i actually unwittingly got an advantage plan. united healthcare.
oak st is all about using every bennie in the pot. the waiting room reminds me of a timeshare show room.
now the system i’ve been using for decades as it gobbled up half the hospitals in the chgo metro area is starting their own advantage plan. there’s free money layin around in these plans.

the thing is- if they werent upcoding and scamming, it wd b a good thing. i had a prelim visit, and i need a new pcp. i like the idea of a doc who doesnt think i’m supposed to feel like shit cuz i’m 70. a lot of the stuff i just dont need. i can afford food, and i can get a ride to the doc.
but i do need to get more fit, healthier. it will b nice to have a doc that thinks that’s a thing at my age.

More expensive, much more complicated so they can rip us off with ease. Medicare is a nightmare because of private insurers. Kick them out of it.

She had great benefits......for the first few months. Then it was even worse than what Medicare could provide.

health plans. Even if we manage to win House, Senate, Prez, in 2024, we likely won't get anything enacted that doesn't include private plans. We might not like it, but the writing is on the wall until we get large majorities in Congress.

I know many people don't see Part C -- now called Medicare Advantage -- as an "improvement." But it is an improvement to people who can't afford $250 to $400 a month in premiums to stay in original Medicare, while giving up a $1000 to $2000 in annual dental care.

Maybe someday we will get a truly fair/affordable system, but we aren't close for forseeable future, IMO.

He’s had 2 heart valve replacements. We don’t get the “freebies”; but I can go to a specialist without a referral from my PCP, I don’t have to choose doctors on a certain network, and if Medicare approves what my doctor orders no insurance company can deny or delay that procedure and they have to pay if Medicare has approved it. Best insurance I’ve ever had.

a supplement one is easily over $250/month and it goes up every year with age and inflation.

I’m on original Medicare too, but I’m still working in my 70s. When I stop working, will likely be forced into MA. It’s the reality and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

Last year it was aroun $11/mo each. Don’t know why they reduced it. Occasionally we have to pay a small amount to fill prescriptions, other times they cost us nothing..

Even our democrats aren’t (in the majority) going to want to carve out a large chunk of valuation from the stock market. Medicare for all was a better plan all along, but it’s a tough sell in a country run by Wall Street. And ordinary people have their retirement funds or pension funds there too.

I’m not arguing against it; i just wonder if it will ever be possible.

on their income. That's essentially what the ACA is. You are guaranteed coverage IF you can afford premiums and subsidies will help those at lower income levels.

It really is disappointing that something could not have been worked out by now. In addition to those who profit from the healthcare "system," there are lots of voters who don't trust the government for anything.

At least a Public Option would let people try it out. If it's as good as we think, people would gravitate to it. But I don't see anyone discussing that anymore.

Take the name Medicare off these policies

Read where agents get approximately $700 for each person they sign up for Advantage programs. My concierge dr will not accept advantage and hear it is difficult to change once you leave Medicare. Advantage United Health would not pay anything for my mom's dental crown and root canal. ADVANTAGE IS FOR PROFIT!!! Send a msg to Whitehouse.org

Have switched from regular Medicare to the advantage programs, regular Medicare will be eliminated And all we will have is private insurance. At that point, the prices will go up, coverage will lessen and the extra Bennies will go away.

it is SO OBVIOUS

Then increase the Social Security payments to make it at least above the poverty level for everyone and provide the other things with Medicare.

but the entire point is to eventually turn it ALL over to private insurance

They should also do away with State control of Medicaid as the States in general simply aren't doing a good job with that

and they are well on their way