Health & Fitness
Prioritize your health & well-being this Medicare enrollment period
Selecting a primary care practitioner (PCP) is as important as choosing an insurance plan. Neil Patel, MD, shares more.
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Medicare enrollment is here! As you review your options, remember that your choice of insurance goes beyond just coverage. Now is a key time to also choose your primary care practitioner (PCP).
Your PCP should be your total health and well-being partner to help you thrive at every stage of life. But many of us neglect to evaluate whether our PCP is really supporting all our goals and needs.
Consider if you’re getting the kind of care you deserve. Does your primary care provider:
- Specialize in the needs of people 65+ and this unique phase of life?
- Take as much time as needed to truly understand you and your goals, values and preferences?
- Offer a dedicated team of clinicians and support staff who will stay with you over time and address your total health needs: physical, emotional, social and logistical?
- Come right to you with convenient, on-demand primary care via virtual care visits and in-home visits when needed?
- Enable your spouse or other loved ones to be an integral part of your care team, attending virtual appointments, accessing care plan updates and communicating with your PCP and team?
If you're unable to answer yes to those questions or if they prompted you to realize that your needs have changed, it may be time to consider a new provider. Neil Patel, MD, Chief Health Officer at Patina, recommends sitting down with your loved ones and talking about your values, preferences and what matters most when it comes to your healthcare at this stage of life.
“Perhaps you want someone who has more time to see patients or more expertise in the aging process. If you're looking for a different experience, then consider starting there, then choose a Medicare plan that supports that choice,” says Dr. Neil.
Start with relationships
Patina, for instance, is a medical practice created just for people 65 and older. Patina is an in-network provider for Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans in the Charlotte metro area.
We always start by truly getting to know our patients and their health needs and goals. Every patient gets a dedicated care team, including PCP and health champion, who stays with them over time. By taking the time to truly listen and understand your values and preferences, we can help you make informed decisions and get the personalized, proactive care you want. (This video has more information.)
When it comes to care coordination and navigation, we take on the heavy lifting (without any extra cost!). Say you need help coordinating specialist appointments. Or following up on lab work. Or troubleshooting insurance issues. Your health champion handles this legwork.
Patina is also unique in the way we provide care. There is no physical office – and that’s by design. Most of your interactions are via video, phone and chat. So you get care when you need it, wherever you are, including same-day appointments and 24/7 access.
For in-person care, we visit you in the comfort and convenience of your home and address the same things we would if you were in a doctor’s office. And, with your permission, it’s easy for loved ones to join any visit virtually or at your home, and stay updated on our app. This is all part of our mission to help you thrive and live your best life!
Get the care you deserve
If your current provider isn’t right for you, remember that you can change during open enrollment or at any time. Perhaps you are moving, your regular physician is retiring or you simply want a change. Switching to a new primary practitioner can involve paperwork and phone calls, but Patina takes on the legwork to get everything in order. We’ll even follow up with your insurer or call member services on your behalf.
You can select Patina as your primary care provider. Or, we can work alongside your main doctor and still deliver all the benefits of Patina: convenient and proactive support for your total health and well-being from a trusted team who knows you, plus help with coordination, navigation and more. No added cost.
No matter your current health status or individual goals, good primary care is central to your overall health and well-being. This enrollment period, choose a plan that includes an in-network primary care practice like Patina who can help you make the most of your insurance coverage. Why wait for the kind of care you’ve always imagined?
If you’d like to learn more about Patina or schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (800) 936-8142. We’re welcoming new patients and appointments are available now.
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