Tag: medicare advantage

The Medicare advantage plans meant to curb Medicare spending is actually costing us more.

Posted on by bill
The Medicare Advantage plans meant to curb Medicare spending is actually costing us more. I have warned patients for years about Medicare Advantage plans which are private insurers taking your Medicare coverage and privatizing it. Promoted as wildly popular due to the heavy marketing and bait-and-switch tactics boiler rooms are using to switch patients to these plans before they even sign up for Medicare. Talking to their experts who are commissioned salespeople results in your signing up for an inferior plan that often gives participants a free gym membership for members. Traditional Medicare offers a low deductible and coverage in Read More »

Is your insurance agent selling you an inferior Medicare Advantage insurance plan in exchange for a fat commission check?

Posted on by bill
Is your insurance agent selling you an inferior Medicare Advantage insurance plan in exchange for a fat commission check? It has been my experience that in business, incentives alter the behavior of those in the system.   We see this in the healthcare space where finding caring and competent care is more difficult than ever.   Visit an ER today and see what corporatization has done to the experience.  The incentive is to do the least and charge the most. The experience is horrendous. We see the same with insurance agents who sell auto insurance and give people the pip switch option Read More »

Private insurers have exploited Medicare for millions while applying roadblocks to needed care.

Posted on by bill
Private insurers have exploited Medicare for millions while applying roadblocks to needed care. Over the years I have warned patients about private insurers and the push to have everyone use a Medicare Advantage (part C) plan.  These plans offer the same hassles and pitfalls that you had prior to joining Medicare, with delays, recertification requirements, smaller networks, and no out-of-network coverage but you get a free gym membership. While the deals sound enticing with the barrage of mail you receive, the truth is that Medicare parts A and B with a Medicare supplement are far superior coverage-wise than any Advantage Read More »

More reasons to be wary of Medicare Advantage Plans according to Medpage today.

Posted on by bill
More reasons to be wary of Medicare Advantage Plans according to Medpage Today. Our blog has reported on the problems that exist with Medicare Advantage Plans.  Many of these plans offer to give you an enhanced benefit in exchange for using a private insurance carrier.   Most people find out the benefits disappear when they try to use a specialist or have an out-of-state healthcare emergency. Medicare Advantage, otherwise known as Medicare + C claims to offer lower costs.  Often, after the low Medicare deductible has been reached, patients find out their provider choices are limited as well as their choice Read More »