As more seniors age into Medicare and doctors face uncertainty with the future of the program, some fear more providers will opt out, limiting patient choice. In an online poll of nearly 400 Angie’s List members who are on Medicare, one-third say they’ve contacted a doctor who doesn’t accept Medicare or new Medicare patients. Our cover story delves into the situation to explain why this is happening. We also surveyed more than 500 highly rated primary care providers and specialists on Angie’s List about Medicare and found 87 percent (of providers who accept new patients) say they’re accepting new Medicare patients, similar to numbers from a recent survey conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services. We also offer suggestions to help consumers make the most of their Medicare coverage and find a doctor who accepts the plan.
