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Medicare and senior care medical groups.

Let me begin by saying that Medicare* is, without question, the best benefit I receive as a senior citizen. It provides healthcare I simply could not afford if I had to pay out of pocket or rely on expensive private insurance.

That said, Medicare isn't perfect. It doesn't cover everything. Routine dental care, hearing aids, and some other services often require additional coverage or must be paid for separately.

Prescription drug coverage also has limits. Many plans favor generic medications and don't always cover every brand-name drug.

Then there are the doctors. Most physicians who accept Medicare are well qualified, but getting an appointment can take time. Many practices are extremely busy, leaving doctors with less time to spend with each patient than many people would like.

As a resident of an assisted living facility, I'm not only a Medicare beneficiary but also a patient of a senior care medical group. These practices specialize in caring for older adults, and like most things, they have both advantages and disadvantages.

Our facility has an on-site medical suite where doctors visit on a regular schedule—some every day, others weekly, monthly, or as needed. They provide the same basic care you'd receive in a doctor's office without residents having to leave the building.

These physicians serve as our primary care doctors. When we need specialized treatment, they refer us to specialists who accept Medicare. The system is convenient, efficient, and a tremendous benefit for people who have difficulty traveling to outside appointments.

At first, local doctors with private practices came to our facility a few times each week to care for residents. They took their time. Office visits typically lasted 15 to 20 minutes, and they listened carefully, answered questions, and got to know their patients. My doctor knew me by name and remembered my medical history without constantly looking at a computer screen. I always left feeling that I had received the time and attention I needed. But recently, all that changed.

A little over a year ago, our assisted living facility changed healthcare providers. The private physicians who had been caring for us were replaced by a senior care medical group. I don't know the reason for the change, so I can only speculate.

The new group arrived with a polished presentation, promotional giveaways, and promises of a comprehensive managed healthcare program. They assured us that everything we needed would be available through one convenient, coordinated system. And, for the most part, it’s true.

Unfortunately, Medicare isn't perfect, and neither is the system that delivers much of its care.
Last Monday, I had an appointment with my primary care physician. It wasn't because I was sick, and I hadn't requested it. The appointment had one purpose: to meet my new doctor—my third primary care physician in the past 18 months.

He knew my name, but little else. I had to explain my medical history and current health issues from scratch. Ten minutes later, the visit was over. There were about ten other patients waiting to be seen.
That's what happens when healthcare becomes an assembly line. Doctors move from one patient to the next as quickly as possible, and personal relationships become a luxury instead of the standard.
Fortunately, my health problems have been stable. They haven't improved, but they haven't gotten any worse, either. For now, a quick office visit gets the job done.

But I can't help wondering what happens if that changes. What happens if I become seriously ill and need a doctor who knows me, understands my medical history, and has the time to listen?
Will there be a physician I can truly rely on? Or will I simply become another patient moving through Medicare's increasingly impersonal healthcare system?

That's the question that concerns me the most....bwc

* Medicare is the federal health insurance program primarily for people 65 and older, that pays for hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription drugs, and other healthcare services.