@tsch BCBS is nit offering ny plan anymore in rochester mn. Mayo doesn't accept many advantage programs. My opion is based on no more advantage plan. I am wondering what other people who are loosing their advantage plan are doing. Not a biased answer because my plan is no more.

@tsch So very many complaints when out of network refusals pop up or coverage gets dropped. Now we have one in support of Advantage plans. Basically the very definition of bias.
The number of times patients complain by claiming Mayo Clinic doesn’t take Medicare, only to find out Mayo doesn’t take the patients advantage plan, has given me bias to no end. This main discussion is yet another example. BCBS tried renegotiating rates lower than original Medicare and Mayo, like so many others said “No”.
As a SHIP counselor, I do hope you inform people of the disadvantages of an advantage plan as well. It works for you, wonderful. But I travel so likely it won’t work for me, for example.

@tsch My not-for-profit advantage plan I have through my former employer was started by area physicians and is not affiliated with a commercial insurer. Excellent customer service, no questions asked at Mayo, very happy with it. Rated top #1 in NYS. Changes may be coming because of the state of our country's health care - will deal with that as it happens.

@tsch I don't think the answer is biased but a fact. Just because you have had an advantage plan for 17 years with no issue or problems doesn't mean others with advantage plans have had the network change. In my opinion if you choose a regular medigap policy when you first become eligible you will be less likely to have the network change as you can then see any provider that accepts medicare assignment.