I’ve had a Medicare advantage plan for about ten years, and never had a problem even though I had a stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and pneumonia. I take nine Rx a month and this past month, February,I paid out 37.00. thanks for your input I’ve had the same doctors for many years.
Joy, that's great to know. I stayed on the original Medicare for a few years but finally switched to Medicare Advantage and am very pleased with it thus far. Seems much easier to me all the way around. I like my docs and the network.
I am an RN who worked for an HMO at one time that offered Medicare Advantage Plans. I was trained to deny claims as a prior approval/utilization review nurse. I only lasted 3 months there because I could not in good conscious continue to deny services to clients who in good faith signed up for the plan only to have something really bad happen and find they could have the procedure they needed or the stay in rehab that would help them recover. I remember one 80 year old Spanish speaking only, tracheostomy patient that need home health to come an teach the wife to do the trach suctioning. The HMO would only pay for 1 home health visit and NO disposable supplies. I was supposed to tell the family to reuse the sterile trach suction catheters by soaking them in 3 parts water and 1 part Clorox. That was the end for me, I could not lend my name to that kind of 3rd world care in this country where poor people suffer disproportionally in cases like this.
Happened to me, I have Medicare advanced plan they denied my tooth inplant after so many calls with no help to me end Paying over a $1000 to have y implant. Thank you for this information 👍
I have a Medicare advantage plan and I wouldn’t ever think of leaving unless there was some dramatic change. This coverage has gotten me through two bouts of cancer, and they have never caused me any grief or delays. Also, I had rotator cuff surgery recently, and I was shocked at how little I had to come out of my own pocket, really, really shocked!
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Medicare Advantage! It's wonderful to hear that you've received excellent coverage and support during your health challenges. Medicare Advantage plans can be a great option for many individuals, especially when it comes to providing comprehensive care and minimizing out-of-pocket expenses. It's important to find a plan that suits your specific healthcare needs, and we're glad you have found one that works well for you. Thank you for watching and for your valuable feedback! 🙌🏼
I get so confused with all these variety suggestions and warnings, I’m about to start Medicare and have been told to always go with advantage plan. This is stressful and so very confusing shouldn’t be.
@@debbieklose8776 I remember being in your shoes and I will agree at first it is incredibly confusing. However, the supplemental plan comes with a monthly premium that you must pay. With a Medicare advantage plan there’s no cost ….you just select if you want an HMO or PPO plan, and confirm that your providers are included in the network. Good luck
Unfortunately, many of us can’t afford anything else. We have had a Medicare Advantage plan for the last 10 years and it has delivered excellent care for us. It all depends on which plan you choose. Do some research and compare the different companies for their customer satisfaction ratings, and get input from friends who have these plans.
@@km4hr They won't cover emergencies 100%...you will be left with what ever the doctor charges that your plan C won't cover. Read the fine print and NEVER believe an insurance company.
I spent the last half of my career working in the billing office for a medical specialist group. I dealt with everything from private insurance, worker's compensation, medicare, medicaid, etc. By a large margin, the problems I encountered with payment denials came from Medicare Advantage plans. And most of those happened because people did not understand the rules of their plans. Thanks for the informative video.
Although, it would seem as though a lot of the issue is with provider groups not confirming Advantage plan coverage prior to treatment. It seems like pre-auths are needed - I’m not sure how most patients would even know how to communicate with insurance carrier or have the relevant information. Stuff only the provider could know.
I'm seeing the payment denials because of in proper billing to the insurance company (using the wrong code) I'm showing that on one of my claims in my portal.
Being a Utilization management RN for a Florida based hospital for over 15 years, I totally agree with you. So often patients experience medical emergencies while on vacation and are limited to choices for care while away from home and “out of network.” I advise my friends and family to always invest in supplements and keep Medicare, steering them away from advantage or replacement plans. I think it’s a crime when I have to argue with advantage plans to authorize physician directed care after the acute health emergency has been addressed. Most folks don’t realize that once a patient is determined to be stable, their care is limited to what their advantage plan will allow, even while they remain hospitalized. Often their choices decrease significantly when they are discharged. Those who require home health or rehabilitation services post-hospitalization can be severely restricted and are usually required to return home to their local area for coverage. You are providing a great service with your videos. Keep it up!
Again, you have to consider your situation and many older people don’t travel so this would not be a problem. There are many things to consider on a personal level, it’s not one size fits all.
@@TheCheryl57 I heard Advantage plans are more costly in the long run especially if you need a lot of medical care. Also, that those plans are more costly for the government, because those Advantage plans charge more for services because the middlemen/women and the in those companies need to make a profit.
