What should a physical exam encompass?

I don't understand what I'm seeing about Medicare not covering annual physicals. My doctor requires me to have blood work and an in-person visit every 6 months, or he will not refill my prescriptions for blood pressure. I had Medicare and a supplement and they always paid for all that. Then I switched to an Advantage plan, and they have always paid also.
 

All you are lucky to see a real doctor. In my area, most insurances assign a "physician assistant" or "nurse practitioner " as PCP, most of them don't have the required diagnosis skills. You just pray you are healthy.
 
OldOld said:
All you are lucky to see a real doctor. In my area, most insurances assign a "physician assistant" or "nurse practitioner " as PCP, most of them don't have the required diagnosis skills. You just pray you are healthy.
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It's that way here too if a person has an HMO Advantage plan. A primary doctor is assigned and the insured cannot see a specialist without a referral from the primary doctor. A friend who has a plan llike that complains that she never gets to see what she calls "the real doctor", just the physician assistant.

But on a PPO Advantage plan, the insured can see any doctor in the plan's network without a referral from the primary doctor. At least that's how it is in my area, and I thought that was the way it worked nationwide. Maybe not.
 

To answer the question - - -How the hell do I know.

That's why I'm at the doc and not doing a "self exam". I've probably had 4 primary docs in my adult life time and I'm 91 this year. Either I've been really lucky or the docs knew what they were doing. They'd either say, " you need to have this or that done - and I do - - - or they say "see you next year or as I've aged - -in 6 months"
 
DaveA said:
To answer the question - - -How the hell do I know.

That's why I'm at the doc and not doing a "self exam". I've probably had 4 primary docs in my adult life time and I'm 91 this year. Either I've been really lucky or the docs knew what they were doing. They'd either say, " you need to have this or that done - and I do - - - or they say "see you next year or as I've aged - -in 6 months"
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I have had 2 different doctors since becoming an adult. I only had 1 as a child until I was 18. I have trusted and have had an abundance of confidence in all of my physicians. This doctor I have now and for the past 27 years is a gem.
 
OldOld said:
All you are lucky to see a real doctor. In my area, most insurances assign a "physician assistant" or "nurse practitioner " as PCP, most of them don't have the required diagnosis skills. You just pray you are healthy.
Click to expand...
I prefer PAs or NP's to doctors. Much more thorough care and time spent talking/examining.
 
CPR instructions. Everyone should know the basics of life saving.
 

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