Making the switch from private insurance to Medicare is a tremendous blessing for many people. With the excessive costs of insurance premiums, the government-funded insurance policy goes a long way to providing health insurance coverage for many people who were either not paying for it before age 65 or were barely making it with their coverage plan. However, many seniors ask the same question when they make the switch. “Can I see any doctor with Medicare?” The answer to this is layered, which is to say that you can see most doctors. There are a few things that come into play when choosing a doctor with your Medicare plan. At Common Health, we want to help you understand the nuance to choosing a doctor with Medicare, so we have four things to consider when doing so.
Specialty
Even if it’s internal medicine, every doctor has a specialty. Not all specialties fall under the umbrella of geriatric care, which means that there’s no reason for them to accept Medicare. For example, if you’re 70 years old, there’s no reason for you to visit a pediatric specialist. Now, this is obviously an extreme. However, if you’re visiting an orthopedist or a podiatrist, there’s a good chance that they’ll accept your Medicare coverage.
Plan
There’s a difference between using traditional Medicare plans and electing to go with a Medicare Advantage plan. A survey done by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 93% of primary care providers accept traditional Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, know who your insurance provider is and call the provider’s office first. You can speak with someone working in the office before scheduling an appointment and they’ll let you know if your Advantage plan is accepted by that office.
New patients
In addition to finding that 93% of providers take Medicare as acceptable insurance coverage, the Kaiser Family Foundation saw that only 72% were taking new Medicare patients. This means that you can typically continue seeing your primary care provider as you transition from private insurance into Medicare. However, if you move or must find a new physician, the team at Common Health can assist you with this process.
Doctor
When it comes to Medicare coverage (traditional and private), each doctor must be individually contracted with your provider. There are times that you’ll find a clinic to visit, but not all care providers are contracted with your Medicare plan. This might happen if you visit a teaching facility that has many new residents or attending physicians. Sometimes these doctors either aren’t aware of the necessity to register with Medicare or simply haven’t done it yet as they’re new to the field. Be sure to ask if the individual provider is set up with your plan, or you could run into problems in the future.
Contact Common Health
At Common Health, we specialize in primary care for seniors. It’s our goal to make it easy for you to get the care you need. So, next time you’re wondering, “Can I see any doctor with Medicare?” Our network of providers wants to provide you with the best care available without breaking the bank, which means that we will accept your Medicare.
Give us a call anytime at 877-465-4494 or send a message using our contact form to learn more about Common Health. Whether you need a prescription filled or have questions for your doctor, we have team members standing by 24/7 to serve you.
