I knew this was coming but not so soon. What do we all do when the educated & true TOS "professionals" who have been treating us opted out of Medicare due to the new Medicare regulations and inability to be paid for services we need?

You go to another physician, then he opts out? As we go on a whirl wind of finding a new physician. Is this going to be the new frustration we all live with finding good medical care?

I lived without ins for so long due to my employer terminating my employment back in 2004, then my husband said no way we gotta get you coverd spending $650 a month. Finally receive SSI this time last year and BAM POW WAM back to where we started. Do I start paying cash? And how does this now affect my trial? I think the base just went up a couple of million not knowing when, who and where we can get appropriate treament. I dont want a physician who is just going to write me a handful of perscriptions.

What do you guys think about whats coming our way for treating, physicians opting out?

I started seeing this a year or two ago. I ran up on my first Drs. that said we don't take Medicare or Medicaid anymore.
My PCP is my PM Dr. but he's been my PCP for 20 years this month so he was willing to learn about everything I run up on.
We have talked about the insurance change and he told me I didn't have to worry but I do anyway. My Nurse who has also been with me for 20 years has started telling me stories of other patients no longer getting the meds they need. I agree though, I don't think the meds are the only answer in fighting the RSDS and a lot of the PM Drs. thought that and now that the insurance companies are going to say no, they may have to rethink their ways of medical care they give if they'll even give any.
The insurance companies are raising their rates but cutting what they pay for. This new health care reform is sure going to be interesting if nothing else.
I hope you find the right Dr. again soon.
Ada

My wife Suzy was recently approved for SSDI-medicare. Her doctor, in which it took 3 years to find, does not take medicare. So now we are looking for a new doc. In the mean time I'm paying for her office visit at her current doctor until she finds the correct doctor. I have years under my belt fighting insurance companies of one form or the other and if this medicare business becomes useless coverage like other insurance coverage we've encountered through the years they will have a fight on their hands because I've had enough of this nonsense with the way care is delivered in this country, in which it is akin to pulling teeth.

Bummer. I am just so sorry for all you have been through.

To give you a little insite into the Medicare issue - my sister's husband is a surgeon. It can take Medicare 150 days or more to pay him. And often there are errors. The reimbursement rates are horrific. And many patients do not have secondary insurance for the difference.

As you can see, there are incentives for physicians NOT to accept Medicare. And it starts with the SYSTEM, not the docs.

My brother did not come from money, he owed a ton for his education when he finally finished years and years of schooling, residency and 2 fellowships. My sister also paid for her own advanced degrees. It has not been an easy road for them. And now they have their own kids to educate.

I just wanted to give you some perspective on where current day docs are coming from. I am not saying that they are right, just that there are issues with Medicare and it only appears as if its going to get worse with Obamacare.

The best of luck to you and Suzy. I sincerely hope that you can find someone soon that will work with you.

XOXOX Sandy

Thanks everyone! I so know how hard it is out there with insurance and without. Been there done that and battling insurance company's for 12 years now. And worked in the medical field helping others with their insurance issues. Yes, we should write a book or go into business to help pay for our medical care.

We run a charity for TOS and pain patients and there are so many of us who see this particular doc. My/our issue is who is another expert with the needle. Not writing prescriptions just to shut you up? We are a southern California charity and like you all its hard to find a "good" doc who knows what they are doing.

What we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg with Obama care and its getting chilly. The insurance company's are raising rates off the charts since this is their last chance and Americans are being punished for Washington's decisions.

Medicare cutbacks is a just a sampling of what is to come since it is government controlled. Am I seeing this as a 3rd world country and only the young are rising up due to the lack of provisions we all paid into these last 100 years? Im not trying to be political but geesh cutting off medical care for the needy (we are you know) is that their way of pushing us aside and saying buh bye?

My grand daughter is in med school @ UCLA and a friends son @ John Hopkins. God help them.