My husband and I were paying over $700 a month for premiums alone with Medicare and a Supplement plan, so we changed to Medicare advantage plan Preferred Care with UHC and here in Miami it works fairly well. We never had any issues to go to specialists. Even though my husband takes a lot of medications, at the end of the year we end up saving money.
@@danielhurley2894 I have an Advantage plan. I’m raising a red flag but doubt that our representatives in Congress will. They receive massive donations from the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry who also spend massive amounts on lobbyists. My doctor and physical therapist recommended further treatment, but after the initial 90 days (which included only ~16 visits because my copay was $35), request for authorization was sent to a contractor for Aetna who did not respond to phone calls, voicemails, or emails-so no further treatment. I filed a grievance w Aetna; their response 2 months later was that I had treatment and they had no further request for authorization. Phone calls to Aetna- rep said there was no request w Aetna, didn’t know anything about the contractor but admitted they do use outside contractors. I had a previous experience with an insurer who also contracted with outside companies whose job it is to deny claims. My neurosurgeon received a payment of $150 months following my 6 hour surgery. There is no good health insurance company or plan in this country.
I am a Medicare Advantage Survivor. After many issues that convinced me of their intention to deny all claims they possibly could, I went back to Original Medicare with a G Supplement. You cannot qualify for this if you have certain medical conditions. Fortunately I did not wait to make the change.
Odd you say these things! MA plans have to cover EVERYTHING STANDARD MEDICARE does! BY LAW! So when those saying MA plans DENIED something , original Medicare would ALSO have denied it. I'm NIT in ANY kind of sales but you all must get educated so you can know when someone is lying to you. If you never learn ANYTHING else....just know the MA plans have to cover EVERYTHING that original Medicare does! BY LAW!
As a physician I wholeheartedly agree with the points you made in this video. The worst I deal with is prior auth for rehab or SNF that are denied after many days being in the hospital waiting for auth, and then the peer to peer is rejected- the patient is not safe to go home but we must discharge them home because their insurance stopped paying for them to be in the hospital days prior and our ER is full of patients boarding waiting for beds in the hospital. Then they are readmitted in a few days/weeks from complications post discharge because they did not go to rehab.
Medicare Advantage has to start at the exact same place as Traditional (Original) Medicare. Then, MA plans add extra benefits for example vision, hearing, no health deductible, gym membership, etc. The fact that a network is utilized mimics private under 65 health insurance. Medicare Advantage plans help the patient afford hospital stays so they don't get stuck with 20% of the total cost of staying in the hospital.
@@juliemills6716 Why are you telling me this? Not only am I a retired provider (and nearly all of my patients were on a Medicare Advantage plan), I have been on one myself for years now and am very satisfied.
This exact thing happened to my mother this past March! Every three days they reviewed her case, and about four times we had to appeal - soooo stressful living in limbo... At the 4th time, we lost the appeal. This is despite the recommendation of the doctor/therapists at her in-patient rehab ... However, Ive always been under the impression the Medicare + supplement route was for richer people who could pay a lot each month up front, and hence, the better coverage for the bigger on-going things down the road when they happen .... My mom was a life time social worker for the state until she retired -- an honorable job but not high paying (even with her Masters Degree, sigh).
Been on Medicare + AARP/United Plan F for 7 years. Never needed a referral or had a problem with authorizations. Have paid zero for medical co-pays and minimal co-pays for drugs. Compared to my Medicare Advantage friends who are restricted to certain doctors, need referrals and pay co-pays for every doctor visit and hospital stay. One friend and I were both having problems after cataract surgery. I made an appointment for a second opinion at UM medical school. She couldn’t get approval from her Advantage plan. Yes, the supplement isn’t cheap but I budget for it and have complete control.
I tend to agree with most of your points. However it is truly scary that many people on Medicare and paying for a supplement are completely unaware that their care is still being "managed" by providers who are in ACO/Shared Savings/Direct Contracting arrangements. So, the beneficiary is getting the worst of both worlds. They are paying for a supplement but unknowingly have providers "managing" their care behind the scenes to line their own pockets.
I don't know what you are talking about and I dont think you do either. When I get sick I can go to any big city hospital in any state I happen to be in without having to call and check to see if I am in a network...Any Hospital that takes medicare will also have to take your supplement period...You do not have to get permission for your care. You are not managed. Thats a lie.
All health care is managed for profit and business. People are so used. People are taught to be sick. And big money is made. This country rips people off more than any other country.
Evidently you have not have had to use it. When you have to use it you will be in for a big surprise and will be ungrateful for your plan. Hope that you own a bank because you are going to need a lot of money in the end. Sad part is you are stuck and cannot go back to the original Medicare.
@@JohnDavis-yz9nq The original Medicare was RUINED anyway by the Bush43 regime when it passed that "forced" PART-D. The current (not the real original) Medicare system is a Rockefeller big pharmakea scam.
