I signed up today for a regular medical supplement program for Medicare

[chillfactor]

I talked to the doctor's office before I signed up. I avoided all advantage plans. I discovered that neither the doctor's office nor the hospital they associate with will accept any Advantage plans. Too high a rate of denial for treatments.

[former9thward]

1. What is the name of the hospital and where are they located?

[leftieNanner]

2. Excellent Choice!

We have regular Medicare and a supplemental plan (plus a drug plan) and it's been great. Never had any problem with doctors or surgeries.

We have a friend who was attracted by the zero cost ads for a Medicare Advantage plan. Now he's 90 and having serious health problems. Now he's not so happy about his MA.

[NewHendoLib]

3. You won't be sorry! My wife and I love our supplemental plans

[BlueIdaho]

4. I'm happy for your choice

Now will you agree that I have the right to pick any Medicare plan I feel suits me best - even if it’s a Medicare Advantage plan? Or has Democratic Underground become a place where medical choice is no longer tolerated?

[ariadne0614]

8. I'm pretty sure that freedom of choice is a given on DU.

That said, too many people are being bamboozled by the misleading marketing of MA plans. They are profit-driven private insurance plans disguised as “Part C Medicare” (I say the C is for Capitalism).

When I had to make my decision ten years ago, if not for Thom Hartmann, I would have been clueless about choosing a plan. Thanks to Thom’s meticulous research, I learned that MA came about when GWB got too much blowback for wanting to privatize Social Security and Medicare. The MA plans were introduced as a backdoor way to inch toward privatization.

A forum like DU wasn’t on my radar, so I had nowhere to read about the experiences of others in the same boat. I would have really appreciated a place to exchange ideas, experience, and information.

[BlueIdaho]

10. Yes or No

Do you support my right to pick any form of Medicare I believe best fits my needs. I don’t need a lecture, I want an answer.

[DURHAM D]

11. Why do you think you are owed an answer? nt

[BlueIdaho]

28. Why do you think

Giving a straight answer is a problem?

[yardwork]

12. Geez. Nobody in DU is taking your right to choose away.

[Scottie Mom]

14. Everyone has an absolute right to make a mistake.

The right to choose to go without Medicare, without insurance, without medical treatment completely.

Is nothing any of us can do to keep you from approaching that cliff and eventually walking over.

[BlueIdaho]

30. I'll take that as a no.

[Scottie Mom]

43. Lol!

Pls look for a fight elsewhere.

[GuppyGal]

15. I think the pleas of don't buy advantage are coming from a good place...but hey we each interpret things

differently I guess.

[BlueIdaho]

32. I think anyone who believes they can judge another

Without knowing the medical landscape where they live and what their medical history, is bound to give bad advice. But lots of folks think there is a one size fits all answer to Medicare.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Even if the poster doesn't support it (which he or she does)

why does that matter? You obviously have that right and can just ignore these threads or trash them if they bother you.

[BlueIdaho]

33. Do I have the right to participate

Or is my only choice to remain silent?

[grandpamike1]

21. Kind of combative, don't you think ?

[BlueIdaho]

34. No really...

Unless you think expressing an unpopular opinion and asking for clarity is combative.

[ariadne0614]

45. Of course.

I mistakenly assumed that my implied “yes” was obvious in the reply title—“I’m pretty sure that freedom of choice is a given on DU.” Sorry.

Lecture? Maybe it wouldn’t have been perceived that way if I’d had the time to do a separate post to share my personal experience. I was busy making cranberry sauce muffins, and it was time to mix the dry ingredients with the wet ones.

[MissB]

13. I think it's fine to warn folks!

I am not at the age where I qualify for Medicare yet but my husband is approaching that age quickly. I appreciated reading about the MA cautions.

Clearly MA works for some folks, but I think it’s helpful to hear about the pitfalls. I don’t see it as scolding folks that opt for it, more that if you aren’t aware of the ins and outs of your choices, then you may be screwed. No, I’m not saying that if you choose MA you’ll be screwed. Just noting that with all the commercials out there on MA plans at this time of year, there is nothing to balance it.

