Do Medicare Advantage Plans Deserve all the Hate? | The Answer Will Surprise You 

I could afford and have had plan n for 2 years now. This year I am switching to an advantage plan because of the part d coverage. After paying plan b premium and plan n and part d premiums my drug cost was 732.00 in January, 325 the next month, and on and on. There is no way this was sustainable and I could not find a part d plan with better coverage. This year I will pay 47.00 for the same medicine until I reach the donut hole and then it will be 120.00. Leave it to the US government to make such a mess out of healthcare.

Congratulations!!!! Yours is BY FAR the most balanced and honest information I have yet heard on RU-vid! I am 68, and I made my decisions based on my own research. This was because I came to the conclusion that most of the info was coming people with vested interests (i.e. insurance agents). You are a VERY REFRSHING exception to the rule!

Thank you. I have low cash flow and I cannot afford Supplement Plans. You point this out. It is REALITY.

I've been retired for 9 years now & I'm poor, under the 100% FPL. I haven't been sick with anything for 15 years now & that was a cold. So an Advantage plan was the only thing that made sense for me. As I understand it, I have dual care coverage, what Medicare doesn't pay, Medicaid picks up the rest. The extras I get from the Advantage plan have made a big difference in my life.

also worth considering is ----- do private practice Docs participate in these advantage plans? 1: Problem with the provider list My own experience (20years as a medical provider)is that often the list published by advantage plans a VERY out of date. My patients often complained that when they signed up for the Advantage plan they were shown a long list of providers. But, when it became time to use the providers many have left the Advantage plan as the insurers payment to the Docs was too low that the practice was losing money, leading to the provider leaving the plans. 2: Some medical groups do not participate (usually, Anesthesia, Emergency, Pathology and others) so if you need to have your appendix removed you WILL get a bill from these providers $$$$$$ 3; Traveling with an advantage plan?--- forget it , you may be in a situation that NONE are in network (hospital Docs etc..) $$$$$ 4; Danial of services; a very common issue, Need a cancer specialist at the University? Sorry, out of network, Try to appeal the decision ALMOST NEVER WORKS!!! 5: Quality of the providers; the cream rises to the top---The very best MDs may not want the super low reimbursement rate from the Advantage Plan. Conversely, New and inexperienced Docs will always accept these plans (They need the work, and get the experience on the unsuspecting patient) I would love to see an honest discussion on these 5 points

They all work well until you get sick MA is really a Terrible path that is hard to get out of

I've just recently stumbled upon your videos and by far, they are the most comprehensive, clear and balanced presentations that I have encountered. My spouse and I sincerely appreciate the work that you are doing. We will be in contact with your organization this week for an initial consultation.

That was a great presentation, thank you. My wife started Medicare this year and had both of her knees replaced (about 3 months apart) and we paid very. very little with her Advantage plan. We live in North Central Florida and had no problem with physican or facility participation. I don't understand how the system actually works because we never even came close to her out-of-pocket maximum that was quoted by her Advantage underwriting, despite the claims totaling in excess of 300K. If nothing significant changes I anticipate signing up for the same program when I"m eligible for Medicare in another year.

I think it all boils down to the plan itself. When I retired before Medicare age they pushed my wife out of my plan and into a MA PPO that matches my plan. It includes the same RX coverage. It has a 400 dollar deductible / 2,000 dollar total out of pocket max. Per person.

Very interesting the discussions about how some are very happy with their Advantage Plans and for others it has been a nightmare. Clearly it varies from company to company, plan to plan and state to state. Which is the biggest arguement in favor of Supplement Plans. It's like eating out while on a road trip. You see two places next to each other. One is a little local cafe, call it "Joe's ", the other a Denny's. You know Denny's is far from perfect, but whether you are in California or New Hampshire, Washington or Florida, you know what you are going to get. Joe's is a crap shoot. Supplement "G" (for example) is Supplement "G" no matter what state you are in or what company you are dealing with (of course you want a reliable company that isn't going belly up any time soon!) But the coverage is the same. If it's covered by Medicare, it's covered by your Supplement Plan. You pay your Part B deductible and you are done, as long as Medicare covers it. You can go to any doctor that takes Medicare. Any hospital. No worries about in network, out of network, deductibles, copays, whatever. You don't want to be thinking about all that when you are sick. Advantage is too much of a gamble.

