Finding a doctor

(jim Chiodo) #1

Not that I need one, but events of the last year have me searching for a new primary care physician. Embarking on Keto almost a year ago and now down 75# makes me wonder why, I paid into Medicare all these years.

Like 99.9% of docs my PCP was skeptical, even discouraging of my “consuming all that fat”. In fact, he wanted to put me on statins even though my numbers were only marginally higher than normal. Now, of course, my numbers are extremely good, lower BP, slower heartbeat, more energy, etc, etc.

So I take to a local community forum, thinking there might be a doc somewhere who, if not fully embracing Keto, at least does not discourage it. I explained what Keto is for anyone who might read my post. Instead of a recommendation for Doctor “X”, some snot head kid telling me that Keto is not a “healthy lifestyle”

Looking on several “find a Keto friendly doctor” searches, there are a few in Michigan but of course, they are 2 to 3 hr drive from me. A couple are closer but they’re not a doctor who I can designate as my PCP and have my insurance (Medicare) pay. Instead, it seems they are either dietitians, Chiropractors or some other kind of diet consultant, who of course, only accepts paper with dead president’s pictures.

My biggest frustration is the Medicare system. We all pay into it over a lifetime. I know have and advantage insurance program. The insurer administers all aspect of my health care cost and pays them according to their schedule. In return for doing this, Medicare.gov gives the insurer roughly $1,000 per month. Arggggggghhhh. That’s $12,000 a yr. Screw that, give me the $12K and let me pay for my own care. I’d be able to find a direct pay doctor and be miles ahead cost wise. I’d also have some catastrophic plan in case i needed some big dollar care.

Damn, I hate the whole heatlh care situation in this country which has gotten completely worse over the last 10 yrs due to Obamacare. Give me my money. It’s mine

(Bunny) #2

Here is one in Michigan:

A Keto Doc! The only one I could find with a Medical Doctorate. There has to be others that really don’t make it a point just keep looking, you will find one!

Dr. Edward J. Linkler, MD
2345 S. Huron Pkwy
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
[(734) 973-1010](tel:(734) 973-1010)

(Barbara Bretan) #3

I can totally understand your frustration. I makes me so grateful for my situation. My PCP is not that familiar with Keto, but excited about seeing how I do. My husband’s PCP (same practice) is very supportive, as is his cardiologist. Keep trying other doctors. My husband went through more than 4, before finding one he liked. OR consider moving to Jupiter, FL where open minded doctors, who are interested in working with their patients not controlling them, practice.

Best for success in your quest.

(jim Chiodo) #4

This is one of the dozen or or so I found in MI, but AA is about a 2 hr drive for me. Wish someone would realize how much nicer the west side of Michigan is and move here to set up practice.

(Bob M) #5

I can understand your frustration in not finding a doctor. I have had that too, and now have to drive over an hour to get to one. And she just went on maternity leave for 6 months. It’s possible to find them, but difficult.

Also, please do not claim Obamacare for your heartache:

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-insurance/articles/2014/11/14/will-obamacare-affect-medicare-myths-and-facts

If you want to state explicitly how Obamacare has affected your situation, based on the actual law, then do so. (That is: cite the ACTUAL LAW and say how that makes it more difficult for you.) But don’t make any claims to which you have no idea are actually correct or some talking point based on that television channel built to disparage Obamacare.

(Todd Allen) #6

Jim, I share your frustration with our healthcare system and the challenge of finding a good doctor. I live in Chicago with many options for doctors, hospitals, medical practices, etc. and I’m not satisfied. A couple years ago when I was very under insured I found a good primary care physician with an unusual payment model - he didn’t take insurance and didn’t bill for services, just a monthly flat fee. He was the most thoughtful doctor I’ve had, but when I again had comprehensive insurance due to the cost I went back to seeing a covered doctor in a more conventional practice. My experience with my previous good doctor has given me confidence that I am managing my health fairly well with lifestyle factors adjusting as needed based on tracking how I feel and perform.

My new doctor has little understanding of my primary health issues. She is concerned about my high LDL and blood pressure which is a bit high every third or fourth visit. But it is easy enough to listen to her concerns, thoughtless dietary advice and ‘preventative medicine’ medication suggestions and not act on any of it, especially when I’m not paying very much for it. I’d prefer a doctor I saw as a valued partner in managing my health, but it is good enough for now to have one where I expect minimal difficultly getting needed referrals to appropriate specialists if something acute arises.

