[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Nancy Weaver
Are you getting the care you deserve?
This time of year, thousands of Southern Nevada’s seniors are mulling their options for their healthcare in 2020. Should they stay with traditional Medicare? Add a Medicare supplement plan? Will Medicare Advantage give you better coverage? Do you need to pay more to get better care?
It’s easy to get confused by the clutter in your mailbox, touting one plan’s benefits over another. Get the clarity you need by focusing on the most important healthcare relationship: the relationship between you and your primary care provider. Your primary care provider should be at the center of your care with a focus on helping you get and stay healthy and active.
Here are some things to consider when evaluating your current or prospective primary care provider:
- How long does it take to get an appointment when you’re sick?
- When you visit the office, how long are you waiting to be seen?
- During your visit, do you feel rushed?
- Do you get answers to your questions during and after your visit?
- Does your provider reach out to you and remind you about annual screenings and well checks?
- Who is responsible for making sure reports and results from your specialist appointments, labs and tests get back to your primary care team? Are you having to track everything down yourself?
If you are questioning the quality of care you’re currently getting, the Medicare Annual Election Period is the ideal time to make a change to a provider team that can give you the access, quality and care coordination you need to get and stay healthy.
Once you’ve found the right primary care provider for you, work with your broker to determine which plans have that provider in their network. Then, look at each plan’s costs and benefits to pick the one that meets your care and budget needs. Don’t delay, the Medicare Annual Election period ends on December 7, 2019.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