Original Medicare is the only way to go unless you choose the Advantage and then you cannot go back to the original. Agree with you that Bush was a bad president as he tried to destroy social security. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he doesn’t have a clue what the average American faces in everyday life. Other presidents born poor have forgotten where they came from. Even at best the original Medicare is not a good deal but it is the only thing that we have. The doctors that we have nowadays are awful. They are owned and controlled by the pharmaceutical companies and do not care about your well-being. What is sad is that some third world countries take better medical care of their people than the United States does. This man in this video is only telling part of the truth. For me he is a wolf at your back door just like the rest of them. Watch doctor David Belk on his videos the truth about Medicare supplements. That will surely wake you up. Good luck and I hope that you didn’t sign up with Medicare Advantage.
Inflation and Recessions are part of the economic cycle, all you can do is make sure you're prepared and plan accordingly. I graduated into a recession (2009). My 1st job after college was aerial acrobat on cruise ships. Today I'm a VP at a global company, own 3 rental properties, invest in stocks and biz, built my own business, and have my net worth increase by $500k in the last 4 years.
You need a Financial Advisor my friend so you don't get ripped off in the market. They provide personalized advice to individuals based on their risk appetite, placing them among the best of the best. There are bad ones, but some with good track records can be very good.
I know I've wanted to start investing for a few months, but just haven't had the courage to start because the market has been down for most of this year. Please how can I reckon with such skills and what are his services like?
Congratulations on your impressive achievements! It's inspiring to hear how you were able to overcome the challenges of graduating during a recession and pivot your career to achieve such success. Your story highlights the importance of being prepared and adaptable in uncertain economic times. It's great to hear that you have diversified your investments and built a solid net worth. Your journey is a testament to the power of hard work, resilience, and strategic planning. Thank you for sharing your story with us!
I was paying $235 a month for my medicare supplement. I am relatively healthy, take no prescription drugs, pay out of pocket for dental and eye care. I just cancelled my supplement and signed on to a highly rated medicare advantage program. I think this was a good move for me.
I'm weighing that too. Though I guess it is kind of a gamble. If I continue as I am, it would be the best option. But if fall into depression or something and regain my previous weight and get cancer or something, it would start costing me a lot. I have to decide.
There are many Good Advantage Plans, and Good Supplement Plan G or Plan N. They are both good,depending on your situation! GET THE FACTS! You have 1yr from the time to change your Supplement Plan G to go back if you do not like the Advantage Plan without any medical questions.
I have plan N which is $96 monthly. I was very healthy, just a wellness check by-yearly. I slide in the bathroom and broke the tibia in 4 places, the fibula and ankle, along with damaged tendons. I did not owe anything.
Ouch, @@judymoore7469! Hope you're doing better. Though when I put myself in that situation, I calculate five years of $96/month is $5760. But with no medigap at all, I would have had to meet the deductibles and 20% on much of the remainder. So, if I remained otherwise healthy for five years, I wonder which would have been the better deal.
@@judymoore7469 My plan was F which was discontinued. I was grandfathered so they couldn’t drop me. But they kept raising the monthly premium. I went with a very highly rated plan. I have friends who have this plan and they are all very pleased with it. I just learned that I will have to pay a monthly penalty because I wasn’t previously enrolled in prescription coverage. It’s not a lot but it is for life.
Would love to see a video talking about 2 or 4 scenarios of different couples, different medical needs and different financial situations and a detailed decision process based on example benefits, costs, and availability; and maybe show a Decision matrix about when Advantage might be better vs straight medicare... Maybe in a liberal state like MN, where it seems the HMO's have a good reputation for good coverage... GREAT video by the way Thank you.
I’ve been on Medicare Advantage for eight years. Nobody “sold” me anything; I just researched my options online. There are no additional premiums for Medigap or drugs. The network includes every provider I’ve ever heard of except one. Co-pays are reasonable. It’s probably the best insurance I’ve ever had.
It was the same thing for my parents. Then my father actually got sick at the age of 83 and he has been severely impacted by having a Medicare advantage plan limiting the amount of care that he could receive - which could be life-changing. Everyone is healthy until they aren’t.
I agree! I had a HMO and they sent me to a Surgeon who was training to learn how to remove my top lung. He didn't get it right and 3 days later had to open me back up for lung surgery #2. He left an air leak. I returned to work 2 months later, could not breathe. Xrays were taken twice. I worked for a year like that.No one said a word to me. I changed Insurance immediately found out my lung was collapsed and glued to my chest wall. Cedar Sinai fixed me as good as possible. My current lung Dr. said you can't leave a lung collapsed for a year. Now I'm stuck with 33% lung function. Get the best Doctor available. Don't let them send you to a surgeon in training. No HMO for me....
