Need Patients' Experience with Mayo Clinic. Is it worth it?

Mayo is our "Number One", but Cleveland (in Cleveland), Hopkins, M D Anderson, Loyola Chicago and I am sure others probably make the grade too. Cleveland it very much like Mayo Rochester....spread around Cleveland metro, so a little less cohesive. We have been doing "MAYO Jax" since it was a "mud hut" on the southeast side of Jax in the late 80s...... We have watched it grow from the original "Dirty 30" (the humorous name of the group of 30 docs who opened JAX). to a monumental campus with staff and facilities second to none.

As the is it "worth" it, that is a loaded question and can only be answered by you. Will you get the best results possible (not necessarily what you "wanted"), does the staff provide the highest standards of care,....could go on but like beauty, value is only in the eyes of the beholder. Expectations and value/outcome are not always aligned. No provider can fix what "can't be fixed". Ultimately it's "best outcome for the situation". In our book, Mayo exceeds our expectations and has provided positive outcomes, some not perfect, but the best under the circumstances. One GIANT point to remember and keep in perspective...."YOU are in charge of your own health" and how you approach that fact will be a large contributor to outcome and value.......

Last comments and my usual admonition..... Check emotions at the curb. Be prepared (all records gathered and in your possession including test results and imaging). Be Patient. MAYO is a limited resource due to their demands for "the best of the best" for staffing. Be polite. You may or may not immediately get "what you want when you want it".....again resources. Be fully flexible....as our Mayo physicians and their staff know "We are on MAYO Time, not our time" and go with what ever flow they provide. Have your finances sorted out......and not from this or any other social media or other forums. Contact Mayo's financial office directly to determine if your financial resources (i.e. insurance) are accepted by MAYO (this is a topic that has been beaten do an unrecognizable hulk on this forum). Fact is Mayo does not accept all type, forms or insurance carriers or specific policies. A single provider may have various policies and because "your friend has the same "company", they may not have the same specific and accepted coverage........ This all leads back to "YOU are in charge of your own health" and the "business" aspect of it is on you......not the provider....

Yes is the answer to the question...Is Mayo worth it?........if you go in eyes wide open and as a willing and productively active participant..... End of pseudo Rant....

@mingyue You are welcome. I am glad you feel encouraged and hope the information helps.

Please come back and post an update as to what you find out.

You mention lung cancer, possibly surgery. What other information will help you, and have you been able to plug into other discussions on Connect that will help you navigate your health?

@jlharsh
Yes I have some other connections too. I am judging the pro and con between going to Mayo and staying locally.

You are speaking my language, @mingyue. I started going to Mayo Clinic when I was a 7-hour car ride away. My awareness came from family that had gone there for a variety of reasons, and now I have developed a tremendous comfort level from my own experience there.

If you are comfortable sharing, would you share more about how you are weighing your options? I am interested and it may help others as they navigate their own care.

@jlharsh
Yes, my main worry is my insurance is not covering Mayo. It would put huge pressure on me. That’s my big worry.

@mingyue Mayo Clinic is costly. You could try working with their financial people to reduce charges when paying out of pocket. I couldn't use Mayo if not for Medicare and only a 3+hour drive from home. Mayo does not accept Medicare Advantage, just standard A&B Medicare and supplemental insurance such as UHC Plans.

@marco88
Thank you for the info, really appreciated! Unfortunately I am Medicare Advantage, may think go back to Medicare AB next year. Just curious- how much they may reduce the charges for a financial assistance, I know it depends on many things but are we talking about 50%, or less?

@mingyue fyi when we were in AZ for 2 months for my liver transplant at Mayo my wife talked to the hotel manager. He told her he was on Medicare, used Mayo, switched to Medicare Advantage but it was better in many ways. But did not realize Mayo did not accept that. Could not use Mayo that year but he told her he switched back to regular Medicare and Mayo took him back. You should verify before doing something like that but fyi. Also I bet they do give you a discount if paying on your own w/o insurance but don't know for sure. Best of luck.

@marco88
Thank you for the info, really appreciated! Unfortunately I am Medicare Advantage, may think go back to Medicare AB next year. Just curious- how much they may reduce the charges for a financial assistance, I know it depends on many things but are we talking about 50%, or less?

@marco88
Thank you for the info, really appreciated! Unfortunately I am Medicare Advantage, may think go back to Medicare AB next year. Just curious- how much they may reduce the charges for a financial assistance, I know it depends on many things but are we talking about 50%, or less?