Medicare Law

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In a message dated 6/13/99 7:24:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

pioneer@... writes:

<< Does anyone know exactly what law is being referred to here? I have heard

it

referred to before, but have not seen it myself. My doctor takes both

medi-cal and cash patients too. Something doesn't ring true here, what about

people who don't qualify for the medicare programs and don't have other

insurance? In this area there are few doctors to choose from and I'm pretty

sure all of them take medi-cal patients. Who would be left for those with no

coverage at all? Liz G

>>

Hi Liz,

The way it works is this. If you belong to a Risk HMO HCFA sends the HMO a

check every month and then the HMO takes care of all your illnesses. They

get a set amount every month, which is another story. Dade County, FL and

New York City get 3 times and 4 times the amount of a small county. I've

just been reading the guide lines and formulas and I'll never figure it out

in a million years and I doubt anyone can except the Bureaucrats who write

the forumulas.

Anyway because the HMO where you live has a contract with HCFA or Medicare to

treat you, you cannot go outside of your system. They give the rotten excuse

that people would be taken advantage of and so they have to protect us. That

one I have never figured out. So you have to stay with your provider Drs.

and cannot even pay CASH outside the provider group.

Trust me it is all true, ask your Conressman about it. He will tell you. If

you don't belong to an HMO you can go to whomever you wish on Medicare. Like

BC & BS for instance.

I'ts just like OSHA taking care of us from the cradle to the grave. Our

shower in our new house turns the cold water on first IN CASE WE BURN

OURSELVES. It is sad that so many people don't realize how much power and

control the Fed. Gov has on our everyday lives.

Hope this clarifies somewhat.

Hugs, Anita

RA 26 years, Fibro, AP 16 months