Insurance and 3 medicare proposals

Iceman,

I have some doctors who simply refuse to accept insurance, of any type. In the past they might send in the claim for me but I would have to pay in full up front. Sometimes they would, if paid, forward me the pittance  paid. 

I will say that as private practices are absorbed into what I will call "business medical practices" or acquired by hospitals --- where non doctors run the show and doctors are employees, the medical practice will usually accept insurance. They put limits on services and time spent with patients. Privately the staff that transitioned from private practice will tell you it is not good for patient or doctor. It is good for the bottom line of the owner of the practice. 

Again, speaking only for me, I once consigned a very expensive luxury item which was purchased by a young couple from originally from another country with a different health system model (read into this they were making money hand over fist) which simply hired a bunch of radiologists. The young couple contracted with well known hospitals and paid the doctors for piece work. I do not like anything about that model. 

A side effect that bothers me, if I am correct, is that once I see such a doctor affiliated with a hospital, say in Miami,
, my info is available quite widely, including to hackers on something called "My Chart". I recently had 5 appointments in a row cancelled at a prominent eye hospital. Why? I was told candidly that as surgery is more lucrative at the last minute the doctor's schedule would be changed. So my Sept. appt is now tentatively this month. Heaven help older folk who don't own computers or who ae not literate with them.  Rant over. Clearly, it's making be crazy. Miami