Business Insight Enrollment Opens Soon Today, I want to address one of the most misleading issues in our office interactions with patients. As in every medical clinic, we collect personal demographics and insurance information before the visits. More than half of our patients are at 65+ age, so they are eligible for Medicare. And all of them bring proudly their insurance cards. We love it. It is quick and smooth to process the administrative part and they are in the exam room immediately. Except one problem: many of our patients present not Medicare cards but Medicare substitute card. They were a subject of heavy advertising and lots of misleading information from private insurance companies, who received government money promising to run a private plan for seniors instead of the true Medicare. Advertising is heavy and frequent. There are promises of free rides to the doctor, meals, vision and prescription, wellness programs and more. But there is very little about the fact that the plans that substitute Medicare are private insurance plans and they come with all the private insurance risk and glitches. They may limit significantly your access to some doctors and hospitals. If you go 'out of network, you may not have benefits at all, or your co-pays may be very high. You may also need some sort of referral from your primary doctor before you see a specialist. As usually, if you are strong and healthy, you may very well benefit from this private option, but if you have medical conditions and established doctors, you are at risk of not being able to see them. presented by Arlington Dermatology Patients do not realize that they do not have Medicare but a private substitute. The ads were saying it was Medicare and the agent assured them of the same. There is nothing we can do about the industry using tricks to fool and attract seniors. Yes, the ads are not accurate and the agents probably tell you a lot of inaccurate information too. We have no remedy for that. There is a bill proposed in Congress that would prevent private insurance companies to use a word 'medicare' in their advertising. We do not know if the bill will be considered or passed as this time. But the enrollment period starts soon and there will be another wave of unhappy patients who will realized they were tricked when they visit their doctors in 2023. The time to get informed is now. Last weekend, New York Times published a long article about some practices that private insurance is using in substitute plans. It is worth to read that article to understand more about how these plans function. And how they actually cost the government more than regular Medicare. It is also a great eye-opener for many patients who just trust what they see on TV. I would not be discussing it with my readers if not for the fact that we see so many patients that were misled by empty promises. We feel for them very much, but there is nothing we can do for the entire year. Once you enroll in the private substitute plan, you must stay there until the new open enrollment. What we can do is to inform you about your options in a very clear and honest way before you make any decisions. There is nothing for us to risk or gain in this process. All these companies pay us the bills. But you may get limited and risk a lot in your established care. So, please, read small print and call if you need more information. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Enrollment Opens Soon Today , I want to address one of the most misleading issues in our office interactions with patients . As in every medical clinic , we collect personal demographics and insurance information before the visits . More than half of our patients are at 65+ age , so they are eligible for Medicare . And all of them bring proudly their insurance cards . We love it . It is quick and smooth to process the administrative part and they are in the exam room immediately . Except one problem : many of our patients present not Medicare cards but Medicare substitute card . They were a subject of heavy advertising and lots of misleading information from private insurance companies , who received government money promising to run a private plan for seniors instead of the true Medicare . Advertising is heavy and frequent . There are promises of free rides to the doctor , meals , vision and prescription , wellness programs and more . But there is very little about the fact that the plans that substitute Medicare are private insurance plans and they come with all the private insurance risk and glitches . They may limit significantly your access to some doctors and hospitals . If you go ' out of network , you may not have benefits at all , or your co - pays may be very high . You may also need some sort of referral from your primary doctor before you see a specialist . As usually , if you are strong and healthy , you may very well benefit from this private option , but if you have medical conditions and established doctors , you are at risk of not being able to see them . presented by Arlington Dermatology Patients do not realize that they do not have Medicare but a private substitute . The ads were saying it was Medicare and the agent assured them of the same . There is nothing we can do about the industry using tricks to fool and attract seniors . Yes , the ads are not accurate and the agents probably tell you a lot of inaccurate information too . We have no remedy for that . There is a bill proposed in Congress that would prevent private insurance companies to use a word ' medicare ' in their advertising . We do not know if the bill will be considered or passed as this time . But the enrollment period starts soon and there will be another wave of unhappy patients who will realized they were tricked when they visit their doctors in 2023. The time to get informed is now . Last weekend , New York Times published a long article about some practices that private insurance is using in substitute plans . It is worth to read that article to understand more about how these plans function . And how they actually cost the government more than regular Medicare . It is also a great eye - opener for many patients who just trust what they see on TV . I would not be discussing it with my readers if not for the fact that we see so many patients that were misled by empty promises . We feel for them very much , but there is nothing we can do for the entire year . Once you enroll in the private substitute plan , you must stay there until the new open enrollment . What we can do is to inform you about your options in a very clear and honest way before you make any decisions . There is nothing for us to risk or gain in this process . All these companies pay us the bills . But you may get limited and risk a lot in your established care . So , please , read small print and call if you need more information . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net