How Medicare Advantage Is Costing Everyone More

[skews13]

Millions of seniors on original Medicare may be unknowingly subsidizing the extra perks of private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, and it's coming directly out of their Social Security checks. A stunning new report from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) finds that MA plans are costing taxpayers 20% more than traditional Medicare for the same patient, triggering a "premium pass-through" that inflates costs for everyone.

MSN

 

[Harry Dresden]

m impressed skewy...you did a thread without mentioning trump or MAGA...

 

[pknopp]

I've longed said that these programs shouldn't be permitted to be called Medicare anything. They are not.

 

[gipper]

I've longed said that these programs shouldn't be permitted to be called Medicare anything. They are not.

Yet another effort by the neoliberal oligarchy to privatize everything for their benefit and to the detriment of the American people.

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

Medicare should be free.
All healthcare should be free.
But insurance companies have a strong lobby to get their greedy hands on taxpayer $$$.

But what am I to do?
Medicare cost $200 a month and it only covers 80% of the bill.
With an advantage plan, it covers the 20%,medicare doesn't, plus it gives me back $170 a month.

 

[gipper]

Healthcare in this country is a scam in more ways than one. Not only is it outrageously expensive, it’s often ineffective and deadly. One of the leading causes of death are doctor and hospital staff mistakes. So if you’re lucky enough to have a good doctor in a good hospital, you might receive quality care, but it’s a crapshoot.

 

[debbiedowner]

Medicare should be free.
All healthcare should be free.
But insurance companies have a strong lobby to get their greedy hands on taxpayer $$$.

But what am I to do?
Medicare cost $200 a month and it only covers 80% of the bill.
With an advantage plan, it covers the 20%,medicare doesn't, plus it gives me back $170 a month.

If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan Medicare isn't paying for your health care, the insurance company and your co pays are. There are a few rare exceptions where you plan reverts to Part B but those are few and far between.

Medicare Advantage is not a gap plan. If this is your first year on one it's understandable your statement or the insurance agent you purchased from did not do a very good job with an explanation.

 

[martybegan]

Medicare should be free.
All healthcare should be free.
But insurance companies have a strong lobby to get their greedy hands on taxpayer $$$.

But what am I to do?
Medicare cost $200 a month and it only covers 80% of the bill.
With an advantage plan, it covers the 20%,medicare doesn't, plus it gives me back $170 a month.

So we don't pay the doctors?

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan Medicare isn't paying for your health care, the insurance company and your co pays are. There are a few rare exceptions where you plan reverts to Part B but those are few and far between.

Medicare Advantage is not a gap plan.

They didn't tell me it was.
But it's almost one, Medicare covers only so much.
The advantage plan covers only so much.
Some instances I have to pay 100%

If this is your first year on one it's understandable your statement or the insurance agent you purchased from did not do a very good job with an explanation.

Oh' Shit.
What changes happen in my 2nd year?

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

So we don't pay the doctors?

I'm sure doctors don't want their pay cut.
Every slice the middlemen get, lowers their pay too.

 

[martybegan]

I'm sure doctors don't want their pay cut.
Every slice the middlemen get, lowers their pay too.

And you want to replace the current system with the biggest middleman on the planet, the US government.

Aided by NGO's no doubt, for their cut as well.

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

And you want to replace the current system with the biggest middleman on the planet, the US government.

YES.

The profit motive was gone.
With Trump, likely has changed, to budget cuts.

Aided by NGO's no doubt, for their cut as well.

Now we're back to corporate profits.

Insurance companies.

 

[martybegan]

YES.

The profit motive was gone.
With Trump, likely has changed, to budget cuts.

Now we're back to corporate profits.

Insurance companies.

Replaced by the graft and bloat motive.

Profit is what, 5% to 10%?

Let's figure out the NGO and fraud issues and find savings in that.

 

[debbiedowner]

They didn't tell me it was.
But it's almost one, Medicare covers only so much.
The advantage plan covers only so much.
Some instances I have to pay 100%

Oh' Shit.
What changes happen in my 2nd year?

If you have an HMO and paying 100% for some instances then you must be going out of network. If you were on a PPO you will still have some out of network coverage.

No, it's not almost a Medicare gap plan or supplement which ever you want to call it.

Medicare Advantage plan replaces Medicare with the exception of you're still paying for Medicare Part B and a few rare instances.

If that company you're with is giving $170 give back you are having less taken out of SS for Part B.

I have no idea what changes may have taken place on your particular plan. You should have received an ANOC (annual notice of change) in October and no later than November that told you about changes, but most people call their agents to see what may be changed for the upcoming year and to see if their drugs are still covered.

You can go to your company website and find a summary of benefits for your particular plan. Sounds like the $170 give back is Humana.

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

Replaced by the graft and bloat motive.

Yeah, by Trump.

Profit is what, 5% to 10%?

LOL.
It should be 0%

Let's figure out the NGO and fraud issues and find savings in that.

Sure, let's eliminate the NGO's...........Savings 100%.

 

[martybegan]

Yeah, by Trump.

LOL.
It should be 0%

Sure, let's eliminate the NGO's...........Savings 100%.

No, it's been around since FDR, and grown more and more by leftists Presidents.

No

Then how will your progressive friends continue their graft?

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

If you have an HMO and paying 100% for some instances then you must be going out of network. If you were on a PPO you will still have some out of network coverage.

No, it's not almost a Medicare gap plan or supplement which ever you want to call it.

Medicare Advantage plan replaces Medicare with the exception of you're still paying for Medicare Part B and a few rare instances.

I'll live with it, OR.................NOT.
It's still cheaper for me.

If that company you're with is giving $170 give back you are having less taken out of SS for Part B.

I think so.

I have no idea what changes may have taken place on your particular plan. You should have received an ANOC (annual notice of change) in October and no later than November that told you about changes, but most people call their agents to see what may be changed for the upcoming year and to see if their drugs are still covered.

OK.
I'm not on any now, that could change.

You can go to your company website and find a summary of benefits for your particular plan. Sounds like the $170 give back is Humana.

Correct.

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

No, it's been around since FDR, and grown more and more by leftists Presidents.

Those programs should be absorbed by the government.
There is a telephone book of NGO's doing, what the government should be.
All those have CEO's of supposedly "NON- profits" making multi-million $$$ salaries.

No

Then how will your progressive friends continue their graft?

See above, your "CONservative" friends are the ones grifting.

 

[martybegan]

Those programs should be absorbed by the government.
There is a telephone book of NGO's doing, what the government should be.
All those have CEO's of supposedly "NON- profits" making multi-million $$$ salaries.

See above, your "CONservative" friends are the ones grifting.

Great, even larger government, and at the federal level, so completely unresponsive to people and with power as far away from the people using it as possible.

Profit is measured and trackable, bureaucratic bloat is not, and is supported as a make work program by you government lefty idiots.

 

[Oddball]

Millions of seniors on original Medicare may be unknowingly subsidizing the extra perks of private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, and it's coming directly out of their Social Security checks. A stunning new report from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) finds that MA plans are costing taxpayers 20% more than traditional Medicare for the same patient, triggering a "premium pass-through" that inflates costs for everyone.

MSN

Wait a sec....

A gubmint program costing more than projected and failing to contain costs?

There's something we don't see every day!