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Medicare Advantage

Visiting Mayo Clinic | Last Active: Sep 10 1:43pm | Replies (30)

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@vic83

Yes, some States are strict about things...but how much did it all cost you? Advantage plans are cheap if you don't use them, but otherwise you pay premium plus copays. What is your max out of pocket? How long do you wait for approval for a procedure? With Advantage plans you need to check each year to see if your doctor is still in network. I have several doctors at Mayo who have told me flat out they don't like Advantage plans. And Mayo Oncology warns to check benefits, and even has brochure on what to do if your insurance company first says it will pay and then refuses to pay for your cancer treatment. That speaks volumes! And later if you want to change you need to find an insurance company that will accept you and at what price?

I have the best Medigap plan - granted the most expensive. I pay a premium of about $3600/year, and I never see a bill. I research the doctor I want to see and just make an appointment. For many years they made money off of me, but now it is my turn. In 2.5 years I have had two lung surgeries (VAT procedures), a cardiac stent, two additional angiograms, 4 PET scans, 12 CT scans, 6 series of pulmonary function tests, Radiation SBRT treatment, several biopsies, many blood tests, countless doctor's appointments including 7 different specialists and eye exams, and a couple of emergency room visits. I never saw a bill or needed any approval before scheduling something. In fact, I went from an abnormal chest x-ray to lung surgery in 7 weeks with Thanksgiving and Christmas in-between.
To make a profit the insurance company has to limit your benefits! They have higher costs than Medicare. That is a fact of life. Just read their financial statements. There is no way that they are so efficient that they can deliver the same care for less. I worked in Corporate America. I know that they are not any better than the government at doing things. It is all about having the right objectives and skill sets. Call Medicare and then call Delta airlines or Comcast. Who answers the phone right away? Medicare! Medicare should be adding benefits and insurance companies should be out of this market. Healthcare is a "captive" market and that means it is not suitable for competition like when one buys a car.
Providers have additional costs to process the different types of policies. US private health care system costs twice what it does in Europe without having better outcome. I had a job where I had to research these things.

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Replies to "Yes, some States are strict about things...but how much did it all cost you? Advantage plans..."

Justt saw this article ".....growing chorus of hospital executives have criticized Medicare Advantage plans for excessive prior authorizations and delayed payments. Since September 2023, Becker's has reported on at least 15 hospitals dropping some or all Medicare Advantage plans. "
https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/hospital-ceo-blames-medicare-advantage-for-layoffs.html

Vic83, Thank you for pointing out all of the details that people should be looking for in deciding whether or not to sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan. As I said before, plans vary. My plan is not-for-profit and was started by physicians in 1984. Rated very high by US News and World Report as well as NYS, it is unique and THE ONE selected by my former employer for the retirees. (Other choice is take the money and buy your own.) No copays for screenings, annual check-ups and either of the 2 meds I take. Copays are $10 otherwise. Silver Sneakers included. Costs are low (my share is $196 for the year). Max out of pocket is $3,350 and I have never paid a third of that. I had a septal myectomy at Mayo and 4 other short local hospital stays before and after. I believe that they use a good model, they pay providers within a month (I get verification), and there are thousands of providers. Seriously, I do not know why people at other places do not look at this model - I think for-profit insurance companies lobby against such non-profit licensing/certification.