Re: OK, this is last one....

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Posted by Don Haynsworth on January 20, 2003 at 18:10:26:

In Reply to: Re: OK, this is last one.... posted by Henry Alken on January 20, 2003 at 13:47:49:

Henry, for all you young folks not yet on Medicare, they (Medicare) seldom ever pay the full amount billed by doctors, hospitals, medical providers, etc. Often they pay less than 50 cents on the dollar. For example, the angiogram done here in San Diego at Scripps Hospital to send to LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City prior to my Maze was billed at $17,451.50. Medicare allowed and paid only $7,904.45 (Actually 80% of this. My supplemental provider paid the remaining 20%). The deal with Medicare is if the medical provider agrees to "Accept Medicare Assignment", then they have to take whatever Medicare pays. Of course the provider can opt not to deal with Medicare, but then they will lose a lot of senior citizen patients. I, of course, checked with Scripps and LDS before doing the Maze to make sure they would accept the Medicare assignment for this procedure. They would, and gave me a medical code number for the Maze surgery, and I then checked with Medicare to ensure that they would pay, which they confirmed they would (at their reduced allowed rates). Needless to say, I was in no financial position to pop for $54,000. To date, I have paid nothing for my Maze. What you could call, "our taxpayers dollars at work for us seniors." I hope this information is appropriate for this board. If anyone wants more info about this subject, email me, and I'll try to answer your questons. Don

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