Medicare Advantage Mb's who Tell Me that "Medicare Will Pay for It"

[wehotex]

I recently saw a mb who is on Aetna PPO. HE called Medicare to ask if they would help him pay for an electric power chair. He was told that Medicare (original) would help him even though he is on an MA PLAN!
My mother (HMO PLAN) paid cash for a consult with dermatologist who was not in network. The receptionist told her that "Medicare" would reimburse her in a few weeks. Anyone else ever heard of these situations?

 

[midwestbroker]

Here is the Medicare publication on electric power chairs and scooters:

https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11046.pdf

Remember, 1-800 MEDICARE is a third party administrator (TPA) through a company called General Dynamic (defense contractor) who manages the call centers for Medicare. They are not employed by Medicare any more than an insurance agent. They follow scripts and do not have the greatest track record for giving out accurate information.

Same goes for medical offices. Just because someone says it, does not make it true.

 

[WCMason]

My understanding is that there is only one medical service that is covered by Original Medicare for someone who is on a Medicare Advantage plan: hospice.