It's whole lot of bafflegab going on in these parts.There is so much innuendo and misinformation and why I keep posting in here.
It's whole lot of bafflegab going on in these parts.There is so much innuendo and misinformation and why I keep posting in here.
Yeah, you know, you must know me by now, misinformation drives me crazy and I don’t know why, but maybe just because I care about people.It's whole lot of bafflegab going on in these parts.
Medicare Advantage is great as long as you don't need healthcare. As soon as you need it, your health care will be managed and you may be denied care - doctors, procedures, tests.I am now collecting SS early but not Medicare eligible yet. Been doing a lot of reading on Medicare and plans. It appears to me that if you are a healthy person an advantage plan might be the way to go. However if you have health issues and forsee lots of tests, labs, doctors visits or hospital stays a Medigap would be the better choice.
What kind experience have BITOG members had?
falseMedicare Advantage is great as long as you don't need healthcare. As soon as you need it, your health care will be managed and you may be denied care - doctors, procedures, tests.
Stick with traditional Medicare with supplemental coverage for the out of pocket portion.
That response was below you. Just because I don't have a need for an Advantage plan doesn't mean I haven't looked into it. The sales tactics that resemble timeshare sales approaches should alert you to the fact there are unscrupulous operators in the field.So you just popped in here to give us some "wisdom". Amazing.
Here is the best source of all for those who like to learn and read, they might know more than an agent. I spent months, literally on this site and the site of the ins companies before I choose and even then, I had the option to go to traditional for up to a year if I didnt like it.This is really an insurance thread...isn't it? And like all insurance threads-there are far too many variables for anyone to advise the OP. Medicare Advantage Plans are very "state specific". For example-In my state whether you have traditional Medicare-or an Advantage Plan-you are going to end up with the same medical group/hospitals, so there is zero advantage to going traditional Medicare.
There is a ton of misinformation based on old standards on this thread. For example-for the vast majority of plans you do NOT NEED a Doctors referral for a specialist.
He needs a good agent.
Of course the info is there for anyone. My agent only does Advantage Plans-and has been doing so for over 20 years. Call me lazy-he gets paid from the Advantage Plans, and that doesn't affect my rate, and he can immediately answer my questions. So-I don't have to run down the answers-he is a great resource.Here is the best source of all for those who like to learn and read, they might know more than an agent. I spent months, literally on this site and the site of the ins companies before I choose and even then, I had the option to go to traditional for up to a year if I didnt like it.
If your handy you dont have to rely on anyone, all the information is there. Make sure you can afford the max out of pocket and health care networks and doctors you would go to, other than that, not much more to it.
Welcome to Medicare
The official U.S. government website for Medicare, a health insurance program for people age 65 or older and younger people with disabilities.medicare.gov
Your post is spot on though as far as the health network and referral BS
Also many Advantage C plans have better out of the country emergency coverage than traditional medigap and medicare by itself has no out of country coverage.
Never once I have been denied HC with Advantage.Medicare Advantage is great as long as you don't need healthcare. As soon as you need it, your health care will be managed and you may be denied care - doctors, procedures, tests.
Stick with traditional Medicare with supplemental coverage for the out of pocket portion.
I never said you didn't look into it, it's just that you wrote a very specific failure number. You have to admit you are criticizing something about which you simply have no direct knowledge. Not one person I know with an Advantage plan has a complete failure. I bet there are some states with lousy companies selling Advantage plans, just as there are people with gripes with medigap plans. And I have never said anything bad about medigap plans.That response was below you. Just because I don't have a need for an Advantage plan doesn't mean I haven't looked into it. The sales tactics that resemble timeshare sales approaches should alert you to the fact there are unscrupulous operators in the field.
I find your and Alarmguy's position unconscionable. Just because you both have good Advantage plans that work for you doesn't mean they are universal.
A simple internet search on "bad Medicare Advantage" will give you a good idea of the pros and cons, and some of the horror stories associated with problematic Advantage providers.
A simple internet search on "bad Medicare Advantage" will give you a good idea of the pros and cons, and some of the horror stories associated with problematic Advantage providers.
Yea-but how many people go online and post how happy they are? You know I had open heart surgery and it cost $300,000 and my advantage plan paid most of it?
Agree - My point was not either way - so much as look at the results - most are just comparisons - not horror stories.Yea-but how many people go online and post how happy they are? You know I had open heart surgery and it cost $300,000 and my advantage plan paid most of it?
Not many.....
Agree. I think that the max I would pay for an extended hospital stay is like $5,000.00 Not chump change to be sure....but a lot better than what it would cost without the Advantage plan.Agree - My point was not either way - so much as look at the results - most are just comparisons - not horror stories.
I think most grumpy people ignorantly think Advantage pays 100% and there will be zero out of pocket. Well duh!
I haven't but worked at a hospital where I dealt with denials every day. If you are healthy then these are good plans. The moment you need real HC then you are on your own. Mainly, inpatient stays, behavioral health counseling, radiology, some lab tests, skilled nursing services after inpatient stay, or surgery, are always denied.Never once I have been denied HC with Advantage.
Were you denied?
There have even been congressional hearings about it recently. It's not false.false
There is a congressional hearing about everything, people whine and hearings are held. Last thing I want is congress to get any more involved. This is congress main responsibility = http://usdebtclock.orgThere have even been congressional hearings about it recently. It's not false.
Read this:There is a congressional hearing about everything, people whine and hearings are held. Last thing I want is congress to get any more involved. This is congress main responsibility = http://usdebtclock.org
and?Read this:
Hospitals are dropping Medicare Advantage plans left and right
Hospitals nationwide are dropping Medicare Advantage plans due to excessive prior authorization denial rates and slow payments from insurers. Scripps and St. Chwww.beckershospitalreview.com
AS you know, I love the Advantage C plans but that is one place where you would lose because traditional Medicare is pretty much $0.00 for the hospital and with Medigap G or N plus D again, pretty much $0.00Agree. I think that the max I would pay for an extended hospital stay is like $5,000.00 Not chump change to be sure....but a lot better than what it would cost without the Advantage plan.