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08-02-2017 07:24 PM
I've gone to the same dermatologist for over 30+ years. I am fair-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed and had too much sun in my youth. As a result, I have had numerous basal cell and squamous skin cancers removed plus numerous keratoses frozen off. For my annual body scan, my doctor schedules me for a minimum of one hour and 15 minutes. On my last exam in April, I was on the exam table for an hour and 45 minutes and had 5 biopsies -- one of which required me to go to a Mohs surgery specialist for further treatment. My doctor has opted out of Medicare, so I have to pay out-of-pocket, with some reimbursement from my supplemental insurance. It's quite an expense and I've thought about switching to a doctor that accepts Medicare, but I know I would never receive even close to the same level of attention and care. I have complete confidence in this doctor.
08-02-2017 07:51 PM
What are your expectations these days?
Doctors do not spend a lot of time with patients anymore. They just don't, Healthcare is not what it used to be. A thorough check up is your annual physical with your primary doctor. Specialists see you for one thing - the problem you came in for, nothing else. They dont' listen to all your other complaints and address them
You had a skin check and moles removed. That;s what they do. If you re not comfortable with waiting to hear from them on the results, wait a week to ten days, call the office and say you would like your results mailed to you. Or go pick them up.
Telling people to seek a second opinion is just a waste of time and Medicare is running out of funds because people want to doctor shop all the time.
This may sound harsh but honestly we are not living in the old days anymore. Healthcare is just not what it used to be. Some things you just have to accept and move on. A 2nd opinion by a derm doctor would accomplish nothing. What reason would you have to book the appointment when they ask you? You had a treatment with this first doctor, would you see another one and say "she didn't spend enough time with me and I want someone else to review my skin tag results?
A second opinion is sought when a person has an illness, treatment is recommended, or no treatment if someone has something terminal for instance, and the patient wants a second opinion on whether another doctor has a different treatment or clinical trial to recommend or something like that.
08-02-2017 08:36 PM
@BklynKinsey wrote:I've gone to the same dermatologist for over 30+ years. I am fair-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed and had too much sun in my youth. As a result, I have had numerous basal cell and squamous skin cancers removed plus numerous keratoses frozen off. For my annual body scan, my doctor schedules me for a minimum of one hour and 15 minutes. On my last exam in April, I was on the exam table for an hour and 45 minutes and had 5 biopsies -- one of which required me to go to a Mohs surgery specialist for further treatment. My doctor has opted out of Medicare, so I have to pay out-of-pocket, with some reimbursement from my supplemental insurance. It's quite an expense and I've thought about switching to a doctor that accepts Medicare, but I know I would never receive even close to the same level of attention and care. I have complete confidence in this doctor.
I think you are right to pay for this service out of pocket. If you've known anyone with skin cancer, it is quick and deadly.
You don't mess around with this one.
I am high risk due to severe burns at the beach as a teen. I have a lot of tiny spots. She can spot pre-cancerous cells on my forehead from across the room.
I would pay out of pocket for my derm as well.
08-03-2017 06:50 AM
Ladies: Do your health policies pay for any of these proceedures? My insurance used to pay for skin tag removal but they discontinued that a few years back. I was surprised what they charged so will probably learn to live with them from now on.
08-03-2017 09:18 PM
@HiLo Medicare pays for skin tags that bleed or hurt.
ALL mine do both, ya think, so it is free.
@LilacTree If this was not a full body check, it was not good.
The length of the visit was typical, though. Derms whip in and out fast.
08-05-2017 06:44 AM - edited 08-05-2017 06:48 AM
@KarenQVC wrote:@HiLo Medicare pays for skin tags that bleed or hurt.
ALL mine do both, ya think, so it is free.
@LilacTree If this was not a full body check, it was not good.
The length of the visit was typical, though. Derms whip in and out fast.
Mine don't bleed or hurt so I'm out on this one. . The last one I had removed was small and cost me $75.00. After 3 years, it's back again with even more.
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