Physicians are dropping Medicare patients. Here's why

[axeman462]

"As the cost of practicing medicine increases and reimbursement declines, many physicians have considered how to cut costs. One way is to no longer accept Medicare patients. "

"But according to Medscape's 2023 survey, only 65% of physicians confirmed they would continue to treat and take new Medicare and Medicaid patients. Eight percent said they would not take new such patients..."

"The looming pay decrease and continuous rise in costs may contribute to even more physicians dropping out of Medicare and Medicaid programs, spurring physicians, organizations and patients to rally for change."

Physicians are dropping Medicare patients. Here's why

With Medicare physician payment declining 26% since 2001 and a 1.25% pay cut in 2024, physicians are considering dropping Medicare patients.

www.beckersasc.com

 

[Truce]

So I admit that when people choose OM I don't run their providers through the Medicare opt out list (see link below)....does anyone do this? I'm guessing right around ZERO agents do, but I can see it becoming necessary and I don't think this is a good trend to rely on commercial insurance to cross subsidize the federal/state programs.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data

 

[sshafran]

"As the cost of practicing medicine increases and reimbursement declines, many physicians have considered how to cut costs. One way is to no longer accept Medicare patients. "

"But according to Medscape's 2023 survey, only 65% of physicians confirmed they would continue to treat and take new Medicare and Medicaid patients. Eight percent said they would not take new such patients..."

"The looming pay decrease and continuous rise in costs may contribute to even more physicians dropping out of Medicare and Medicaid programs, spurring physicians, organizations and patients to rally for change."

Physicians are dropping Medicare patients. Here's why

With Medicare physician payment declining 26% since 2001 and a 1.25% pay cut in 2024, physicians are considering dropping Medicare patients.

www.beckersasc.com

But my medigap agent who sold me Plan G said I could see any doctor.

Stop lying.

 

[axeman462]

So I admit that when people choose OM I don't run their providers through the Medicare opt out list (see link below)....does anyone do this? I'm guessing right around ZERO agents do, but I can see it becoming necessary and I don't think this is a good trend to rely on commercial insurance to cross subsidize the federal/state programs.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data

currently I don't check at the time of sale if a doctor accepts Original Medicare, but I do keep track of local doctors that opt out of Medicare. I do have a few practices in my locale that do not accept Medicare. And a somewhat major group near me has announced that they will be opting out this year.
But any agent/broker that sells medsupps would be a fool not to keep this on their radar. I suspect this is a trend that will be more prevalent in the coming years

 

[Yagents]

So I admit that when people choose OM I don't run their providers through the Medicare opt out list (see link below)....does anyone do this? I'm guessing right around ZERO agents do, but I can see it becoming necessary and I don't think this is a good trend to rely on commercial insurance to cross subsidize the federal/state programs.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data

I just looked up AZ. 800 doctors don't take OM. Over half of them are oral surgeons, clinical social workers, dentists, psychiatry. Not covered anyways. I'm not worried about searching for 300+ doctors in all of AZ that my client can't see.

 

[Packerland]

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Research showed that 93% of primary care doctors accept Medicare, but only 70% are accepting new patients. A primary care doctor is the health care provider who handles most of your health issues and refers you to specialists when you need more specialized care. Your primary doctor can be a family practice physician, general practitioner, or focus on internal medicine. Some seniors choose a geriatrician, which is a doctor who specializes in treatment and prevention of diseases that affect older adults, as their primary care doctor.

 

[MedicareAgent]

I use this search for every customer that wants a supplement. [EXTERNAL LINK] - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data