I'm convinced that the commissions for Advantage plans, and/or the renewal money amounts and durations must be higher than supplement plans. There are agents in my local area who will lie by telling you that NO ONE is buying supplement plans in hopes that you'll 'follow the herd' and choose Advantage just cause they've brainwashed you into thinking that's what everyone else is buying these days. (the peer pressure sales pitch). When I told an agent I wanted a supplement plan, he started asking me if I had any chronic health conditions as if I needed to defend my choice. When I defended my choice, in part due to it having a nationwide network and how people who retire and travel the country in a RV may get sick and don't want to worry about whether the provider will code their treatment as an 'emergency', or they may want to hang out in Florida as a snowbird, visiting someone for 6 months at a time, he asked me, "but are YOU going to do that?" He then said "just worry about 2023" (my first year of enrollment) but that could be suicidal if I later needed to switch to a supplement plan and couldn't meet underwriting guidelines due to a health condition. (The government made that rule, not me). He went on a rant about how much more premiums would be for a supplement plan if they unconditionally covered pre-existing conditions. But yet, Obamacare and M.A. plans cover pre-existing conditions! The govt has CHOSEN not to extend the same coverage to supplement plans if you start out with M.A. So why can the govt pay for pre-existing conditions for Obamacare and M.A. plans but not supplemental plans after initial enrollment? No one can answer that question. It's blatant discrimination against supplement plans that aren't bought initially. I can switch to M.A. anytime and have pre-existing conditions covered. The agent CLEARLY had better commission terms with the insurance company if I chose a M.A. plan, and I have no idea how much commissions are or when he gets paid or for how long. It was just OBVIOUS that M.A. plans MUST pay better than supplement plans, or they pay SOONER, or LONGER, or some other factor I don't even know about that benefits the agent. There's no other logical reason for his obvious bias. In another instance, where an agent sent out flyers to come to his free 'informational meeting' where he buys everyone's meal, and based on Medicare rules is only suppose to talk about Medicare IN GENERAL, NOT specific plans, he pushed AARP's HMO ONLY and claimed that no one is even buying supplement plans anymore, which is not true. The stats are out there. It was obvious these agents only want to sell M.A. plans, so if there's any 'hate' out there for M.A. plans, it's not coming from the agents who sell them. It's obvious they don't care about the customer's needs. They care about the commissions they're getting. They act as if supplement plans are going to pay them diddly squat by comparison, at least in the long run, if not initially. He acted like supplement plans are barely worth writing up, and was not even sure sure how to do it at first. I had to wait a day while he went and found out. Agents can also steer you to certain companies for their own selfish monetary reasons. They must be getting some type of bonus commission that the poor customer doesn't even know about, and that agents are under no obligation to disclose. They only reason I used him to sign me up was because I didn't want to sign up directly with the company cause their own agents gave out conflicting information during multiple phone calls I made with questions about WHEN I could sign up. (i.e. "Do you have to have the Medicare number before I can sign up?") One agent said yes, another said no. I was going through a living hell just getting a Medicare number from the govt. And one of their agents deceived me over the phone in order to get my email and home address and then flood me with emails and ads in the mail. He initiated an application on my behalf without my permission, or even telling me he was going to. 5 minutes later, I get an email from AARP wanting me to "FINISH" the application! It's like he was wanting to tie his name to the commission before anyone else could, once I decided what I wanted to do. The agent who signed me up said it would take up to 10 business days to get approval, and the application itself said it would take up to 15 business days. It took less than 48 hours. Any agent who had signed people up for my plan before should have known how long it really takes, regardless of what the application says. This is another reason why it's obvious he only wanted to sell M.A. plans, cause that's all he's ever done and he's been licensed and practicing for several years and I'm sure does very well financially cause he can afford to buy 25 dinners at a high scale restaurant meeting, at $20+ each (or more) per dinner. Do the math. Another agent left a non-discript sticker on my front door, saying to call the number on the slip to claim an undeliverable package, which was a lie. It's illegal for agents to even come to your house uninvited, whether they knock on the door or not. He must have thought that calling him back was an invitation, at which time he could drop off his literature and save the cost of a stamp. I'm convinced the industry includes unethical crooked agents. People need to verify EVERYTHING they are told by ANYONE, using multiple sources. Answers will vary, and you have to decide who's right. And don't give out your information too soon. Watch out! You have been warned!

