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Gelman called me back. really has as sales pitch why he is the best. Does not take medicare for the procedure. My ins supplement only covers what medicare covers. Not changing my ins for him.

oldbeek wrote:Gelman called me back. really has as sales pitch why he is the best. Does not take medicare for the procedure. My ins supplement only covers what medicare covers. Not changing my ins for him.

Can you check again that practice? If it is as stated, it is ilegal to selectively not accepting Medicare: the physician either accepts or doesn’t.

It is legal to stop accepting medicare. BUT, if the dr goes that route, he is stuck with it forever in this country. Gelman says he is in such demand that he would be dumb to take the reduced fee from medicare.
I had back surgery from a Dr that was absolutely the best in the LA area. He had been the director of spinal surgery dept at USC , UCLA , Cedars of Siani and Glendale adventist where I got my back repaired. Shortly after he also went private. He does take insurance and cash but not medicare. His story was the same. In demand from all over the world. Why take medicare.

For one of my implant surgery, the bill was almost $40K, and between my Medicare and the Advantage plan, they paid $38K. Out of pocket, the doctor charges $25K.