More Doctors are now Accepting Medicare now:

More Doctors are now Accepting Medicare:

Baby Boomers and current Medicare Beneficiaries, here is some great news, "1.25 million doctors are accept Medicare!". The number of physicians accepting new Medicare patients rose by one-third between 2007 and 2011 and is now higher than the number of physicians accepting new private insurance patients, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report obtained by USA TODAY.

In 2007, about 925,000 doctors billed Medicare for their services. In 2011, that number had risen to 1.25 million, according to the report by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

"I think the report comes at a time when people are asking questions about Medicare," said Jonathan Blum, principal deputy administrator for the Center for Medicare Services. "It provides a more complete picture of how physicians choose to participate in the Medicare system."
I anticipate the number of physicians that accept Medicare to grow, for me it is purely economics. There are currently over 43 million people on Medicare, and 10,000 people aging into Medicare eligibility per day now through 2030. Not only is this going to be the largest demographic in US history, but it is also a huge opportunity for physicians to make money. Any physician that decides not to accept Medicare will be shunning the majority of people that require their services.
Medicare is negotiating on our behalf. Medicare is not the bad guy, in fact, Medicare regulating / Assigning an approved dollar amount is actually to all of our benefit.  Doctors are great, but if they were allowed to simply charge whatever amount they chose for their services, none of us would have affordable healthcare.
If you are new to Medicare, or you are shopping for a new Plan, the best thing for you to do is call your Doctor's office and ask these 3 questions:

1) Do you accept Medicare?
2) Do you accept Medicare Assignment?
3) Do you accept any Medicare Advantage Plans, if so are they an HMO or PPO?

In summary, the amount of doctors accepting Medicare is trending in our favor, and Medicare regulating what they are allowed to charge is actually a good thing.

Medicare insurance question? Want quotes from 20+ Medicare Supplement Companies? Want a chart of the available Medicare Advantage Plans in your County?

Call me, Robert W. Bache aka MedicareBob: 1-800-525-0299.


Robert W. Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President / Producer
Senior Healthcare Direct
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Medicare Supplement Plan N Explained by Robert Bache:

Medicare Supplement Plan N Explained by Robert Bache:

Medicare Supplement Insurance: You pay a monthly premium, and in return your Medicare Supplement pays your medical and hospital bills that Medicare does not pay. There are many different Medicare Supplement Plans, each Medicare Supplement Plan is identified by a letter. The Medicare Supplement Plans are Federally Regulated and are required to offer the same coverage.

Example: Cigna's Medicare Supplement Plan N, offers the same coverage as Aflac's Medicare Supplement Plan N. The letter assigned to each plan dictates your coverage level, not the company that you choose as your Carrier.

Today, I want to focus on the benefits offered with the Medicare Supplement Plan N. Plan N is a good plan for a Medicare Beneficiary that wants the flexibility of being able to go to any Doctor or Facility that accepts Medicare, but also cannot justify paying a large monthly premium because they may be in good health.

Plan N's Hospital Coverage: If you are admitted into the hospital, the Medicare Supplement Plan N pays the Medicare Part A Deductible and all of the copays while you are in the hospital. However, if you are not admitted, than you will be required to pay a $50.00 copay for visiting the emergency room.

MedicareBob's thought: So this is pretty cool, we purchase insurance to protect ourselves against big hospital bills, and the Plan N satisfies this. $50.00 as a worse case for going to the hospital seems fair to me.

Plan N's Medical and Doctor Coverage: Medicare Supplement Plan N requires you to pay the Medicare Part B Deductible, for 2013 this amount is $147.00 for the whole year. With the Plan N, after you meet the annual deductible of $147.00, your Doctor has the right to charge "up to" a $20.00 copay. Typically, my Clients have shared with me that their average Primary Care Visit is a $10.00 copay, and a specialist charges the full $20.00.

MedicareBob's thought: Plan N pays the 20%, so again this is an example of having insurance for the "big things", and the Plan N does this by protecting you against the 20% that Medicare does not pay.

Part B Excess Charges: Plan N does not pay, "Part B Excess Charges". A Part B Excess Charge is when a Doctor does not accept "Medicare Assignment" (What Medicare has approved for the service provided). A Doctor can not pick and choose when to accept and not accept Medicare Assignment, either He/She does or does not.

MedicareBob's thought: The most the Part B Excess Charge can be is 15%, plus you can avoid them by asking your Doctor if He/She accepts "Medicare Assignment". In my experience, most do.

In summary, Medicare Supplement Plan in offers a lower monthly premium but at the same time offers very comprehensive coverage. Plan N is a great alternative to Medicare Supplement Plan F, as long as you understand that you will have some out of pocket costs when you use the Plan.

Get your FREE Medicare Supplement Plan N Quote now:

http://srhealthcaredirect.com/quoting-engine-2/

Robert W. Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President / Producer
Senior Healthcare Direct
Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299
Company Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717
www.srhealthcaredirect.com
Learn more about Robert Bache aka “MedicareBob”
http://srhealthcaredirect.com/medicarebob/
https://www.facebook.com/robert.bache.Medicare
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