Island Doctors To Refuse Medicare Supplement Insurance
Island Doctors, once a small St. Augustine practice when it opened its doors on Anastasia Island in 1991 and now boasts 82 offices throughout Florida, this week announced that on January 1, 2024, it will only accept patients in four Advantage Plans. Seniors holding Medicare Supplement plans will see their insurance refused at Island Doctors in the new year, even those registered with Florida’s most popular Supplement plan, Florida Blue.
The move forces Marsh Creek Medicare + Supplement holders who regularly, for example, see Dr. Jawad Farhat on Plantation Drive, to either find new insurance or find a new doctor by the end of the year.
“Here at Island Doctors, we align ourselves with Advantage plans that specialize in our patients needs”.
In a letter to patients dated October 25, Roy Hinman, Island Doctors’ Chief Medical Officer, provided no explanation for the shift that will ignite a scramble among current supplement holders content with their present coverage and force a difficult decision: find a new primary care provider, or drop their current insurance in favor of one of the four approved Advantage insurance plans. The choice comes amid the demands of the busy Holiday Season and as time runs out for the annual insurance renewal window that closes December 7th.
“… you will need to switch to one of the plan types listed above to continue receiving care after December 31, 2023”, Hinman advises.
The Hunt for a New Doctor Won’t be Easy
For patients who choose to keep their current Supplement insurance, finding a new medical provider could be challenging. One well-known St. Augustine practice told the Spoonbill Courier only one of its doctors was accepting new patients and the first available appointment would be in June 2024.
The four Advantage plans to be accepted by Island Doctors on January 1, 2024, are: Aetna Medicare Solutions, Care Plus, Devoted Health Plans, Humana Gold.
AS A SERVICE TO OUR NEIGHBORS AFFECTED, IF YOU LIKE YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AND BELIEVE THE PRACTICE IS ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS, LEAVE THE DOCTORS NAME AND CONTACTS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW TO HELP OTHERS NARROW THEIR SEARCH. THANK YOU.
Dr. Todd Batenhorst at Flagler + accepts my AARP Advantage plan.
Thanks, Don…
There was a time when Dr Hinman and his group were the only Tricare providers, and Dr Hinman was a decorated, hung-ho veteran. Shane on him and his network of providers who no longer treat veterans. I don’t know about the Medicare issue, but shame on him if they’re also refusing those patients.
Everyone with Medicare Advantage and quite honestly, other Medicare supplemental plans, will need to get use to the concept of being dropped in the future. Slowly but surely, physicians and hospital groups are eliminating Medicare Advantage plans as their reimbursement for medical services to doctors is low but the requirement for reimbursement is high- particularly as it relates to documentation. Medicare reimbursement rates by the Government are steadily shrinking so to financially survive, physicians have to make business decisions. Just like any other business sector.
The Government spends millions of dollars every year advertising to seniors to convince them to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans. Free meals, free transportation, free fitbits…..But the reality is it is a HMO plan for seniors that is really trying to control costs and limit choice. Now the senior’s choice is being limited.
The promise that Barack made a decade ago that “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor” rings hollow these days. To top it off, Medicare rates will be increased this year as the future budget for Medicare slowly shrinks away. Maybe this is what’s really meant by the political claim of “pushing granny over the cliff”….
Apparently they are anti-veteran/military retiree as they will not be accepting Tri-Care. It is a supplement to medicare for retirees. Even though I don’t use them, I would advise against anyone going there for that reason alone.