[Voltaire2]

40. I think the government has an obligation to protect consumers from exploitation.

Perhaps in your case, being fully informed of what your choices are and what the potential downsides of a MA plan can be, and there are many, particularly if your initial choice of plans doesn't work out for your needs, I can understand why you would be upset at any suggestion of substantive reform of MA to eliminate the egregiously shitty practices employed to separate as much profit as possible from the 'customers'. But not everyone is as sophisticated a consumer as you are, and they are quite literally being taken advantage of.

MA is a corrupt scam to siphon tax dollars intended to provide healthcare into profits. I'm sure your plan is the best ever, probably the best MA plan in the world. The gold standard of healthcare insurance plans. But many plans are shit. And these companies are parasites extracting rent from elderly people.

[senseandsensibility]

5. What is a ballpark monthy cost for the supplements?

My hubby does have MA and it's expensive, but it covers everything.

[we can do it]

6. Same here. This is my first year on Medicare. No way I'm getting scammed by advantage plans.

[elocs]

18. I've had a United Healthcare Advantage plan for 9 years now and it's no scam for me.

But then I never came to DU for advice on what to take and I'm glad for that. It's pretty one-sided here.

[OAITW r.2.0]

26. I've got that plan. Had it for 3 years.

Along with A and B. My scripts are $90 quarter, which I pay. I've had annual heath check-ups, 2 emergency room visits for ticks, 2 chest Catscans, follow-ups with my PCP (who is really terrific, she's an NP, but I call her Doc), a Urologist visit with a procedure scheduled next week.

Out of pocket costs, so far - $0. We'll see how the outpatient procedure goes, money-wise.

[intrepidity]

7. I am still confused and conflicted

Is the deadline midnight tonight or tomorrow, and which timezone?

[llmart]

9. Good for you!

You can now have peace of mind that you have good coverage. Which level plan did you sign up for? There are more than one levels. I have the G plan which is the top plan.

[senseandsensibility]

16. How much is level G plan?

Or any of the others?

[Native]

20. Different companies charge different amounts.

You can see them all on Medicare's website.

[senseandsensibility]

22. Thanks for the answer

I'll check it out.

[Native]

35. I chose the cheapest company with the best rating. Also, don't forget to check out the high deductible plan G option....

The premium difference for me between the high deductible version of plan G and the regular version was basically equivalent to the difference between the two deductibles. So, in a good, healthy year, instead of paying that out in premiums up front for the more expensive regular plan, I'm saving money. In a bad year, if I end up meeting my high deductible before I hit that 100% sweet spot, I'm only out what I would have paid out anyway over the year in premiums (give or take a few bucks) for the regular plan. This year I saved almost 2 grand. The annual premium difference between the two plans (the additional premium versus the additional deductible amount) was around 40 bucks. Not all companies offer the high deductible version, and in your area you may not find a similar situation, but it can't hurt to look into it if you're relatively healthy.

[llmart]

27. Plan G

Mine is $192 for a single person who's 74 years old.

[grandpamike1]

24. My plan

I have plan "F" which I have had for years now, with no problems.

[llmart]

31. I believe they have eliminated Plan F.

People who had it at the time were grandfathered in, but new enrollees could no longer opt for Plan F. I believe the only difference is a bit more of a deductible. Other than that, Plan G is the same. I think my deductible this year was $282.

[elocs]

17. I resigned to keep my Advantage plan because it's been great for me.

There's no way I could ever afford traditional Medicare. None. In 9 years I've never been turned down for any test ordered by my doctors including an MRI, CT scans, and a sonogram. The extra help I get each month pays for my utility bill and what's left goes for healthy food.
That's my experience--just to counter the shrill and constant DU anti-Advantage plan drumbeat here. I have 2 major medical centers in my city, one being Mayo, and they both accept Medicare Advantage.

[Haggard Celine]

42. I've had a simular experience.

I've had this plan for a few years now and haven't had any problems. The only thing I don't like is all of the calls and texts I get from them. But they're always telling me about some preventive care to do, which is cheaper for them and good for me to do, anyway. The Advantage plan along with my secondary pay nearly all my bills and for my medicine. I just signed up for a better plan that's going to give me money for food and for my glasses. I think they're giving me a little bit of money, too. I like my insurance and hope it keeps me from losing my shirt with medical bills and my meds.

