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Hi, I live in a smaller town in the tri state area of Nevada, Arizona and California. The medical care is pretty sparse for the general population and nearly impossible for someone like me with the health conditions I have. I was referred to The Mayo clinic and was quickly accepted and granted an appointment. They took away my appointment just as quick when they wouldn't take my Humana Medicare. I am beyond devastated. I have many complex medical problems and am pretty much desperate to get to the Mayo clinic. I have the ability to pay something but Patient account services said the Mayo clinic does do charitable care but not very often. I am heartbroken.
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Humana I believe is an Advantage Plan provider and unless you’re really sick and end up in an ER they may not accept it because Mayo probably knows it will get paid eventually if at all. Then you have copays and deductibles. I call them disadvantage plans. They are considered a junk insurance plan. I was talking to an Aetna Advantage plan member and he hated getting big bills and co pays and deductibles. Not to mention the “existing conditions “
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2 ReactionsYes that is correct. The Mayo clinic does not take my Medicare advantage plan. This I know. Otherwise Humana has been really great for me and has paid for everything just not the Mayo clinic
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1 Reaction@robbie61, this must be so devastating for you. I wonder if you could work with one of the Patient Account specialists in the Billing & Insurance department at Mayo Clinic to find a solution.
- Contact Billing & Insurance https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/contact-us
Is changing insurance providers an option for you?
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2 ReactionsThank you. I contacted patient accounts this morning and the man said look it's tough to get in especially through charitable care which I don't really need financially but then the thought of changing insurance companies came to my mind and that only option I think would be for me is original Medicare because that's what they told me originally that the Mayo takes. I'm in bit nervous what that would imply for me otherwise but I am willing to talk to someone at Medicare about it. Especially since it is open enrollment.
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4 ReactionsFYI, I originally had the Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) F for several years until the premiums got too expensive, then I changed to Plan G, but now my premiums have also gotten too expensive, so I am considering Plan N. I may just stay with Plan G (the 2nd best Supplement Plan) because of all the conditions I have. By the time I pay all the copays, and any "excess Medicare charges", I could be in worse condition, even with the savings in premiums. This is only just "food for thought". Oh, and Mayo does accept Medigap/Medicare Supplement Plans because they go with original Medicare, and they don't have to bill them.
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2 ReactionsThank you. That is a concern of mine if I change just to regular Medicare am I putting myself in words shape? Can I ask what plan n is? Is that a supplement?
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1 Reaction@robbie61, you may find these related discussions helpful:
- Discussion
Medicare and Mayo Clinic: What does Medicare cover?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/medicare-and-mayo-clinic/
.
- Does Mayo Clinic take Medicare?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-mayo-clinic-take-medicare/
These may help you formulate your questions to prepare for speaking with a Mayo Clinic account person.
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2 ReactionsThanks!
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1 ReactionPlease look up Medicare Supplement Plans and then find a comparison of the Plans. I cannot recite all the different Plans for you, but there are several and it is easy to find a comparison to find the differences in coverage for the various plans. If you have been on an Advantage Plan, you do realize that it will cost you more to go to a Supplement Plan, right? There are various agencies that could help you navigate the plans and help you make a decision as to what is right for you. I know I have seen "SHIP" [?] in the past as an agency to help. You will be paying the original Medicare premiums, which I think are $174/mo for 2024 [don't quote me on that], plus the monthly premium for the supplement plan and you don't get the drugs, hearing, etc. included, as you do with the Advantage Plan. You must check into it to decide what is right for you. By the way, "Medigap" is another name for the Medicare Supplement Plans. Better hurry! Open Enrollment ends 12/7, and with the upcoming Holiday, that will be upon you before you realize!
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1 ReactionHi Robbie [I assume that is your name!]
I just found this website: https://www.shiphelp.org/
Go to that website and fill in your zip code and it should take you to your State SHIP assistance for Medicare for the State you reside in. I hope I am correct in reading that they give assistance (by State) to Medicare recipients in making a decision about what would be best for you. They also reference "State Assistance", but from what I read, you do not have to be on, or only qualify for, State Assistance for Medicare. I hope I don't send you on a wild goose chase, but I think they are supposed to be of assistance! 😉
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