I wanted to share with you a surprise rejection of taking my standard Medicare. I needed to go to an urgent care walk-in near my home on Saturday. I had a ear ache on Friday evening which mostly kept me up all night.
I had used one urgent care location before when I was on my company healthcare plan before I turned 65.
I walk in to urgent care and the receptionist ask for a medical card and photo id. I present her with my drivers license and medicare card. SHe smiles nicely and says sorry we do not take medicare.
You can go across the street to the urgent care company there, they take medicare.
Surprise, surprise Gomer Pile…
Me not thinking to check before to see if the urgent care I drove to take standard Medicare. My fault for not doing a little homework upfront.
I drove across the street to the urgent care associated with one of the large hospitals in my area. I checked in and 15 minutes later I was being examined by a nurse then a doctor.
They flushed my ear out from some small wax inside. The doctor said my ear drum looked red and I would need a short run of antibiotics. I told the doctor I had an appointment next week on Tuesday with my Ear, Noise and Throat Doctor on Tuesday.
Before I left the exam room. I got a text message my prescription was being filled at my preferred pharmacy. It was ready for pickup on my way home. The pharmacy was online 5 minutes from the urgent care.
The prescription did start to work that day. I sleep normally over night.
I am not an expert on Medical plan coverage but from what I have read:
What I learned from this is to precheck in your area for the urgent care locations you may want to use. This is doubly important for the ER hospital near you for life threatening issues. Give them a call and ask that they take your medicare coverage. Especially if you are on Medicare Advantage Plans ( which are Private medicare) You do not want a surprise bill that you had not been in a required network.
Also if you are planning a move (to a new zip code in your town/city), contact your medical coverage provider beforehand. Tell them you plan to move to this new location address/zip code. It can affect your coverage cost.