I am very impressed by a comprehensive facts. I have looked at at least 50 videos and this is by far the most thorough and unbiased. I even learned a few things. Thanks 😊

I don’t know why there’s so much bashing on advantage plans! A lot of retired senior citizens cannot afford the extra supplemental plan premiums! It’s hard enough plan B already take more money from your social security! Supplemental plans are good if you can afford the added extra high premiums every month! Otherwise medicare advantage plans works !

Thing is , you never know what kind of health problems you will have in the future.Do you want to take that kind of risk with MA plans? I turn 67 this May.I enrolled in Traditional Medicare with a supplement, "G",before my 65th B-day.At 66, it was found out ,unbeknownst to me, that I had 70% blockage in a major artery and just recently I i started having problems in my leg.Thank God for Medicare! I didn't have to fill out any forms or worry that i didn't have total coverage.My deductible for the year was about $220.That's all I had to pay.No surprises.I pay $115 for my supplement/Medigap policy.I also pay very little for all the medications I now have to take.. BTW, before I was 66, I was walking a lot, especially up and down hills and the only thing I took was vitamin D.Yes, you never know what life will throw at you.

This is the second video of yours that I have watched and they have both been very informative. I will be turning 65 this coming February so I am getting as much information as possible so I can make the proper choice for me. I think my next step will be to ask friends and relatives what plan they have and what they like / dislike about them.

ln traditional Medicare your doctor makes the decisions about your healthcare needs ln Disadvantage plan the insurance company makes the decision about your healthcare needs.

Advantage plans have cost taxpayers quite a bit more than original Medicare (something like 17 or 19 BILLION dollars up to a few years ago) and studies have shown that medical outcomes are essentially the same. With original Medicare, you have the patient, the provider and the government involved in payment. With Advantage plans, you have the same 3 (patient, provider and government) and then you are adding the insurance company and all the complicated (and expensive) hurdles and layers of bureaucracy. With everyone crying about running out of money for Medicare, I don’t understand why the government is pushing these. The only way this would make sense is if the government has an end goal of increased (or complete) privatization. Recently the center for Medicare services caught flack for funding studies that transferred Medicare recipients (without their permission) to private equity firms (called direct contracting entities). These entities were allowed profits of up to 40%. The governments solution to public pressure was to make some small changes and rename the program ACO REACH. I’ll leave it to posterity to confirm but Advantage plans may be the beginning of the end for Medicare.

I like my supplement N plan $76 a month and i see any doctor . can’t imagine having a $6700 yearly out of pocket, Can’t imagine having an insurance company and the government making all the decisions

Thank you for not being bias.. i feel better that i am in advantage plan and that you did not favor 1 than the other plans. With ever getting expensive, i can not afford the premiums on supplemental plans. Besides I see are in network. Good job on this very educational vlog. Thank you

As usual you are thorough and do an excellent presentation of making sense of a very complicated process. Thanks l look forward to your videos

Thank you so much of your videos. I am learning more and more about original medicare, supplement and advantage plan. There’s always a disadvantage and advantage of the three plans. It depends to us the situation of ourselves if we have more or less health problems. And most of all the cost of the insurance premium. Very helpful to me.