(jim Chiodo) #7

US News? Now there’s a authority. Like CNN, not to much bias there.

Bottom line is Obamacare has created a situation where doctors and staff spend a tremendous time with forms, coding, etc leaving little for patients or research. Thankfully, the whole thing has been declared unconstitutional (as it should have been the first time SCOTUS reviewed it)

I’ve been on this planet for 73 yrs and the entire health care system has been turned upside down. Doctors don’t care for patients, Insurance companies dictate what they are allowed or not allowed to do. Obamacare was promoted and designed by the same insurance companies that profit off of it. Someday, if I live long enough, doctor-patient relationship will be completely market based, not mandated who gets what and who pays way. Today, there are doctors who operate as “direct primary care and don’t accept any insurance”. Unfortunately, there are no direct primary care (DPC) doctors in my area. Ironically, my medicare part B is $120 a month.

I have spoken with DPC doctors in other cities who charge between $75 and $100/ mo for as many visits, consultations, etc as I want. Medicare.gov pays my insurance company about $1,000 / mo to provide for all of my care. I’d love to have that (my own money) and decide how to spend it. Yes, I would need some kind of catastrophic insurance for major problems but to my knowledge that is relatively inexpensive coverage.

The entire system is messed up because POS Obama and Democrats rammed through Obamacare to provide insurance for people who can’t afford it. To pay for this. they took roughly $500, billion out of Medicare, and significantly cut coverage for seniors.

I wonder what happened to “the average family will save $2,500 a year” Ha. The average family, except those getting it for free/highly subsidize are paying double, triple or more.

Oh but the poor people need this, that, etc. That is what charity if for. 90% of hospitals in the country were founded to provide charity care. Now, the US Government steals from tax payers, keeps 75% to pay for bloated government and doles out minimal care for Medicaid recipients. They also mandate hospitals give services to indigent and undocumented people completely free.

Oh and please don’t lecture about what to say. I’ll state my opinion and you can state yours. Mine is based on experience and common sense. What’s your’s based on? Obama’s lies?

(Anjum) #8

Hi Jim,
Like many I feel your pain. I do not have a specific suggestion for you vis a vis a keto or low carb friendly doc in Chicago, what I can offer is searching instead
for a boutique or concierge doctor. Often they have retainer fees in addition to standard copays. I was lucky enough to belong to a concierge practice, the level of care was dictated by mine and my families needs. She was not low carb or keto friendly, but as others have mentioned it was easy to dismiss her suggestions and just have a fall back incase something acute arose. Keto has been my spiritual awakening and unfortunately for me the acceptable standard of healthcare is the work of the devil. I hope you find someone soon. Good luck.

(Cindy) #9

Not to get into a political debate, but our health care/insurance was messed up long before Obama. Again, I’m NOT taking sides about Obama one way or another, but I worked in a hospital off and on for 20 yrs, so I saw insurance and healthcare in action. Insurance companies do NOT want to keep you healthy. They want their premium payments to outweigh their actual disbursements…end of story. When a hospital/doctor is in a network, there’s an agreement between the hospital/doctor and the insurance company as to an “acceptable” or expected cost of a test, procedure, etc. That acceptable cost varies from insurance to insurance, so it’s not a “real” number.

For example, a patient could come into the lab, offer to self-pay for a test at $125. But if they were using insurance, that same test would be billed to the insurance as $225, over the “acceptable” amount. So the hospital writes off $50 per insurance, insurance then pays their portion and the patient pays the rest. Usually well below the $125 so it LOOKS like insurance is helping. In reality, once you add up premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, it would be better to pay with cash.

(jim Chiodo) #10

Health care and insurance related issues have been progressively worse over the past 20 yrs. The got exponentially worse in 2009 due to the ACA. It’s not just the cost to consumers. Doctor office resources now must deal with a mountain of paperwork, rules, guideline that didn’t exist prior to ACA.

Of course, prior to 2009, I never heard a president promote a change to health care and promise, "If you like you dr, hospital, insurance, you can keep it. Nor hear, "the average family will save $2.500 a yr.