[elocs]

46. I'm lucky because I've gotten no calls or texts, just some mail. I love my Advantage Plan, it's been great for me. n/t

[XanaDUer2]

23. I signed up for Medicare part d

I'm using traditional Medicare. Several. Of my drs warned me off MA. I was told MA is not available in my area, so I didn't get a sell on that

[surfered]

25. Medicare, rare benefit of aging.

Medicare Advantage was created during the George W Bush administration and it enriches the insurance companies at the expense of U S Taxpayers .

And you’re doctor is right, more providers are refusing to accept it.

[MichMan]

44. GWB was not president in 1997

Medicare Part C was introduced through the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, with coverage beginning in 1999. Medicare Part C plans, today sometimes called Medicare Advantage plans, are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans work with a network of providers. Their coverage model is more similar to employer coverage than original Medicare.

These plans must offer at least the same coverage as original Medicare, and they often include additional coverage for services that Medicare doesn’t cover, such as dental, vision, and prescription drug costs

https://www.healthline.com/health/medicare/medicare-history#evolution-timeline

[Iwasthere]

29. MA plans SCAMS imo

In most cases that is. I have family on them. Throwing $$$away. My father in law pays nearly $600 for his MA plan (for years), he was suckered in by an article in his beloved local newspaper. Now he's scared to change. Thinks it's totally legit. I am 66 now. I steer clear. When I see the tons of ads on tv, well that's all I need to know re their legitimacy. Kind of like all the sickening prescription drug commercials. The doctors are the ones that should be advising you, NOT YOUR TV!!!!

[dpibel]

38. $600 a month?

I'm not sure that's even possible.

If it's $600 a year and you think that's bad, you should read up on what Medicare supplements cost!

[dpibel]

36. So DU skews both old and wealthy

Thanks for the every-other-day scolding about the fools who get taken in by Medicare Advantage!

One of the things that fascinates me about these threads is how heedless people are of cost. "Just get the supplement! Oh, and Part D. Then you will be invulnerable!"

The ballpark cost of a Plan G supplement is $200 a month. Part D coverage runs about $55. That's roughly three grand a year.

Here's the fun part:

As of 2019 (happens to be the date of the most concise presentation I've tracked down), 46% of Americans over 65 had annual income of $25,000 or less (page 12 of linked report). A full 25% took in less than $15,000.

So all you people who instruct others to stay away from Advantage are blithely telling half of all seniors to spend no less than 12% of their annual income in supplemental coverage; and for the bottom 25%, you like them to merely pony up a minimum of 20%.

Clearly, the devotees of DU are not in that lower 46%.

But y'all might want to stop and think about the fact that anyone in the US who's pulling down less than $25K does not have an easy $255 a month to play with.

Combining that with the fact that these threads are rife with warnings about what might possibly happen. What they are not rife with is first-person testimonials about being screwed by Advantage. There are always a few brave souls who will say, "I've had Advantage for years, and it's never been a problem." And there are always a few folks who recount the sad tale of someone who knew someone.

But I honestly have yet to see someone say: "I needed this treatment and was unable to get it because of Advantage."

[TexasBushwhacker]

41. UPDATE - Exactly - and don't forget drug coverage

Last edited Wed Dec 6, 2023, 08:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Well, I was just DENIED a Medicare Supplement plan by Mutual of Omaha, so if they can pick and choose, I guess that's another reason people can end up with Medicare Advantage.

***********

I signed up for a MA plan when I was disabled in my 50s and living on $1K a month SSDI. I wasn't eligible for a supplement plan because I was under 65. My MA plan had a zero monthly premium and covered my meds. At the time, it was a no brainer.

Now that I'm working again, I'm going with regular Medicare plus an issue age Medigap plan and Part D for my drugs. I am doing this mainly because I plan on traveling soon and I want to be able to go to any doctor or hospital anywhere in the US. It will be more expensive per month, but since it's an issue age policy, my premiums can't go up EVER. The only thing that will go up will be my Medicare Part B.

[slightlv]

37. My rheumatologist wants to do an MRI on my back

to see how badly it has deteriorated since the last one (done years ago). I've had 2 surgeries on it already. We've both basically given up on the idea because MA wants you to go through a year of PT first. Wanna guess how many times in my adult years I've been thru PT?! I figure I'll be in a scooter before I ever get MA to sign off on a simple MRI.

[c-rational]

39. Ditto here. Good choice.