choosing a Medicare provider

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blossy c

New member
This looks like a wonderful site, thanks to you all!

I'm 65, new to Medicare, have not dealt with M.D.'s or had serious health problems in past. Now I'm having memory loss and symptoms of 'dementia'. I have no other insurance.

I went to a Medicare M.D. and asked him for some tests, 'scans', etc to see if there was anything visible in brain or arteries. He said that would cost Medicare too much money. His approach would be to start with cheap, invasive procedures (eg pelvic exam) and give drugs for minor problems to see if that would help the memory problem.

He did say that I could probably find a doctor who would follow my approach, but I'm not sure if he meant a Medicare doctor.

I'd like to receive clear, objective data (paid by Medicare), then try more natural treatments (which I can pay for myself). Is this ever possible? Or to find a Medicare M.D. who could guide me in getting clear data, even if I had to pay for those high-tech tests myself?

I have already had a CBC and a home GTT, neither showing problems.

Thanks for any perspective on the Medicare situation.
 
Well, actually, I think his approach is a better one. Run regular general tests and see if there's anything going on there since you've never had these exams/tests done. I think jumping in with brain scans when all it may be is low blood sugar (or something along those lines) is a little overboard. I'd get a general physical and go from there.
 
There may well be a middle ground between the two extremes of approach. What do those "regular general tests" consist of, other than the CBC and GTT I've recently had?
 
Cholesterol and blood sugar would be good places to start. Problems with both could give the symptoms that may seem like early memory loss, etc. You also could see about some cognitive testing. I would suggest an MD who specializes in geriatrics.
 
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