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What is the difference between a geriatrician and a gerontologist?

The primary difference between a geriatrician and a gerontologist is the level of care they provide.

Geriatricians are primary care doctors for the elderly. They are qualified physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who complete a minimum of a 3-year residency and must be board certified in internal medicine or family medicine. They diagnose conditions, perform tests, and create treatment plans, including prescribing medications.

Gerontology is the study of aging. Gerontologists work in a supporting capacity, either researching conditions that affect the elderly or working government-level jobs to promote policies to improve the quality of life for seniors.

They may also work as caregivers, helping patients and their families navigate the complexities of elder healthcare, like coordinating diet and exercise programs and mental health visits.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

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