It is a love-hate relationship, mostly because the Medicare system is manipulated by politicians who blame doctors (and hospitals) for rising costs of Medicare.
Medicare pays doctors less than private insurance carriers for treating patients. On average, about 20% less. There is no reason for them to be happy about doing the same work for a Medicare patient as for one with private insurance but being forced to accept 20% lower reimbursement.
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
why do doctors hate Medicare? Mainly because Medicare payment rates to doctors are below what it costs them to run their office and procedures. So seeing too many Medicare patients can hurt a doctor's practice. That is why so many limit how many Medicare patients they will see without supplement plans to accompany the Medicare coverage.
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Medicare pays doctors less than private insurance carriers for treating patients. On average, about 20% less. There is no reason for them to be happy about doing the same work for a Medicare patient as for one with private insurance but being forced to accept 20% lower reimbursement.