2019.12.03 23:21
2019.12.03 23:34
2019.12.04 05:06
Dr. Lee,
It would be very nice of you to explain more on Medicare Advantage. Is it different from a supplemental insurance like AARP?
BTW, does the visit to the specialty require the referral from primary physician? Someone told me that such independent visit to the specialty like nephrologist without proper referral will no be covered by Medicare and will be charged 100% to the patient. Is that correct?
Regards
BB Lee
2019.12.04 06:04
Medicare Advantage is a HMO, 선배님.
You have to have a primary care physician, a gate keeper,
who decides whether or not you need to see a specialist.
You cannot see the specialist you want and cannot go to the hospital
you want to go to unless your gate keeper agrees and refers you to the specialist
assuming the specialist and the hospital you want happen to be on the roster
of the HMO network, which more than often is not the case.
Traditional Medicare with AARP supplement insurance is an excellent choice with free access
to any specialists and any hospitals in USA, which I used to recommend to my patients.
My wife and I have traditional Medicare with AMA supplement insurance underwritten by
Transamerica Insurance Co. Any retired MD can buy the AMA supplement insurance,
and you do not need to be AMA member.
2019.12.04 06:35
Thanks, Dr. Lee.
So, "Medicare + AARP Supplement" allows free choice of specialists - does it still need the referral by the primary physician?- but "Medicare only" would not? I heard there are quite a few other options for this supplemental insurance and this 'Medicare Advantage' might be the one you do not recommend! Indeed I didn't join an additional Medicare D? for the drug coverage - my wife claims it is not worthy of paying extra- but instead I buy the medicines through the mail order to Canadian pharmacy though it is a right decision or not.
Thanks for such free consultation!
Warm regards,
BB Lee
P.S. Any advantage of AAA over AARP Supplement?
2019.12.04 07:57
In your case and in the case of Medicare only you decide which specialist.
Of course your family doc is free to recommend any or you are free to ask him
to recommend one.
I agree with your wife and cancelled Medicare Part D and used to get all meds
from Canada and now from healthwarehouse. com(USA) at comparable prices faster.
I still purchase med from Canada once in a while when I find a relative bargain.
By not having drug coverage, my monthly SS benefit rose more than what I expected.
You are doing everything correctly, I believe.
I did not compare AAA to AARP so I can't answer your question.
I went for AMA insurance when AMA offered it 15 yrs ago over AARP
because both were comparable except AMA supplement premium was a little cheaper.
2019.12.04 10:21
Thanks a bunch, Dr. Lee, to clear my confusion. Now I don't have to bug my wife on her decision on this medical insurance stuffs.
Warm regards,
BB Lee
2019.12.04 11:09
You are welcome, 선배님.
hope I helped you clear some confusion on your part.
No. | Subject | Date | Author | Last Update | Views |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notice | How to write your comments onto a webpage [2] | 2016.07.06 | 운영자 | 2016.11.20 | 18193 |
Notice | How to Upload Pictures in webpages | 2016.07.06 | 운영자 | 2018.10.19 | 32347 |
Notice | How to use Rich Text Editor [3] | 2016.06.28 | 운영자 | 2018.10.19 | 5924 |
Notice | How to Write a Webpage | 2016.06.28 | 운영자 | 2020.12.23 | 43840 |
474 | 장수하는 사람은? [5] | 2011.04.12 | Sukjoo#65 | 2011.04.12 | 8289 |
473 | Amazing Computer [1] | 2011.04.11 | 김영철*61 | 2011.04.11 | 7577 |
472 | Fukushima Fifty [2] | 2011.04.05 | 이한중*65 | 2011.04.05 | 6063 |
471 | Dalai Lama's Advice [2] | 2011.03.31 | 이한중*65 | 2011.03.31 | 4674 |
470 | 인간의 봄 [7] | 2011.03.30 | Chomee#65 | 2011.03.30 | 6918 |
469 | 일본의 안중근의사 기념비 [3] | 2011.03.28 | 황규정*65 | 2011.03.28 | 6357 |
468 | Immortal Cells [2] | 2011.03.26 | 이한중*65 | 2011.03.26 | 5177 |
467 | [아침논단] 용기있는 변절과 비겁한 지조 [4] | 2011.03.23 | 황규정*65 | 2011.03.23 | 7241 |
466 | 중국의 소수민족(퍼옴) [2] | 2011.03.21 | 계기식*72 | 2011.03.21 | 10124 |
465 | BEAR Quintuplets [3] | 2011.03.18 | 황규정*65 | 2011.03.18 | 8316 |
464 | 일본 국민을 세계가 찬탄하는 것에 대하여 (옮긴 글) [4] | 2011.03.18 | 계기식*72 | 2011.03.18 | 6506 |
463 | The Joy of being a Muslim Wife [1] | 2011.03.16 | 김영철*61 | 2011.03.16 | 3743 |
462 | 법정스님 오디오북 '연꽃 향기를 들으면서' [5] | 2011.03.16 | 황규정*65 | 2011.03.16 | 11296 |
461 | New Car [7] | 2011.03.14 | 조승자#65 | 2011.03.14 | 7658 |
460 | Cloister, Sea Island, Georgia [13] | 2011.03.10 | 조승자#65 | 2011.03.10 | 7084 |
459 | Seneca's Essay on Old Age, an Excerpt [1] | 2011.03.09 | 이한중*65 | 2011.03.09 | 6493 |
458 | She Lives In A Boeing 727 [10] | 2011.03.09 | 황규정*65 | 2011.03.09 | 7400 |
457 | 장미꽃 한송이 [2] | 2011.02.13 | 민경탁*65 | 2011.02.13 | 10218 |
456 | 6 Rose Colors and Their Meanings [2] | 2011.02.14 | Rover | 2011.02.14 | 8624 |
455 | 꽃마음으로 오십시오 / 이해인 [8] | 2011.02.12 | Chomee#65 | 2011.02.12 | 8605 |
So many seniors take the bait of relentless TV commercials advocating
Medicare Advantage and regret when they get seriously sick with cancer,
heart attack, stroke or accident.
This article describes the truth behind all those commercials.
Raph Nader called "Medicare Advantage" "Medicare Disadvantage,"
which I wholeheartedly agree with.
Throughout my medical practice, I lectured my patients not to join Medicare Advantage,
and 9 out of 10 would listen to me.