One of the drawbacks of Medicare advantage programs is that they receive a premium from Medicare in exchange for controlling costs and providing additional services which are associated with improved health. Some plans use that extra money to offer insane rebates (like the plan that went belly up a couple of months ago).

One of the ways that they control costs is to reduce access to specialty care. HMOs do the same thing. At one point in the mid 90s, Kaiser in the DC area had a 3 year wait list for colonoscopies. Kept their costs down, but convinced more than a few folks that they really did not care about patient health.

The bottom line is that you have to make wise choices. When you see a plan that "saves you money" ask where the money to pay for it is coming from. It is not fairy dollars. It is not out of the goodness of their little corporate heart. They have a plan whereby they will make money. They just aren't likely to tell you before you are committed.

Doctors are running a business. They will generally not accept reimbursement which is below what they need to make (would you work for free?). They are also free to move. If they can't make money, they will close their business and move on.

Doctors are ultimately free to set their prices. Insurance companies are free to set their reimbursement rates. When they don't reach agreement, no sale happens. We call that "the free market."

Just a poor way of responding to the posters situation....Just saying!

Connie,

Perhaps Colony will add the 8th and final Doctor when Fruitland opens. You may want to inquire to see if you can get on the wait list if this truly happens and you like the new Doctor. Things are always changing and maybe you can be on a waitlist for a specific Doctor that you like.