Reality Check!

OK I am not one of those bloggers that has a lot to say. But today all that changed for me.

New Healthcare??? Be aware!

Today I had my monthly appointment with my rheumatologist. The reality check… due to certain circumstances I am being forced to use Medicare starting in May. I was told today that the ‘new healthcare plan’ is forcing doctors to take about 21-23% cut in their current billings to Medicare. Are you aware that MANY doctors that take Medicare patients are advising them that in the next couple of months they may need to look for another specialist or doctor? Scenario #1 How does this new healthcare help? It will cause many patients that have built a trust and relationship with their doctors to look for another doctor. BUT the problem is…if your current doctor is going through this situation…aren’t there MANY more doctors refusing to see Medicare patients. What you may not know or understand…when you are ill or have a chronic illness it MAY take years to be diagnosed…and many more tests to determine which chronic illness. Scenario #2 Healthcare and hospitals…patients currently seeing a specialist or their primary care doctor are told they can no longer take Medicare patients…most likely these patients will use the emergency room beds as their “primary care visits’ meaning when they get sick or have some related flare up due to a chronic illness. What will be the ripple effect on the healthcare system if this happens?

Information for Thought ~~ The $500B in reduced Medicare funding will undoubtedly equate to reductions in either covered benefits or reductions in reimbursement rates or both. It is also very possible that providers will say "enough is enough" and opt out of Medicare. The result of which is sure to create both an access to care and out-of-pocket expense challenge for retirees and non-retirees at a time in their life when they really don't need any additional challenges.

I am overwhelmed and stressed over this reality check. What you don’t know about me…I worked for 28 years in the same industry. I worked everyday meeting deadlines that were due yesterday or 2 weeks ago. I traveled both CONUS and Internationally in support of government programs for the US Navy and Air Force. I worked closely with senior officials, management, and mid-level management on a daily basis. Now I am at home everyday…lonely…depressed …with severe pain and fatigue…this is not how I planned to work at my age (mid 50s)! I don’t blame anyone for this situation. I just didn’t plan this lifestyle for my later years of life.