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Roadblock to Medical Care? Medicare Advantage Plans

Posted by Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5, May 27, 2024

Here at Mayo Clinic Connect we often discuss Medicare Advantage Plans vs. Traditional Medicare. The New York Times published an article recently that takes up the prior authorization required by Medicare Advantage Plans and how some critics say that Medicare Advantage unnecessarily restricts coverage. I have no conflicts of interest. I never worked in the insurance industry in the U.S.

Personally, I have Traditional Medicare (Plans A, B, D and Supplement G)

When ‘Prior Authorization’ Becomes a Medical Roadblock (read the comments too and these are illuminating).

-- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/25/science/medicare-seniors-authorization.html

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mdk1960 | @mdk1960 | Sep 28, 2024
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@mdk1960 Your question is not at all intrusive. I mentioned my Medicare Part D prescription plan..." + (show)
Profile picture for Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5

@mdk1960 Your question is not at all intrusive. I mentioned my Medicare Part D prescription plan with WellCare. When I signed up 5 years ago I believe the plan was about $20/month. For the past two years I have not had any premium - so the cost actually went down. That's odd, isn't it? When do costs ever go down?

I've had two price increases in the time I've been on Traditional Medicare. !) Part B has gone up but that is Medicare-government controlled. It goes up each year by about $10/month. 2) I have had one price increase from Transamerica for my Part G Supplement. It went up $15/month.

Please let me know if I can help you with anything else related to Medicare. It's likely that whatever questions you might have, assuming I can respond with an answer or reference, will be helpful to someone else here at Mayo Clinic Connect.

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Thank you. I will be glad to ask so that it helps others too. I hope my posts help others too.

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loislane1950 | @loislane1950 | Mar 31 10:15am

My husband’s retirement plan switched from a standard Medicare supplement to a Medicare “Advantage” plan. After 20 years experience with it, we and our providers, called it a Medicare “Disadvantage” Plan. One of my doctors refuses to accept it. It’s like an HMO. It’s in the company’s best financial interest to put their bottom line over patient care. One social worker at a rehab facility said that even if she had a FREE Medicare Advantage plan, she would personally buy a regular supplement to ensure she received the care she needed. Beware.

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