Question About Medical Care

[suitcase_sally]

OK, I turned 65 a few months ago. Up until then, I would go to the doctor and every so often have to get a blood test to confirm my thyroid issue. The doc would look at the test results and mention, "Oh, your potassium levels are a little high.", or " I see that your iron levels are a bit off.", but that would be the end of it.

Fast forward to the age of 65 and I went on Medicare. Now it seems I have "MEDICARE" tatooed on my forehead. In the last two months I have been to the general practioner, kidney specialist, had a kidney sonogram, went to the hospital and had a liver sonogram, sent to the cancer care facility, back to the hospital for more blood work and come Tuesday am seeing another liver specialist. I have had more than 40 vials of blood drawn, and am not happy about that because I have a phobia about needles. (I could never be a junkie or a diabetic.)

I feel fine, have no major issues and I'm just wondering if the medical industry is milking Medicare for all they can get. All these tests are causing me great anxiety. Should my husband up my life insurance? Any ideas?

[1948CaseVAI]

Medical protocols call for additional testing as we age. Having said that, much of the medical industry will milk medicaid as much as possible.

Keep in mind that the doctor cannot force you to have any test or procedure - it is all up to you to consent or not. If they cannot convince you of the necessity then simply say no. They need to explain everything to you such that you become convinced of the necessity.

[Irish Pixie]

Did your Dr. say why he or she is ordering all the tests or sending you to a kidney specialist? If not, you need to ask why and if they can't come up with a good reason just tell them you'd rather wait. It could be they are doing baseline testing but they should tell you that and explain what's going on so you don't worry.

It's doubtful that any of them are doing it for the Medicare money cuz they don't pay much.

[mvick]

No ideas. I actually cried the day I got that Medicare card in the mail. One of the worst days I have ever had. I had good insurance from work.
My insurance now will not pay my chiropractor and some things my regular Dr. They have to go by Medicare rules. If Medicare don't, They won 't pay. Also set amounts.
Just try to stay healthy and use natural remedies when you can.Oh me, I do not like Big Brother!!!!

[Irish Pixie]

Originally Posted by mvick

No ideas. I actually cried the day I got that Medicare card in the mail. One of the worst days I have ever had. I had good insurance from work.
My insurance now will not pay my chiropractor and some things my regular Dr. They have to go by Medicare rules. If Medicare don't, They won 't pay. Also set amounts.
Just try to stay healthy and use natural remedies when you can.Oh me, I do not like Big Brother!!!!

If you're still working your employer health insurance should be primary and Medicare secondary, which means that in many cases Medicare only comes into play to pick up the deductibles.

Medicare will not pay for any tests unless the physician tags a diagnosis along with them...a provider can't just order an ultrasound because they feel like it..there must be a documented medical neccesity ...

Why would you go to a cancer center or have tests without asking "why"? That's very confusing.

[Nancy]

My fear is that you will be left with much of the bill. Medicare does not cover much. Hope you have a very good supplemental.

[suitcase_sally]

I was sent to the cancer center because of high levels of protein in my blood.

[mvick]

Nope! Retired Medicare is primary. I am limited.

[Vosey]

Sounds to me like the provider you saw for years may have ignored some mild abnormalities in your blood work that have now turned into something. Or maybe the doctor now is overreacting to mild abnormalities in your blood work? Not sure if you are still seeing the same person.

Someone should be explaining all of these tests, why you are having referrals and what all the possible outcomes are. If they aren't, ask. If the answers are confusing, take someone with you. And unfortunately, not all chronic diseases have symptoms.

Unless the lab is in the doctor's office they aren't making any money running all the tests. Most labs are run by hospitals.

[suitcase_sally]

Actually, my long time doctor retired and my new doc took over most of his load. He's youngish and seems to be much more knowledgeble (sp?) than the old doc.

I have been taking notes when I visit all my "new-found-friends" (docs) and have made copies of all the various blood test requests so that I can ask Dr. Google what all the words mean. It's very anxiety-provoking. I've always felt that I was going to live to be 113 years old and I don't like anything messing with that assumption.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by mvick

Nope! Retired Medicare is primary. I am limited.

Have you signed up for a secondary supplemental policy?
You better or you will be paying 20% of the cost out of pocket that Medicare does not pay., Then also you better get a drug coverage policy as well, because if not there is a fine that will happen, and that will not go away, but will stay with you as long as you live. It seas the best day in my life when I was able to get Medicare. After paying for insurance under the COBRA act. Cut my costs way way down. And now I have a Medicare Advantage Program and it is Sweet. Love it. pay 40 bucks a month and Everything is covered including drug coverage of which because of low income they even pay half those costs.

