After being subjected to a zillion Medicare Advantage ads over the past month

[halfulglas]

What's the odds those medical corporations are a significant contributor to the lobbying against increased benefits for our regular Medicare benefits. It's too big a selling point to keep emphasizing they often cover dental, glasses, hearing aids and sometimes the drugs. Even though the coverage varies. They don't want to lose customers who will opt to go with regular Medicare.

[DURHAM D]

1. They are not medical corporations. They are insurance companies. nt

[rampartc]

6. they own each other

blue cross owns hmo and hospital stock. doctors and pharma companies own blue cross stock.

[Historic NY]

2. I half attempted to screw with them...

How will they give me an extra 144 a month? Joe Namath will sell anything these days, including himself

[Fozzledick]

3. I haven't trusted him since he sold his mustache!

[Sucha NastyWoman]

4. Those ads are insulting to Seniors

They portray them as greedy old cranks that just want more than they deserve.

Medicare advantage offers all kinds of goodies so that you will accept managed care systems which could cost you 6-7000 deductible each year if you should get seriously ill.

What seniors really need is for Medicare to pay for long term care once you become unable to care for yourself.

[rampartc]

5. can you imagine if those advertising dollars went to health care instead?

not to mention the insurance executives salaries and bonuses?

[Tom Kitten]

7. Let's see... In addition to Broadway Joe

Namath I've seen Joe Montana, J J Walker, Steve Garvey, William Shatner and Mike Ditka doing the pitches. Well I haven't seen Ditka lately it's like they finally figured out he's practically unintelligible these days. And yes the way they all push you to "get what you're entitled to" is phrased to make it sound like we're all on the dole looking for a free handout like all those other welfare cheats. And oh yes plus "those of us on a fixed income". You can tell they don't really think much of their audience, or of real Medicare for that matter. Of course this is just my opinion and I just thought I'd go on a little rant so don't bother asking me if I have any sources or links to back up my blather.
I know about these ads because they run them constantly - sometimes consecutively so you get Namath and then Walker and then for a little variety maybe an Ice T Carshield ad or maybe a My Pillow guy ad or two. I haven't had cable for twenty years and whatever tv I watch are those over-the-air subchannels like antennae tv metv, movies! etc. I usually just have the tv on for company, the mute button comes in handy.