Community Chat

[Mz iMac]

Received in the mail today!

[Evie2004]

Looking forward to getting mine, as we are considering changing Advantage companies/ plans for 2017. Are there any "earth-shattering" changes? Thanks..

[Mz iMac]

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@Evie2004 wrote:

Looking forward to getting mine, as we are considering changing Advantage companies/ plans for 2017. Are there any "earth-shattering" changes? Thanks..

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That would depend on your state & the health insurances allowed to operate in your state.

For me, there are a few changes going on w/my carrier.  Will review when my brain is more relaxed. 

Too much info overload.

[Evie2004]

I understand..thanks

[Carmie]

You can view Medicare and You on line at the Medicare site'in English and Spanish..  You can also download it to your a Kindle app, make the font bigger., etc.

[elated]

i am with Aetna and the copays have gone up $10.00 for all visits- Primary Care Visits $5.00 to $10.00; Specialist Visit $40.00 to $50.00.. Also, they have upped the maxium out of pocket to $6,700 from $5,500. inpatitent hospital stay $360.00 per day from $295.00 per day for additional days. Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Deductible from $125.00 to $400.00.

[tansy]

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@Carmie wrote:

You can view Medicare and You on line at the Medicare site'in English and Spanish..  You can also download it to your a Kindle app, make the font bigger., etc.

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Did you download it onto your Kindle through the Medicare site?

[hckynut]

@Mz iMac

It is about time insurance companies cannot monopolize a city/county or state. Every person should have a choice of what company they choose any company in the business. Who made the rules of insurance companies cannot operate in all 50 states?

I was a victim of a company charged as being a monopoly and was broken up into 3 companies. Many thousands lost their jobs, and thousands like myself lost, over many years, 6 figures of $$$ because of the decision of one Judge Green.

Where is a Judge Green with the Monopoly of these Health Insurance Companies?

hckynut(john)

[Nuttmeg]

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@tansy wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

You can view Medicare and You on line at the Medicare site'in English and Spanish..  You can also download it to your a Kindle app, make the font bigger., etc.

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Did you download it onto your Kindle through the Medicare site?

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This is a link to Medicare 2017 in download format . You can d/l the guide in different languages.

https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-and-you/medicare-and-you.html

[terrier3]

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@hckynut wrote:

@Mz iMac

It is about time insurance companies cannot monopolize a city/county or state. Every person should have a choice of what company they choose any company in the business. Who made the rules of insurance companies cannot operate in all 50 states?

I was a victim of a company charged as being a monopoly and was broken up into 3 companies. Many thousands lost their jobs, and thousands like myself lost, over many years, 6 figures of $$$ because of the decision of one Judge Green.

Where is a Judge Green with the Monopoly of these Health Insurance Companies?

hckynut(john)

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Insurance companies DON'T monopolize areas, John. They are private businesses and are free to set up shop anywhere, as long as they abide by the laws and regulations in that county/state.

That is why there are often national companies (ex: Aetna, BCBS franchises) as well as local companies operating in each county.

Insurance companies flock to areas like NY State - in spite of NY having very strict rules governing these companies. My county has 6 choices for ACA/individual plans and many more (when you include nationals) for Medicare. We have expanded Medicaid, which has kept costs down, making NY a lucrative state to sell insurance.

The reason that insurance companies aren't all nationwide is because they have to set up provider networks in each county - find doctors, hospitals, etc. willing to accept the rate they are willing to pay for services. Setting up these networks is expensive and time consuming and constantly shifting (providers are private businesses and can cancel at any time with insurers).

The national companies often purchase provider lists from local companies, but this adds a surcharge and raises their costs.

This is what happens when profits are paramount.

IMO healthcare is too important to be goverened by money and stockholders.