For many of us, doctors are our lifeline. If you have Medicare, however, you may want to prepare yourself in case your lifeline gets tossed in the other direction.

In an article published in The New York Times, journalist Julie Connelly writes that many people are discovering "that the insurance rug has been pulled out from under them." Many doctors - internists, gastroenterologists, gynecologists, psychiatrists and other specialists - are finding it to their advantage to opt out of Medicare. Why? Because reimbursement rates are too low and the paperwork, too overwhelming. This has caused many doctors to either opt out of Medicare completely, or not accept new patients with Medicare coverage.

Doctors who are enrolled in Medicare fall into two categories - participating and non-participating. In order to be a participating provider, doctors must agree to accept pre-determined amounts set by Medicare for services rendered, they're not allowed to charge additional fees. In contrast, non-participating providers receive a lower reimbursement from Medicare, meaning if the doctor sets a higher fee for service than Medicare allows, patients must pay the balance out of their own pockets. Doctors who choose not to participate in the Medicare program can charge whatever they want, but they can't bill Medicare and either can the patient. In this case, the responsibility for payment lies completely on the shoulders of the patient, as even Medi-gap, a supplemental insurance that covers gaps in coverage left by Medicare, won't pay any of the bill if Medicare doesn't.

By 2025, the American College of Physicians estimates that there will be 35,000 to 45,000 fewer internists than will be needed. To date, internists are becoming increasingly more unwilling to accept patients enrolled in the Medicare program. The solution - to find a doctor who accepts medicare now, even if you are not 65. If you start your search early and find a participating provider, chances are even if they eventually opt out of Medicare, he or she may be more willing to keep you on as an existing patient.

Before giving up on a doctor who won't accept Medicare, ask if he or she will accept a negotiated rate. For example, if office visits for insured patients are $250, a doctor may be willing to accept $150 from someone who pays privately. After all, there are still doctors out there who work from the heart rather than focus on the pocketbook.

To find a doctor who accepts Medicare in your area, visit www.medicare.gov.