Medicare Advantage Plans Need Careful Study

Rosebud is wrong about Advantage--being a member of a Medicare Advantage entitles you to all the rights and protections of Original Medicare. Please see the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published book "Medicare & You 2010" for truth about this matter (sp. pp 50-60 & 86-89). Members of Medicare Advantage plans are considered to be still enrolled in Medicare--it is just that CMS has contracted with private insurance companies to provide all the Medicare benefits to beneficiaries. And yes, the Medicare Appeals process applies to Advantage plans as well, as do all the rights and protections of Original Medicare.

Advantage plans receive about 14% more money, this was done to promote HMO usage by seniors. This money is being scaled back as the program succeeds.

And lastly, most of the money taken from Medicare this year WAS taken from the extra money given to Advantage plans (for the reason in the preceding paragraph) but Original Medicare was cut too, specifically hospice benefits were cut. Payments for drugs used for pain and symptom management for hospice patients are no longer covered. Respite care for caregivers was also cut. And a cruel cut this is, just when the beneficiaries and families most need support and to not have to worry about money issues, at an end time of life. These cuts have already taken place, so Medicare HAS been cut.

We just need to remember to vote carefully this fall.

Barry of Raleigh of NC 8:17AM September 17, 2010

These policies should be called Blue Cross Advantage or Aetna Advantage or name your insurance company Advantage - because this is NOT Medicare - it is private insurance. Have a problem with coverage, procedure, or whatever - there is no Medicare Appeal process. When an individual goes to a Dr - they show their private insurance card NOT their Medicare card.

Big time profits for insurance companies come from a 13 - 17% higher reimbursement to the insurance companies for each individual - and that is what is draining the Medicare Fund dry - these extra goodies are used to entice seniors into the plan by signing over their Medicare coverage to the insurance companies - while traditional Medicare patients bump along with the basics.

Far too few people know abou this inequity - it was and still is an attempt to privatize Medicare. There definitely will be changes - and it is in the Medicare Advantage programs - this is where the cuts will be - Medicare will NOT be cut - but Medicare Advantage plans will.

Rosebud of CA 4:29PM September 16, 2010