I have had a Advantage. Plan for years. And have never had a problem with it.. I don’t have to have. A referal, have never had any problems

I really enjoyed your video you have so much knowledge and you presented in a good manners and understanding . Thank you so much

My friend ranted and raved about her Advantage Plan. The only issue she had was she couldn't get dental care because she needed an oral surgeon. No good. NO one takes the plan. Fast forward to Labor Day weekend and off she goes on vacation a few states away. Reaches her destination and... can't move out of the vehicle. Had a stroke. So now she is hundreds of miles away, way out of network, and was told earlier they will not let her return until she is done with the 21 day rehab. It will be VERY interesting to see what bills come in from this horror. She has no money. She had carotid blockage surgery scheduled this month, but that went away along with the vacation from Hades. Ugh!

Isn't there a fifth situation in which one can switch from Medicare Advantage to Supplement Plan: Suppose one has Medicare Advantage and moves their primary residence to a location that is outside of the service area of their Medicare Advantage plan. Can't one then switch to a supplement plan in that case without underwriting?

I have an advantage plan. I am lucky to also have Medicaid and have the United Health Duel advantage plan. A few years I had prostate cancer, my insurance refused to treat me saying I would die before cancer killed me. I appealed because my health was good and prostate cancer was my only problem. With appeal they cover me. Am now prostate cancer free.

I have a friend that had a bad bad experience with his medicare Advantage Plan. He was 70 or 71 and had a wreck on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He doesn't remember for sure what happened other than he was riding down a 2 lane asphalt road between 2 towns following his son-in-law who was on his own motorcycle. My friend must have hit a pile of gravel in the middle of the road where a smaller gravel road intersected the road he was on. His son-in-law noticed that he was not behind him and turned around and went back. He found "G" off the side of the road. he had slid and hit his head on a metal culvert (yes he was wearing a helmet). When "J" found him he was unconscious so he called 911 and 2 paramedics showed up. "G's" son-in-law told them that "G" (who was unconscious) had a pacemaker and they called an air ambulance that flew him to a trauma hospital about 42 miles away. He came to later that day and the hospital kept him over night and released him the next day. His hospital bill was over $120,000.00 and his air ambulance bill was over $80,000.00. Total was over $200,000.00. I saw him a few weeks later and he said "Medicare" denied all his claims because he went to a hospital that was not in network. He said "Medicare" said he had medical coverage on his motorcycle so they were responsible (the motorcycle insurance company). I was new to Medicare and I called my agent and he said "NO WAY"! "G" appealed their decision twice and they denied it twice. Here in Texas the most medical coverage you can have on yourself on a car, truck, or motorcycle is $5,000.00, I had just $2,500.00 on my Harley. "G" kept complaining about this and finally I asked to see his "Medicare coverage card". He showed me a Medicare Advantage Plan Card. He made an agreement to pay $600 a month on this $200,000.00+ debt but told me he was unable to pay his utility bills because he only received Railroad Retirement Benefits and his wife received Social Security as their only income. "G" ended up filing bankruptcy to get out from under that $200,000.00 + debt. I checked my insurance and I only had $2,500.00 medical coverage on me on my motorcycle policy. I had $100,000.00 on any one I were to hurt in an accident but only $2,500.00 on me. My wife and I have Original Medicare Parts A&B, a Supplement Plan G and a part D drug plan. So I called my motorcycle insurance agent and he said $5,000.00 was the most coverage I could get for myself on all my vehicles. I called my Medicare Part G agent and he said that with the coverage I had (A,B,D, & G) Medicare would pay and any medical coverage I had or another vehicle driver had would reimburse Medicare. He then said your friend must a Medicare Advantage Plan, which it turns out he did. That's why I will never change to an Advantage Plan. My agent recently was quoted as saying if he writes a new to medicare person in New Jersey or California (as an example) he would get $750.00 commission and if he wrote the same person in those 2 states a Supplement Plan G or N he would only receive about $300.00 commission. That's why so much Advantage plan advertising is on TV, radio, Internet, etc.

