Kelsey Seybold is ridiculous

I am so sorry! It is so hard for elderly people to navigate medical issues. She is so blessed to have a strong advocate like you are.
Medicare is a complicated maze of figuring out coverage and requirements. One thing I always caution those getting close to Medicare age about. Medicare is not free, not even close. Medicare advantage plans sound so attractive when signing up because they often come with no cost or much less costs than a supplement plan. But realize, these are for-profit businesses. Where do you think their profit comes from when they offer all these freebies like low cost, dental care, transportation, over the counter medicines,ect?It may not matter or make a difference when you are signing up for Medicare and healthy. But I caution you to do your homework. As you age your health will become more complicated. Do you want to be stuck in a plan that tells you what Dr you can see, make you go through hoops to get to see a specialist, be refused coverage at hospitals like MD Anderson? These plans are cheaper than supplements for a reason. And if you want to switch to a supplement later you will be subject to a medical audit that will determine your acceptance and how high your premiums will be. Not an easy or inexpensive process. I am dealing with the medical web of red tape with an elderly relative right now. His advantage plan is denying him the medication and treatment that he needs. The Drs in his network will not advocate for him because their hands are tied by the Advantage plans and what they are willing to pay for. I am trying to get him accepted into a medical trial at this point and hoping that he will be able to get out of the advantage plan network.

@Orangeapple :
My DW's PCP retired earlier this year. She doesn't like my PCP, so she's looking for a new one, hopefully in either KW or Humble.

@MrsC67 : After reading this I can see why they would do Toxicology screening. As we age our bodies may not eliminate some things as well and they may build up too much. That's not good!

@TEXASGIRLMAMMA : And I totally understand that if they were just checking to see that it's in her system - no problem! I watch her take it daily so it will be as it always is. But why check for heroin? Fentanyl? Crystal meth? 🤦‍♀️Like I said, it just seems like an absolute scam to me. She's not not some 20 year old kid!

@StormChaser : Right! I really have to doubt someone her age is using drugs like that. I'm sure it's the money!

@teatime :
So very true. There is a John Oliver report on the Medicare Advantage people should watch before they sign up. I simply call it Medicare Disadvantage. I have the supplemental plan. The sup is cheaper if you are sick and more expensive if you are healthy. The "disadvantage" is cheaper if you are healthy (which most are when they sign up and that's how they trick you) but gets really expensive when you are not so healthy. BUT you cannot then qualify for the sup plans. You are stuck with co pays out the razoo. Several of my friends have died as a result of the plan they had. One had undiagnosed pancreatic cancer the other undiagnosed colon cancer. The disadvantage plans pays primary care docs a bonus for denying the patient a referral/approval to have more testing or seeing a specialist. They are incentivized to treat the patient themselves even though they have neither the skill or the MRI equipment to do so. They were just prescribing pain meds for a year for the pancreatic pain and denying a "second colonoscopy when the one only 8 years prior was good" due to these incentives. Both collapsed in their home and when the ambulance got to the hospital, a proper diagnosis was had in both cases. They were both dead within 2 weeks in hospice. Another friend collapsed in the doc office and was told his heart was failing, put him in hospice. No referral to a heart doc needed. His loving wife of 60 years refused and paid out of pocket for the heart doc who changed his meds. That was 6 years ago. He is still fine. At home. But still being griped at by his wife for his messes LOL.

@Livinlife :
"The sup is cheaper if you are sick and more expensive if you are healthy. The "disadvantage" is cheaper if you are healthy (which most are when they sign up and that's how they trick you) but gets really expensive when you are not so healthy. BUT you cannot then qualify for the sup plans."This is how they suck you at sign up. Many if not most of us are relatively healthy when we first become legible at 65. But we all know that if we are fortunate enough to live a long life that serious health issues arise. That is when making the right choice at sign up really matters and for me the peace of mind knowing that I can seek out the best medical care available is worth the increased premium with the supplement plan I have.

@Livinlife : I guess my parents are right. They refuse to have a plan and use straight Medicare. They see whatever Dr. they want. They have to pay their 20% and a very low deductible. Maybe that's the best way to go???

@TEXASGIRLMAMMA :
The annual deductible has gone up over the years, but is now about $210 a year. Yet, the sick people on a "Disadvantage" Plan may pay $25 a visit, thousands if they go to a hospital or have a procedure, and maybe $50 or $75 for a specialist, but are denied that right if their "Primary care" doc who is incentivized refuses to send them. The John Oliver on youtube medicare advantage does a good job of explaining all of it. A must watch. But then, he also has a good presentation on home owners associations which everyone should also watch. Just youtube these. And know that he sometimes uses bad language; the price to be educated?

@CaffeineFree : Really tough keeping track of the medical folks. We have had three doctors die on us (one was only 42), half a dozen retire, and a dermatologist and a DO move away. Even lost one of the VA docs because his wife wanted to relocate to Denver (and another because he was a quack). Current VA PCP is only 60, so should be good there, and the civilian docs and specialists are in their late 40s and early 50s, and seem competent, so hopefully will not have to change again due to deaths or retirements.

@Sunnycl :
It is an option. Neither of my parents went into hospice actively dying so to speak but they do help with meds, appropriate treatments, supports. Also if you are under a hospice plan, another family member who just gets tired of you can't evict them, same for a facility I think. My father was on hospice for 3.5 years. The company that took care of him in home, was the same one that suggested putting my mom into it as right after my father died, my aunt tried to kick her out. She said she couldn't stand the smell of all the cleaning products nor all the meds in the refrigerator. She didn't even live there or come home when either of them did pass away.

@Livinlife : Thanks, I'll look for John Oliver on youtube.

@StormChaser :
Ask for a review & escalate. Maybe switch doctors?