Wellness

[hoosieroriginal]

I have a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.  Went to schedule my annual wellness visit and they said I can see my doctor first time, but after that I will see the pharmacist?  WHAT?  I'm going to discuss it with my doctor when I see her.  Anyone else experience this?  Is this what I have to look forward to?

[wonderfulworld]

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@hoosieroriginal wrote:

I have a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.  Went to schedule my annual wellness visit and they said I can see my doctor first time, but after that I will see the pharmacist?  WHAT?  I'm going to discuss it with my doctor when I see her.  Anyone else experience this?  Is this what I have to look forward to?

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My guess is that it is a Physician's Assistant you will see. Pretty common nowadays.

[luvknines]

I chose to go with a HMO thru United Health Care.  I am able to see all my regular doctors since there are in my network   I have never heard of seeing a pharmacist after the one time visit with your doctor.  Check with your insurance policy and see what it says about doctors visits.  Sorry could not be more help

[Kachina624]

I am fortunate to have an excellent Advantage Plan but have never heard of that.  Surely pharmacists aren't diagnosing and prescribing these days; they're not qualified. I see my doctor about every 3-4 months. 

[2blonde]

@hoosieroriginal  Is it possible you might have misunderstood?  I also think it probably would be a physician's assistant, as mentioned by the previous poster.  That is very common these days (unless you're dying or something).

[NickNack]

Like others I'll bet it was the Physician's Assistant and not the Pharmacist that you will see.  Was it your doctor's office who told you this or the Medicare Advantage plan?  I have a Medicare Advantage plan and see my doctor each time.

[proudlyfromNJ]

I see either one the Dr. or physician asst.I can also request which one I want to see. Have an advantage plan. PPO. 

I dont think they meant to say Pharmacist.

[LilacTree]

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@wonderfulworld wrote:

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@hoosieroriginal wrote:

I have a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.  Went to schedule my annual wellness visit and they said I can see my doctor first time, but after that I will see the pharmacist?  WHAT?  I'm going to discuss it with my doctor when I see her.  Anyone else experience this?  Is this what I have to look forward to?

---

My guess is that it is a Physician's Assistant you will see. Pretty common nowadays.

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@wonderfulworld

I just went for mine Monday.  He/She is not a pharmacist, you will most likely see an FNP (nurse practitioner) who is associated with your local hospital, does not work for your physician. 

I can't imagine a pharmacist doing this physical/cognitive examination, they were either wrong or you heard it wrong.

[pdlinda]

I also have a United Healthcare Advantage Plan and can see my PCP anytime I wish with zero co-pay.  

[Q4u]

We have regular Medicare with Supplemental Insurance and in the two years we've had it we've never been denied seeing our doctor or have to see a Physican's Assistant or Nurse.  I even had an ER situation, thought I was having a heart attack but it turned out to be a pinched nerve in my neck causing radiating pain up my neck, across my shoulders and down my arms.... I was taken care of very well and pretty much everything was covered.   

We were part of an HMO for over 25 years (Kaiser) and know the general HMO system very well and learned how to navigate within it..... but didn't want to deal with an HMO anymore.  For us, it's been a good choice......