Medicare Advantage is an ENORMOUS scam for the private insurers that run it, but about half or more of all Medicare recipients have opted for Medicare Advantage because of deceptive advertising (saying for example that it covers glasses, dental work and other things without revealing that you need all kinds of prior approvals and referrals and get suprise hospital bills under Medicare Advantage). Original "regular" Medicare has been great for me--no need for referrals, just go see specialist, all hospitals accept it, etc. However, I'm going to guess that now the current government will soon destroy original Medicare and hand it over to the private insurers. To be sure, the private insurers and their lawyers wrote the original Medicare laws--that's why Medicare covers only 80% and you need a private insurer's supplement for the other 20%, and it's why you have to use a private insurer for "Medicare Part D" to cover your prescription medications. There is a time and a place for private companies but health care isn't one of them unless you are rich and/or your job gives you awesome private coverage. But that doesn't help the 100s of millions of U.S. citizens who can't get that. I'm sorry to hear that Medicare Advantage blocked people from Mayo. Private health insurance is designed to deny coverage. The reason I know this isn't just living on earth. It's also because in a previous life I was a business insurance attorney and I represented and advised private commercial insurance companies. It is appalling what they do that I am not allowed to even tell you.