Originally Posted by kingofbeer (Post 2447165)

It's a stupid rule to charge extra if you have higher income. The medicare premium should be zero for all.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2447340)

Research regarding your MD may be the answer if you've run into a "cut happy Dr". I am sure I am not the only person not to have Drs. that try to sell me something. I'm talking about tests that could help with the prevention of strokes, heart attacks, aneurysms, etc. for which the elderly have a propensity. Ct scans, MRIs, Doppler ultrasound testing are great tools for diagnosis without a scalpel in sight. As far as the KA-CHING for Drs. treating Medicare patients, have you ever seen a traditional Medicare statement? Yeah, those Drs. are rolling in the dough, lol.

Originally Posted by HappyTraveler (Post 2447355)

Everyone who has reached a mature age has run into "cut happy" Doctors whether they comprehend that or not. (Plenty don't) You can't have upwards of 2.5 million+ unnecessary surgeries/procedures every year in this country without that being the case. It happens in the dentistry and the veterinary realms too. Caveat emptor.

The last couple sentences are a good indicator that you weren't employed in the business arena during your working career. The evaluation criteria you used isn't accurate or complete.

My Mother was on TM for 30 years and she mused to me why her Doc would tell her to come back and see him for some minor thing she went in for. She'd say, "I healed fine and there are no problems so why does he need me to come back?" I replied, "For the billing, so he can fill the calendar and get paid." She'd be in there all of 2 to 3 minutes for the return visit and Medicare got billed. She stopped going back when she knew there was no need. She lived until one week shy of 98.

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2447419)

Expect MA price increases coming to your account:

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/...increases.html

when asked about a subscription, just click on the No Thanks link to continue reading. .
Does not discuss your MA plan, just and example of MA companies needing large price increases to maintain solvency. .

good luck to us!

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2447419)

Expect MA price increases coming to your account:

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/...increases.html

when asked about a subscription, just click on the No Thanks link to continue reading. .
Does not discuss your MA plan, just and example of MA companies needing large price increases to maintain solvency. .

good luck to us!

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2447365)

Yes, because a Dr was thrilled to make the $3.00 off your mother's visit. It never occurred to you that her Dr. was following up to insure her issue was completely recovered. On the other hand, it does sound like the Drs that the two of you had chosen may not have been vetted by you. :icon_bored:

Hate to disturb your visions but I have worked in healthcare, dentistry, the health insurance and LTDB arena. Why do you think physicians don't want to work in Florida, old people aren't as profitable for them.

Originally Posted by HappyTraveler (Post 2447521)

Doc made more than $3...that is just silliness. He told her to come back for the billing.

I guess you'd also be shocked to hear that the Medical Director at the nursing facility where she later lived for a few years into her 90s isn't primarily there for the patients/residents - he's there for the owners of the facility. And his starting point in making decisions is what benefits them (and his monthly or annual bonus). The real world....

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2447525)

.... traditional Medicare allows VERY little for a brief office visit. The physician has booked time that could have gone to a patient who pays a normal fee plus he has overhead for the medical assistant or nurse, room set up and cleaning afterward, office rent, malpractice insurance, supplies and on and on.

Originally Posted by HappyTraveler (Post 2447542)

Yes, indeed.....you made my point. It's like empty airplane seats are 100% lost revenue for the airline just as the open calendar spots are lost $$ for a Doc.


She chose her Doctor, lived hours away from me and he was otherwise capable. Maybe you would force your parent to do something but, I would not unless it was a danger. I got no indication of that. She solved it by not returning for unneeded follow-ups. (Plus, who says the next Doc wouldn't do the same?)


And I am sorry that you continue to conflate things erroneously. It seems to be a habit and only creates negative interactions and faulty assumptions.

Here's the reality, she DID get pulled from there when I figured out what was going on. While my 3 brothers were clueless about it all and the one that was her caretaker and had all the POAs was largely AWOL. (Note to all: don't ever give one person all the POAs) They overbilled her for 10s of thousands and were feeding her too many sedatives - like they do most of the inmates. He never got the $$ back. It was atrocious.

We can end this here. I'm not interesting in dialoguing with anyone who wantonly conjures and believes things that aren't factual.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2447587)

Yup, it's ending here. Holding all physicians up to the same light because of bad choices on the patient's end and then concluding Drs. are all getting rich off of traditional Medicare because of an appointed followup office visit doesn't float
the rational boat. :shrug: (BTW, nothing was conflated, comments were based on the information that was provided.)

Originally Posted by Rainger99 (Post 2447291)

There are two that seem to fit his description. I am trying to find out which one he recommends.

HumanaChoice Florida Giveback H5216-452 (PPO)

Humana Full Access Giveback H5216-393 (PPO)

Originally Posted by Blueblaze (Post 2447717)

the various gimmicks United was doing, like free "stuff" from some weird online store that mostly had "stuff" I don't need.