I have been a resident of Minnesota for much of my life and, like most Minnesotans, I have always felt that Mayo Clinic is the gold standard for medicine and that if I ever needed care for a critical problem that is where I would go without question. Well, now that I am older I have developed some conditions that have not been resolved successfully by my regular doctors. So I requested an appointment at Mayo. Much to my surprise, they turned me down. My doctor sent a referral, same result. Their reason was that I was getting adequate care in my home area. If that was the case, why would I need an appointment at Mayo? Anyway, in doing some research, I find that Mayo now prioritizes care according to a person’s insurance. If you are privately insured, you have priority over those on Medicare (even with supplemental insurance) or Medicaid. This was NEVER mentioned in Mayo’s correspondence to me or by the woman I spoke with initially on the phone to request the appointment. I provided my insurance information—including my Medicare number. This system is in place to increase Mayo’s profitability. I understand that Mayo Clinic is not a charity. But I deeply resent the implication by the Mayo web site that “requesting” an appointment is pretty much like making one—much the same as at any docto’s office.
Anyway, my long time feeling of health care security in Minnesota—that I could always count on Mayo to have my back—is gone.