Advantage Plan PPO - you can see any doctors you want without any prior approvals ❤

Thank you. You are a great presenter of such a confusing healthcare system.

I live in Ca. I started out with supplement F. As I aged into the policy the premiums started to be cost prohibitive. I switched to a G supplemental plan. In Ca., I'm glad they have the "Birthday Rule." regarding supplement plans. Sign-up for medicare can be confusing. Thank you for your informative videos.

I am on an advantage plan here in Florida. I recently checked to see what a supplement would cost in my area after watching the scary Advantage plan videos here on RU-vid. It looks to be about $300 a month for the plans. That is $3600 a year out of pocket just for the premiums that they never mention. I am an RN and would still rely on my doctor for medical recommendations. Maybe If I get sick and have to be hospitalized I'll see the disadvantage but so far I love my Advantage plan, no premiums, covers my meds, hearing aid help, over-the-counter meds, etc.

No bashing…. Well said, thank you! Very helpful ❤️

Refreshingly honest and useful presentation. Thank you!

thank you for explaining so clearly!

Another great video, thanks for taking the time to speak with clarity to this amazingly complicated subject!

Thanks for being truthful. Thete's so much fear porn put out by most of the other youtube Medicare Supplement hawkers.

Wow! Finely some real information! Thank you for your honest assessment. Next time I am in the market I will call your office.

Outragepus to me this is so complicated. Pay into your whole life but still have a 165.00 monthly preminuim but need a 200.00 monthly supplement plan and a drug plan that has deductible or Advantage with limited medical choices and network that you have annual out of pocket maxs up to 5,000 and not allowed a supplement plan l mean wtf cant l just keep the ACA l hate this.

Absolutely love your videos. You have no idea how much they are appreciated. Thank you!

Based on my MIL's experience here in Denver I would say that as you increase in age, you need to reevaluate your plan. She was healthy (controlled type II diabetes, HBP) until approximately 7 years before things headed south at 85 yrs of age and she needed more care. When she fell and hospital needed a rehab/LTC discharge, the supplement company had the worst choices (I'm an RN, worked in LTC...they were bad). BIL, an actual insurance company lawyer of all things, spent 45 minutes debating on the phone with the supplement person regarding the goverment's and Google ratings of the choices. (People, please look up the infractions/violoations/ratings when comparing LTCs). Without his knowledge of medicine, insurance, and skills in court, my MIL would have ended up in an absolute nasty place.

I appreciate your info. It was helpful but its really expensive either

Thank you again, Erik! I am getting so much more out of your videos than any other channel.

Excellent video... Totally worth watching.

Erik, I had a company health plan where I had my primary care doctor and when I needed something that he did not do, xrays or whatever, he would search for the applicable in network provider and then refer me to them. I did not have to do anything as far as calling the insurance company to locate an in network specialist and get approval. Everything revolved around the primary care doctor - had to see him first before seeing anybody else. Is it that way when on an Advantage plan? Or does the patient have to contact the insurance company to get approval and arrange visits to various specialists, etc? Thanks.

Could you do a video on the strategy of initially (At 65) choosing a low cost supplement plan and at some point say in 10 years when the premiums rise switch to a 0 premium advantage plan...

I really like your content, I work with advantage plans but fully understnad they are not a one size fits all. All of the negative things I get told by client who have talked to other agents who don't sell advantage make me laugh.

Great presentation.

Thank you!

I've been trying to decide for the last 2 months what I should do regarding my current advantage plan. I called several health insurance providers, who were absolutely clueless. Today I compared the different plans, and honestly while the maximum amount of pocket might be a little bit high, the advantage plan honestly seems to be a better fit for me. The other thing that I've had issues with is that I'm only 59 and on SSDI with Medicare, and the health insurance providers don't seem to offer supplement plans if your ages less than 65. I still don't know what to do and I've got 7 days to figure it out. It's far too complicated. Unfortunately if you try to search the internet for help, every single link is somebody trying to sell you something. Thanks for your video.

