Community Chat

[Cakers3]

I have not seen Martha in 2 weeks. Maybe they finally got the hint.

I only saw the name Karen once.

I have not seen JJ at all and Joe Namath only about twice.

I noticed William Devane in a few. I guess he has run out of gold to sell.🤪

As far as Supplemental/Advantage/Medicare alone - people just need to do their homework. 

There may be no obligation to buy from the agents in the TV ads but they will press for the plans which give them the better commission. They are not working for free.

[chlema]

The problem with Advantage plans is that now many hospitals and doctors are no longer accepting them.  Here in northern Delaware there are 2 hospitals and the largest one, the one I have used no longer accepts Humana for example.  

[Tinkrbl44]

Sometimes people stay with traditional Medicare so they can see the doctors they've had for many years.

What they probably don't consider is that doctors die ... and retire ... and move away.   There's no guarantee those docs will always be there.   

[Desert Lily]

Advantage plans have recently been in the news. They are charging Medicare more and they are covering less. Advantage plans have targeted more rural areas in not covering. The higher charges have been nationwide. An audit found that 8 of 10 Advantage plans had submitted inflated bills to Medicare. Those higher charges can deplete Medicare's finances more quickly.

6 CEO's of healthcare facilities in 6 different states stated that Advantage plans routinely deny & deny claims & that has caused some rural healthcare facilities to have to close.

Dr. Kenneth Williams, CEO of Alliance Healthcare, stated, "They don't want to reimburse for anything - deny, deny, deny. They are taking over Medicare and they are taking advantage of elderly patients." 

Medicare pays brokers a commission for the plans they sell. Supplement plans were an average of $300 the first year, and Advantage plans were $611-$672.

In addition, patients aren't always aware that their doctors might change which plans they accept, and with more Advantage plan denials more doctors may no longer accept Advantage.

This info may be found by googling "Advantage plans deny claims news".

I would check the plans' out-of-pocket $, items covered, physicians in the plan, copays, premiums, for whatever plan anyone is interested in.

I was eligible for Supplement F by a few days when I chose that plan and would never ever change. Supplement G sounded good too.

However, an Advantage plan has worked very well for my BFF in FL.

It depends on what you're looking for, your situation, & where you live.

[proudlyfromNJ]

We have an Advantage plan. I've had it for eleven years and here I am. Live NY but see Dr. in NJ. Tests are done in NY and NJ. We have had no problems at all with our plan.

[irbrenda]

Same here.   I'm in NYC.   Have had the AARP Medicare Advantage United Healthcare plan for years.   I had 2 hip replacements this year at Mt. Sinai.  Both operations totaled $175k.   I paid $245 for each plus a few co-pays for meds and a few weeks of PT.  So worth it for me.  

[Burnsite]

Happy Holidays to you and your husband, too, Deep!

BCBS was my coverage before I retired, and the learning curve was long--so I just didn't want to deal with entities I hadn't yet tested.   

[Rockycoast]

Our Medicare Advantage plan is awesome. No co-pays, kept our Doctors, no change there. $150 per quarter allowance for over the counter items from CVS online. Hearing, dental and eye care. So much better than when we were working and used my husband’s insurance. And his was considered very good at the time. Have been using our Advantage plan for a few years now. We do not plan on changing any time soon it is so good.

[ALRATIBA]

I have basic Medicare and a supplemental health insurance retirement benefit.  Basically - it picks up where Medicare stops.  Former employer pays part / I pay part.  

This year - we had the option to drop that and go on our own to one of the Advantage plans.  I kept the originanal supplemental plan ... it covers all I need to have covered.

[Desertdi]

Ya know what's JUST AS BAD ?????

The "life insurance" commercials !!!!!