Just Got A Shocker From My Doctor Today!

Sometimes I do wonder what the stress of going to doctors for tests does to our bodies. Too many docs, too much stress, too much exaberated illness?
When I had my last mammogram, eons ago, they called and said I needed to go for another one, doctor saw ''something'' that needed to be checked. Good thing appt was for next day, but I was a total mess thinking I had breast cancer. Turned out to be nothing.
 
Wow! If that were my doctor I'd drop him like a hot rock and find a new PCP. If he's that clueless on basic stuff like this, I can't imagine that he's a very skilled diagnostician! :eek:

I agree.
Is she even sure it was truly her doc office calling? If it really was - sounds like they were fishing for more INCOME....ain't nothin' test-wise that's mandatory for Medicare. They have that list of available wellness tests, but that's all "if you wanna" stuff.
 
I just spoke with a Medicare rep on the phone. First, she said first the advanced care planning deals with annual wellness exams required but the documentation is voluntary. She also stated she see nothing pertaining to mandatory mammograms. Bottom line is apparently my doctor is not reading the fine print.

Could you possibly clarify: are you saying if a person is on Medicare, they're automatically required to have those annual "wellness" exams?
 
HI, @JaniceM

I think they mean that if a doctor sees you for the "wellness exam"
then they(the doctors) are required to include/add discussion of advance care planning with it....
(Medicare does not want wellness exams that do not mention it)

but then, you are not required to fill out the advance care forms....or act on it....

and I do not believe that the annual wellness exam is required...

unless it is required of some individuals due to their own circumstances or illness, that i have not been familiar with,
but in general, we have gone to many different doctors, under plain Medicare, and not had any annual wellness exam.
 
I had one of those wellness exams when they first came out. The doctor could barely speak English. I was called about one the next year and I related my experience. They assured me they would send someone that spoke English. I declined saying that if I needed to see the doctor I would make an appointment with my regular doctor. Nobody has mentioned it again. I have enough sense to see a doctor if I need to and don't need any insurance company telling me I have to see one.
 
I had one of those wellness exams when they first came out. The doctor could barely speak English. I was called about one the next year and I related my experience. They assured me they would send someone that spoke English. I declined saying that if I needed to see the doctor I would make an appointment with my regular doctor. Nobody has mentioned it again. I have enough sense to see a doctor if I need to and don't need any insurance company telling me I have to see one.

That's exactly how I feel. I got junk mail from my insurance company today wanting me to get my wellness exam. They "claim" there is a difference between their wellness exam and my annual physical but I don't care! Like you said, I have enough sense to decide if I need to see a doctor and which one to see if I do but it won't be them!
 
it is all terribly confusing, what is it you want?
what do I have to do.
Physicians, when they call the insurance provider, are talking to a grad student. These none physicians are the folks making decisions on what is covered and not covered-they make physician's cuss, foam at the mount, cry with frustration...
My two old timey docs said, 'no way would I become a physician were I a young person.'
 
I see what others are saying, here, which is all interesting and valid and important.

I personally have not experienced, being told by an insurance company that they want me to have a "wellness exam."

Medicare offers one, but has not ever told me to do it, or required it of me.

I did want to add to my earlier post on this topic, on this page, though,

that i am not an expert on this topic, and they are always making changes every year...to these sorts of things.
I am solely sharing my own experience and knowledge that i do have.
 
Could you possibly clarify: are you saying if a person is on Medicare, they're automatically required to have those annual "wellness" exams?

NO! Medicare does not require you to have on of those so-called "wellness exams."

IMHO they are an absolute waste of time. I have an annual checkup, but that's with my own PCP. If I have health concerns, I will share them with my PCP, not with some random "wellness" doc. I find the idea of doing that intrusive and a violation of my privacy.
 
And here I thought I wasn't taking advantage of the wellness exam. I thought it would be with my own doctor and like an all inclusive checkup. Glad I never bothered, sounds like a waste of Medicare money.
 
I had one of those wellness exams when they first came out. The doctor could barely speak English. I was called about one the next year and I related my experience. They assured me they would send someone that spoke English. I declined saying that if I needed to see the doctor I would make an appointment with my regular doctor. Nobody has mentioned it again. I have enough sense to see a doctor if I need to and don't need any insurance company telling me I have to see one.
I feel the same way.
 
Sounds more like the doctor wants to milk insurance for all it's worth. What they probably read in the fine print was that you can bill for certain things. My doctor always asks about living wills, etc., because that is mandated, but all I have to do is say I have one. All that is about is covering their own butts if you wind up in the hospital so they won't get sued for making choices against your "will."
 
I have a medical team (not all in the same office). I wondered why I always had to pay a co-pay at my primary care physicians office. Well I figured out it's because I see him three or four times a year. Apparently my visits to a specialist (cardiology, GYN) that I only visited annually qualified for the free wellness checks. One in 2018 and the other in 2019.
 
Those wellness checkups are a bunch of bull....the NA goes over everything you already know, talks to you like a little kid hearing it for the first time, doesnt wanna be interrupted by what you already know.....so I find it a waste of time....had one in the last four years....even if I develop more medical issues I still wont be following up with these waste-of-my-time appointments.
 
30 years ago, I applied for a job with the city. They required a physical. I already passed the employment exam and the oral interview. I arrived at the medical center & the doctor started listening to my heart - with the stethoscope still around his neck; not in his ears.
I started laughing. I couldn't help it; it was funny.
He asked, "What's so funny?"
I said, "Nothing."
Then, after taking blood pressure & having me touch my toes, he said, "Let's go to x-ray."
I said, "What for?"
He said "A full set of chest & back x-rays are required."
I said, "Uh, no thanks; I don't have unnecessary x-rays.
He said, "You have to; it's required."
I said, "Doctor; I don't care if it's required. My chest, my back, & everything inside of them belong to me & I say, no."
Well....here's where it got nasty. He put his hand on my back & started to gently push me towards the x-ray room.
I quickly turned around & said, "If you push me again, you will quickly learn that there are injuries no doctor can fix." He quickly left.
While I was getting dressed, another doctor (supervisor, head, chief), walked in & asked what the problem was. When I explained it, he said, "Well....he does tend to be short with patients." I said, "He might meet someone who's not as nice as I am - & you might lose him."

A few weeks later, HR phoned me & offered me the job, but I already accepted another job.
 
Those wellness checkups are a bunch of bull....the NA goes over everything you already know, talks to you like a little kid hearing it for the first time, doesnt wanna be interrupted by what you already know.....so I find it a waste of time....had one in the last four years....even if I develop more medical issues I still wont be following up with these waste-of-my-time appointments.
Exactly! If I go to my doctor, I want to talk to her about whatever I need.
 
Since my Medicare starts March 1st........I also received a form letter today from my physician that I need to do a complete physical for my new provider. Uh, had it done 6 months ago. Kiss off!
What kind of "provider" do you have? If you have a supplement (medigap policy) along with the medicare you don't have to do that.
 


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