The more I research this I look at Medicare Advantage plans as very similar to the employer provided insurance I had when I was working. Working with a PPO network, pre-approvals and co-pays weren't a hardship. The Medicare Advantage plans have the benefit of added dental coverage and possibly hearing and vision. The big issue is how healthy are you and how many good years versus bad years you will have. If you are healthy, don't use the healthcare system very much you may be ahead overall on an advantage plan. If you are unhealthy and use the healthcare system frequently you may be ahead with a supplement plan.

I'm on a advantage plan and it's been working for me now for many years I'm 66years old, but I've been in good health health

Excellent video, thanks

We have the Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue) Medicare Advantage Plan PPO and happy with it. Please share your opinions. Thanks

I'm noticing that there is more and more competition between Medicare Advantage Plans. I think this works to our advantage because the plans will be more likely to be on the up and up and approve treatment in a timely manner. I've never had problems with Advantage Plans myself, but understand some people have.

I've been overseas for decades and am now 66 years old...I'm retired military for 23+ years after 25 years of active duty (retired as a Sergeant Major, E-9 and have a monthly pension)...I received an email from the military coverage we have before turning 65 (Tricare) that I would have to switch to Medicare...Since I'm still overseas I haven't made any move to apply...I'll be going back to the USA next year for a visit (30days max) but will remain overseas. As I understand it, no US plan will cover me while overseas so I have to have International insurance coverage from somewhere that I pay for or take the risk of paying everything out of pocket...What's your recommended path in regards to Medicare and either supplemental or advantage coverage since in reality I'll likely never use any of it as an expat? I also will be applying for Social Security while back in the USA (I reach FRA in January 2023 - 66 years 4 months)...Thanks in advance... Great video BTW...👍😎👍

I have been a Kaiser North (California) patient for over 30 years. I like them and will probably stay with them. While working I had to pay about $400 a month for my wife's healthcare. Now that I am retired, with Covered California (ACA) we pay almost $500 a month for the two of us. We have always had copays. Kaiser Advantage will cost $0 a month which sounds like a good deal. It will cost a maximum of $12K a year out of pocket for the two of us.

Thank you

I talk to doctors all day long as part of my job... they love Medicare Advantage plans the same way that cats love dogs. I talked to more and more doctors everyday that are just dropping them. Refusing to see people that have their plans. That being said if you're 65 don't have a lot of money and are healthy it could be a great option for you. I haven't gone to the doctor in 15 years I don't plan on going in the next 15. If I get cancer I would choose to walk off a cliff rather than go through chemo. Everybody gets to make their own choices in this life

My mother in Florida has Optimum and she told me for 2023 they will pick up a&b premium cost they cover (140) this year plus its a no charge premium and has decent drug coverage at tier 1&2. With out of pocket of 1900.00 So sometimes people can't afford A+B + N or G + D premiums year after year

Very few content providers like yourself who are knowledgeable and objective. I am turned off by others who espouse various absolutes; I think it's nothing more than a strategy to sensationalize and get clicks. RU-vid is full of BS artists who have no idea what they are talking about. Great job and content.

Excellent!

You mentioned that some treatment centers do not take regular Medicare and some do not take Medicare Advantage. I looked up MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo Clinic. MD Anderson takes regular Medicare and works with a limited number of Medicare Advantage plans. Cleveland Clinic take regular Medicare and works with quite a few Medicare Advantage plans, and Mayo Clinc takes regular Medicare(with restrictions) and does not take Medcare Advantage.

How long does a person traveling the USA in a RV have to declare a change of residence so that they can take on a new network in a new location and be covered? What if they move in the middle of the year, and their company doesn't operate in that area? Doesn't coverage available and prices vary a lot based on zip code? There issues are not being covered by agents in their 'information' videos and meetings.

