er, “misspoke” to — with his famous “you can keep it” promise...

[MrB]

“Hello, I have a patient that has informed me that my practice is not included on your list for ACA doctors. How does one go about correcting this matter?”

“I’m sorry, that information is confidential.”

[AU72]

And the hits just keep on coming. Thank you AARP.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I’ve checked with United Healthcare, and all of my doctors and hospitals are included in the plan — for next year. No promises after that, and I don’t necessarily believe them for next year.

[GeronL]

I checked the Medicaid website and no doctors in this county accept, there was one listed but turns out to he is an ER doctor now.

Maybe they just don’t update the website list of available doctors.

[steve86]

Geron, I’ve seen you post that before but are you absolutely positive? Around here, all the physicians at hospital-affiliated clinics do accept, although each Dr. is not individually listed, sometimes not even the clinic, just the hospital.

[GeronL]

General Practice/primary care in this county
...................

http://www.medicare.gov/PhysicianCompare/results.html?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1#viewmap=0&expanded=dvcon2|dvcon4&keyword=primary%20care&loc=78130&lat=29.7049806&lng=-98.06834300000003&type=All&xpnd=1&vflg=1

Paul Richter now works ER.

The next closest on the list is in another county.

..........

Like I said, maybe the government website is flawed. :p

Wouldn’t be the first time.

[Marcella]

AARP has nothing to do with the UnitedHealthcare Advantage Plan. United made a bid for the AARP business a few years ago and got the contract. They decide what is in the plan, not AARP. Advantage plans spent more money than regular Medicare and the govn. said over a year ago that Advantage Plans were costing too much money over regular Medicare and the money would be cut. The govn. cut it so United had to change that Advantage Plan.

I heard the senate sessions when the Advantage Plans were being discussed as costing too much money.

I didn't get the UnitedHealthcare Advantage Plan because I knew they couldn't keep spending more money and I also wanted to choose my own doctor and not have to choose between the doctors just on that plan,

UnitedHealcare has Advantage Plans all over this country, not just at AARP. All those plans have to change.

[steve86]

I see 17 Internal Medicine specialists in NEW BRAUNFELS, TX,
but that is the Medicare website, not Medicaid which your comment stated although the thread title is Medicare. Going to my own appt now —

[nascarnation]

The patients are not really “helpless” they need to pony up for a supplemental plan that gives them access.

[GeronL]

You need to a primary to get to a specialist

[Marcella]

“The director of the Congressional Budget Office has testified that the Obama administration's health care proposal would cause sweeping cuts in Medicare Advantage benefits and services. Insurance giant Humana has run afoul of the Obama administration by saying the same thing.”

Humana must be cutting/changing their Advantage Plans, too, and that has nothing to do with AARP. It is every insurance company's Advantage Plan they offer to individuals.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Little did they know that "free health care" meant no health care at all...

[cynicalman]

I have been told time and time again and after extensive research, I have concluded that traditional Medicare with a Medigap Plan C or F and prescription drug part D is the best way to go.

[Georgia Girl 2]

The United medicare advantage is a PPO so you can use a doctor or hospital that is not on the list at no additional cost.

[nascarnation]

I agree. My monthly supplement premium is a small price to pay for avoiding being locked into a network.

[Marcella]

“I have concluded that traditional Medicare with a Medigap Plan C or F and prescription drug part D is the best way to go.”

Yes, it is. I had UnitedHealthCare supplement F policy and Blue Cross/Blue Shield prescription drugs part D. I can go to any doctor without getting approval from anyone and my drug costs are not excessive at all.

[Marcella]

A huge problem for Medicaid is, doctors are dropping that fast and not taking those patients. They lose money on such a patient. With millions signing up for that free care, there will be lines forever before you could see a doctor who is still taking Medicaid patients.

My doctor who took Medicare went to another area and I had no doctor and this was toward the last of 2011. A friend gave me the name of her doctor and I called that office and they don’t take MEDICARE patients - note I said Medicare, not Medicaid. I called a doctor friend and he gave me the name of his doctor and that doctor took me.

With doctors not taking Medicare, they for sure aren’t taking Medicaid.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Then why is it that they are reported as dropping doctors and hospitals in other states? Is that a different plan?

[steve86]

Many people see internists as their primary, at least around here. I have been with an internist primary about half the time.