Just on the news yesterday (10/5/2024) ......" October 2024, the Mayo Clinic notified fewer than 600 Medicare Advantage patients in Minnesota that they will need to find new health insurance to receive care at the clinic in 2025. The change is due to limited capacity to treat patients. Patients can still receive care at Mayo with original Medicare, but costs may be significantly higher."
Now is the time of year when they really advertise but seniors need to understand the difference between Traditional/original Medicare and the Medicare Advantage plans. One has TWO CHOICES 1) With traditional Medicare yu can self-refer to any doctor in the US that takes Medicare. You can purchase a supplemental/Medigap plan to cover the 20% Medicare does not pay. It often also covers eye exam and screening for hearing. There is no difficulty to go to Mayo Clinic if you have something they think they can help with. 2) With Medicare Advantage - Part C - you LOSE choice of doctor and you cannot self refer. You must stay in their network of providers or pay $$$$. In fact every year you need to check to see if your current doctors are still in their network. Many places are dropping Advantage Plans due to payment and approval problems etc. And you need to check with Mayo if they take your insurance.....also with any other provider!!!!