Talk about the indemnity plans you can get to cover high cost deductibles tha you can get if admitted in the hospital or 1 day inpatient or physical therapy cost.

Great job!

I am not planning to retire at 65, but am self-employed and without insurance. I have been assuming all along that I can get on Medicare when I turn 65. Your website title of 90 days before retirement, makes me wonder? Can you please answer this one question? Thank you.

I'm in NY city on a PPO advantage plan with one of the big insurance companies. I have a few health issues yet things have worked out well for me with them. But every year they change the plan features and in network providers. They even change the name of the plan and advise me that if I don't do anything, I will be be moved to the new plan. So I have to go through comparing to see if it's still worth staying with them. I think I could benefit by seeing an independent agent if they are trustworthy. Any advice on how to find one in Manhattan?

Very good unbiased facts about Advantage plans. I had just watched a different video in which the presenter was very anti Advantage plans and pro supplement plans. It actually was quite upsetting to me as I thought I was set on the Advantage plan but then felt confused and worried. I will turn 65 in April so I had actually started my research a couple of months ago. I think I will contact you at your website for more information.

Which is best plan for snow birds and people who travel a lot in the US advantage or supplement?

After watching this video. If you want the insurance company to dictate your life chose advantage if not chose supplement plan. In my area out of pocket cost is $5,950 for the cheapest advantage plan.

Only purchase a PPO Advantage Plan with a company like UHC. You can see any doctor or specialist without pre-approval. You'll be hard pressed to find a doctor or hospital that does NOT accept UHC. If you started with a supplement you can try an Advantage Plan without risk. Change back to your supplement within 12 months with zero underwriting. I've had an advantage plan for 10 years and have saved many thousands of dollars in premiums. But it's always based on your risk tolerance. That's the basis of all insurance.

I'm in New York and I currently have a Medicare Advantage plan; I would like to switch back to original Medicare with a Medigap High G plan. How would I go about doing that, if it is even possible? Thank you!

my mom has secure horizons plan 1 from aarp..she pays 170 dollars a month out of SS and it COVERS 100% ofEVERYTHING shes ever had for over 20 years.. i dont think i can get this plan.. but i dont know whats best.. advantage is best for her

I only recommend advantage plans to those who cannot afford the monthly premium. The pre-authorizations alone are enough for me to steer a client clear of Part C. I worked in physical therapy prior to becoming an agent and had multiple patients who I was seeing because their advantage plan required they go through physical therapy before authorizing a knee or hip replacement. Worst case story was a client who’s health deteriorated in the time she was going through therapy to the point the doctor would no longer perform her knee replacement surgery. She now has to live with chronic knee pain because the delay of surgery. MOOP where I’m at is around 3,500.

Fantastic job. Question- Does the client pay for your services and do you handle New York State? Thanks.

My oncologist would miss me 😎, so I went with a Supplement Plan I’m paying nearly $800/mo for Part A, B, D ($597.60 due to IRMAA), $128.60 for a Plan G Supplement from AARP/United Healthcare, $9.50 for a WellCare Prescription plan and $49.60 for a vision/dental plan In 2024, the IRMAA should drop off, as my 2022 income was much less, and the prescription plan is going to $0.50 - I am concerned about an increase in the Plan G - I’ll find out in July

I'm having problems with the insurance advantage . I got covid have been unable to walk and have tried to get rehab and it's been denied it's not right . I never was told there was a difference and I'm in a very big problem the insurance won't pay for me to go for Rehab for few months

Excellent

Advantage plans should be offered everywhere.

My advantage plan is not covering my macular degeneration treatments, $400 per month. I’m switching to a supplement.

I have an advantage plan that is the only 5 star rated advantage plan in the state and uses the largest hospital system in my area. My primary physician was already in this system. The total out of pocket is $4,500. I am 69 years old. Should I consider going back to a supplement plan?

Good info! What about the 15% change rule for MA plans? I’ve moved people from MA to MS when there is a 15% change in benefits or drug costs.

Love my ppo advantage plan!!

