several years ago i lost my llmd due to a stupid complaint against him. went backwards big time. finally found one but the drive is awful. he does not take any insurance which hurts.
i lost my obgyn of at least 25 years. he said insurance was killing him so he retired.
lost my gastro which i really liked and needed because of colon issues, same thing. just tired of fighting the insurance companies and paperwork. retired.
primary notified us he was not taking any new patients, and especially those with medicare. the patients he has, like us, that have medicare he will continue to keep.
found a new obgyn but after a visit they informed me they will not take medicare or tricare. screwed.
lost my dentist. retired.
whew, i'm running out of dr's in this area that take medicare or at least tricare.
my primary did tell me that he can name at least 8-10 friends of us that are just quitting. too many governmen problems.
now none of these dr's are rich, believe me, i know.
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
It is scary to be sick.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
They can't afford to be in practice anymore .. and it's only going to get worse. If you want a good doctor, you will have to pay more $$$$.
Posted by droid1226 (Member # 34930) on :
My lyme Dr. works 7 days a week and 2 ER shifts in his off time to help supplement the cost of running a business. He also takes on Amish lyme patients for free or whatever they can give. He drives a late 90s model car.
Amazing, the contrast of people. Some are complete garbage and selfish. Others are not.
Posted by jjourneys (Member # 39813) on :
I too have lost drs over the yrs, (2 OB-GYNs, 2 GPs, Gastro) - due to insurance companies not paying quickly and government hassles. My current LLMD is hinting at not being around long.
Tricare and Medicare seem to be the slowest payers and drs are getting tired of it. What do you think it will be like when ObamaCare enters the picture big time? Unfortuantly, I think it's only going to get worse . . .
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i'm just po'd that i have to go on medicare and have no choice in the matter. i'm a conotrol freak and it bugs the heck out of me.
i'm going to continue my bc/bs as a backup plan. option whatever. and i'll have tricare as well.
but the problem is none of my doctors are taking medicare which sucks...
oh sure, i'll have a primary but not much else.
and i can't go the er whenever something happens.
and i really think it's going to get much much worse.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I thought those on Medicare had easy access to the ER?
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
ive moved again so am going thru the finding new docs again
ive had such bad luck with gastros everywhere that i find myself thinking of going back to the one i liked -but he is 6 hrs away now...
i just had an awful experience with a young , cocky gyn doc...wont go into detail but wont go back . he kept telling me how great he was but never got around to examinging or testing me for my annual.
this is not fun.
i do love the knee surgeon, and the 2nd new primary i found is nice but i get the feeling hes thinking of retirment too
Posted by iwouldratherbeatdisney (Member # 20602) on :
I haven't lost any doctors as I only go to my Lyme doctor and she doesn't take insurance. I think she takes medicare/medicad not sure if both. My sis is on medicare I believe and is very ill. She gets pretty good care and finally has a great team of doctors. I guess she is pretty lucky.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
my friend who has hodgkins also has severe arthritis. she was recently denied her meds that she's been on for years and now has to appeal.
get ready, it ain't gonna be purty...
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Uhhh 20 years ago... The first dr.to suspect Lyme.... (but then told me it wasn't ). Left to do research and become a web consultant. At the same time my GYN left to write children's books... And then the PCP who took over for my dr. Started a concierge practice. The common thing among all of these great caring doctors was that the system wouldn't let them practice the way they wanted to. I really don,t feel I have had a great doctor since.