Medicare Advantage, like private insurance (which it acts like) does. Standard Medicare never has. You still need a dr's *order* to schedule most types of tests & treatment, but prior authorization is something else: it's approval from the insurer; their decision that the test or treatment is nec.
Prior authorization is just a delay tactic often used in tandem with ultimate denial.
Yes.
What many Americans also don’t know (regardless of their insurance status) is you can usually purchase your drugs from companies like CostPlusDrugs.com for less money than you pay as a CO-PAY using insurance. Just go to Europe and price things out, you’ll see what a scam our healthcare system is.