How do you think about the Blue Medicare Advantage PPO plan? Is it OK plan for retired seniors?

What's the sayin, don't hate the player, hate the system(?). If you took all the salaries of the sales people and all the TV and mail ads and costs of phone calls, then the profits made off of selling an unnecessary product and put it into Medicare for all.

The advantage plan is a scam correct ?

One additional thing about Advantage plans is that there is no guarantee you will get the same benefits from year to year. I turn 65 in March and live in Florida so there are some great options with Advantage plans but I hesitate because who knows 5 years down the road if those plans will still be great. I'm leaning towards a HDG plan.

I have a question if you have Medicare and Medicaid which would be better at supplement or an advantage

there are no local agents that I know of in my area, my only choice is to do it myself and contact a agent I don't know via the internet, such as your agency. It is very frustrating and confusing mainly because you only have a small window to get into a supplement plan. I kind of like Advantage plans but am trying to switch my wife back to a supplement because if we don't in this small window she will no longer have a choice. It is my fault but she got on a advantage at 65 and that was all the agent offered and said nothing about anything else including the plan we got. She is within six months and I think I can get her on a supplement but if not we are forever stuck and will have no choice but to figure it out. The way I understand it she can get on an advantage anytime.

some drs u cant see be careful

I am early in my research but my understanding is that an Advantage Plan is buying into a large insurance provider. If that is true then my wife and I have had an Advantage Plan our entire lives. It has been horrible. Having said this I expect they are going to be all we can afford. We're not rich so I expect we will only get second rate care.

Yeah, this sounds good but why is it that when you call, they usually try to steer you toward Advantage plans? could it be because they get a higher commission? Just call ANY OF THEM and you will see!

16:32 When you say that insurance companies pay $15-20 more in first year commissions for dental, vision, etc plans if the customer is going with a M.A. plan, when those perks are always included with M.A. plans anyway, and don't require you to sell them separately? It should only be supplement plans where you have a chance to sell those extra plans for a commission, right?

I’m recently retired and didn’t really understand what choices were available. As a result I made a disastrous choice and ended up filing paperwork over and over trying to get the company to pay my doctors. Even though they were part of the network the company refused to pay the doctors.

Advantage plans must cover anything original Medicare would cover. I believe this is Federal law.

Do doctors get less money for doctor visits when you have an Advantage Plan than if you have a Medigap Plan ?

The LOW INCOME Elderly have NO Choice ! We CANNOT AFFORD TO Pay out of POCKET ____ , so WE ARE STUCK with DENIAL for REFERRALS , when ILL !

I still am waiting for someone who recommends supplement plans who will compare an Advantage plan that includes Part D vs. Supplement plans which require a separate part D. No one I have heard who recommends supplements will acknowledge that many Advantage plans include part D. Nor do they acknowledge that drug plans for seniors is just as costly as doctor visits and no supplement plans pay for drugs.

I cannot believe anyone would bash you for such an awesome video. So I took the $2,700 and divided it by 12 and got $225.00 a month. For me it is worth it for the peace of mind. I am in great health as of now too. But I have to agree with your point about talking to an agent. I have BCBS at my present job. It's a PPO plan.They pay 90% of my premium but the deductible out of pocket in network is $1,500 and $6,350 total. Not exactly sure how it all works. But I was thinking there has to be way better plans with medicare even if it costs me more. It's really tough growing older and realizing we are penalized for it. I mean everyone, if lucky enough will grow old. You talk about age based premiums. I know you said supplement plans tend to go up each year based on age. Do advantage plans do that too. Also you talk about switching plans. I thought if you sign up for a plan it is a yearly thing that you have to do, or can you just cancel and switch and not be penalized, not that I would do that but just wondering for others. I know when I am ready to try and make the decision I will be looking to you for advice, if that's ok. Great Job!

Medicare Advantage in not universal in it's benefits. It depends on the State where you live, and who your provider is. The best option for someone in California, may be different for someone in Indiana.