[suitcase_sally]

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Then also you better get a drug coverage policy as well, because if not there is a fine that will happen, and that will not go away, but will stay with you as long as you live.

I thought that drug coverage was voluntary. That's what I read in my "Medicare & You" book that came last fall. (at least I think I read that!)

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

I thought that drug coverage was voluntary. That's what I read in my "Medicare & You" book that came last fall. (at least I think I read that!)

No not really, Sure you can go and get your own separate policy for drugs but it IS mandatory you get Some Kind of drug coverage.
If you don't once you DO and as a person ages it will become a necessary evil They the government will find out you did not have it and will penalize you 1% a month for each and every month you didn't have it.
I am being Fined in the amount of 19 bucks a month. ( 19 Months that I didn't have drug coverage ) IF I had done this at the age of 65 the fine Never goes away.
But because I went on SSDI and then got Medicare at age 54 the Fines goes away when I turn 65 in a little over a year, but if over 65 it never goes away.

[cricket49]

First of all, I am not minimizing the high proteins found in your blood. Hopefully, your new dr. is overly concerned and your test results will come back ok.

I tend to like older drs. because they usually take a more conservative approach and don't prescribed unnecessary treatment.

The best drs. are the ones who work with me on my health care. I ask questions, then go home and research everything and then, my dr. and I discuss the course of treatment.

All my friends and family my age and older are on pills and other medicine. Now...some of them do need the medication but others, if the dr said they need it, they take it.

When I had high blood pressure the dr. wanted to put me on medicine. I told him no, I would rather get my weight down and exercise more. He was fine with that but concerned that I could not get my weight down since the holidays were approaching. Two months later and 25 pounds lighter my blood pressure was low again. I want to fly into old age healthy and pill free if possible.

Try to find a dr. who works with you or you might end up paying more out of pocket money than necessary.

I hope you get good news with your test results.

[kasilofhome]

With the web and asking for an understanding of th drs concern lots of medical test and referrals are dismissed. For quite I had a Dr office wanting to provide care for my cancer. I have an elderly friend screening
her phone ....the answering machine ..not I'd system because of a doc that wants her to do tons of testing. She is well into her 80 s and very active so what if we have to aid her in walking and sitting.

Some of us accept death and even the changes in simply aging. I run with a bunch of golden girls who will not waste what time the have in the doctors office. Once a year is all the time they allow. They are a busy group. They complain more about being hounded by medical offices.

[michael ark]

Medicare is being robed by the affordable care act.I have had 6 disk and some bone removed from my spine 4 years ago. That surgery was a bust and i got a bad infection that ate a hole in my spine and nerves.So now i am on disability co pays have went way up and therapy was cut down in half.

[fordy]

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

I thought that drug coverage was voluntary. That's what I read in my "Medicare & You" book that came last fall. (at least I think I read that!)

................SS , you need to look into Plan 'F' for your medicare coverage......It will cost you Medicare ded=$105 , Supplemental=~$150 amonth , and drug plan ~$30 a month ! You will NO Deductible with Plan F , as your supplemental pays the full 20% not paid by medicare ! Since you just turned 65 you DONOT have to take a physical to enroll in Plan F , it is the best coverage available under medicare .
..................Also , Plan F has NO geographic limitations , you are covered regardless of where ever you need medical care . , fordy

[Westexas]

SS, lots of good advice here. Now when you start on Medicare you are urged to get a "Welcome to Medicare" physical with two pages of tests they think you MUST need! I have yet to have a patient of mine get diagnosed with anything that was previously missed before they were 65 with this battery of tests. Of course, all insurance companies send out letters daily asking why I have not prescribed this medication or that test for a patient, or why they aren't taking a med that was discontinued months ago. On the other hand, when I think they need a drug or test, I have to spend 30 minutes or more on the phone to get them to pay for it! Believe me, the aggravation goes both ways! It distresses me to hear that you do not understand what is going on, however. Perhaps bring a family member to your appointments to make sure both of you are understanding the problem and plan? You have the right to decide what you will or won't be subjected to, at any step of the way, but need to know what the consequences of that decision will be. I hope your doctor is listening to you and taking time to explain what is going on. God bless!

[Tricky Grama]

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

I was sent to the cancer center because of high levels of protein in my blood.

This indicates a kidney prob. Not to be taken lightly.