Medicare spends huge sums financing the dental, vision and other benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans. A new government report sounds the alert about their potential misuse.
Thanks for the info. Some of us heard about Medicare dis-Advantage… And lots of them didn’t. I’m going to post the video that was within this report on Facebook.
I really appreciate this newsletter - thank you! I have a question based on this statement: "The essential problem is that the average person in traditional Medicare is sicker than someone in a Medicare Advantage plan—the research shows that when patients get sick, they leave Medicare Advantage for traditional Medicare if they can."
We just recently signed my husband up for traditional Medicare + supplement so I don't have any direct experience with MA (except to say that we did our research and decided MA wasn't for us). But I understood that once you 'go MA', it's very difficult to switch to traditional Medicare + supplement as the supplement company will then underwrite you and can charge very high premiums? Is this true...anyone with experience on this?
Thank you. It is hard to believe that Obamacare completely overlooked Medigap policies - it's criminal, frankly. Also interesting that there are 4 states who don't allow underwriting for Medigap. Will add to my To Do list to reach out to my PA Congressman and Senators.
It's a very well-done piece. The supplemental benefits are no more than a marketing scheme since it doesn't really cost the plan anything to provide a benefit no one uses.
Powerful. They must spend half of their dolllars on Joe Namath ads 🙄
Thanks for the info. Some of us heard about Medicare dis-Advantage… And lots of them didn’t. I’m going to post the video that was within this report on Facebook.
I really appreciate this newsletter - thank you! I have a question based on this statement: "The essential problem is that the average person in traditional Medicare is sicker than someone in a Medicare Advantage plan—the research shows that when patients get sick, they leave Medicare Advantage for traditional Medicare if they can."
We just recently signed my husband up for traditional Medicare + supplement so I don't have any direct experience with MA (except to say that we did our research and decided MA wasn't for us). But I understood that once you 'go MA', it's very difficult to switch to traditional Medicare + supplement as the supplement company will then underwrite you and can charge very high premiums? Is this true...anyone with experience on this?
Hi, yes, it is true. I covered this issue last year: https://prospect.org/health/2023-11-29-medicare-advantage-trap/
Thank you. It is hard to believe that Obamacare completely overlooked Medigap policies - it's criminal, frankly. Also interesting that there are 4 states who don't allow underwriting for Medigap. Will add to my To Do list to reach out to my PA Congressman and Senators.
It's a very well-done piece. The supplemental benefits are no more than a marketing scheme since it doesn't really cost the plan anything to provide a benefit no one uses.
...and they're moaning about not getting a big enough raise. SMH
Thanks for providing desperately needed data and information. Appreciated! 🙏🏼