@@alysewitt3729 I am so sorry to hear you went through such a horrible experience, and am glad you have a good supplement plan. I also have Original Medicare and a Plan N and you are absolutely right! The peace of mind is worth the cost.
@@TheCheryl57 I found out later that if I had gone to Cedar-Sinai to a true lung surgeon they would have made two tiny cuts instead of the 16 inch cut across my back that went into my breast. They would have got it right the first time. I would not have stayed one month in the hospital. You are right that anything can go wrong and it sure did. Leaving me with a collapsed lung knowing it was collapsed, is my biggest concern. I worked that way for an entire year.
Thank you so much for speaking out about this! I’m 75 yrs old & I’m so tired of Medicare trying to push this Advantage down my throat! It is a rip off & the care is terrible! Thank you so much for speaking up about the travesty of Medicare Advantage!
They have gotten excellent- someone who has trouble affording 200/300 a month for a supplement living on 1500 social security or less need to use the advantage plan and they are good! Do your own research with someone who has both options
With Med Supp you have 3 premiums; medicare part B, the cost of the supplement and the cost of your part D premium. The deterrent to joining a Med supp plan is the large monthly premium. United Healthcare and Aetna have the best Medicare Advantage plans hands down.
It all depends on how much peace of mind is worth to you. Basically, in many ways, it's a "pay me now (with controlled, known premium payments), or pay me later, (with unknown amounts looming). I know exactly how much my premiums are (yes, like everything else, they go up a little every year). I can budget for them. But if you have an advantage plan with big deductibles, copays and unknowns, you can take a big hit all at once.
My mother has AARP United Healthcare, Medicare advantage PPO, and so far its been great, I know someone else who has the same plan and he loves it too, I turn 65 this year so I plan on getting thd same plan three months ahead of my birthday.
@@Gwen-joyful-light good plan! My parents are both on med advantage and love it, same with my Medicare clients. Advantage isn't for everyone, and I have some clients on supplements because that is their preference and they can afford the premiums, but the vast majority are happily on advantage PPOs with huge networks & solid care. I have also seen older folks paying $700 plus total monthly for part B, med supplement, and drug plan because they're stuck in an obsolete med supplement and can't qualify for another one, and are scared to move because of videos like this.
In my area Humana’s is best. My deductible is thousands less than either of these two. However since being on MA now for my third year I would NOT suggest to anyone to take a med advantage plan. If you are in the hospital you will end up paying it out of pocket.
I've read that Medicare covers only 80% of medical costs, so if you have a very expensive hospitalization or medical condition, the 20% you pay can go into multiple thousands of dollars. I've always had either a Medicare PPO or Advantage plan in order to avoid these costs, and now I hear that this course of action isn't the best way to go. As a senior on a fixed income, I get Medicaid Extra Help from the state of Colorado, which pays my Medicare premium, and also helps pay other expenses. I've been happy with it so far. How can I be on just regular Medicare, without paying extra for the supplement programs you mentioned? With inflation climbing more every day, and with the new rent increase from my landlord, I can't pay a penny more for my health coverage. I live in a small town in Otero county, Colorado, 68 miles away from Pueblo, the nearest big city, where the medical specialists are located.
My sister just sent me your link and I'm so glad she did. I handled all of my mother's medical affairs, though I know nothing about the world of Medicare. I know that she would get very frustrated with Medicare Advantage and being required to keep going to her PCP over and over, which meant paying him over and over. You are correct - ultimately, it ended up costing her more to be on Medicare Advantage. Now that my sister and I are about to be at the age where we need to make informed decisions, your video has helped us tremendously. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
I am beginning to wonder about my BCBS advantage plan. When I got medicare I had no health issues and the sales person said this would be the best for me so I got it. On the second year of having the plan I got stage 1 breast cancer. They pretty much covered everything except they disagreed with my doctor on the number of radiation treatments. They said for my stage of breast cancer I only needed 4 instead of 5 or 6 treatments. So I got the 4. Turns out so far they paid all but 6000+ of my treatment. When I had to have another biopsy done they only covered $208. of the procedure. They are both still pending and I'm worried I am going to be stuck with the bill totalling over $10,000.
I am in agreement with you 100%. The problem also is that many people get fooled by MedAdvantage plans with the little perks that are thrown at them. For example, free travel to and from doctors, some minor eyeglass coverage or even dental. But they do not realize that if anything Catastrophic happens to them that it becomes a waiting game for approvals and in one instance in my family we lost a uncle due to this. It’s crazy how they put a dollar value on someone’s life. Thank You for spreading the truth!
@@MedicareonVideo fact check. It’s “free” for rich people, too. I’m a working physician and on Humana Gold I pay nothing a month. I had a $20 copay for my ophthalmologist referral but the cataract surgery is 100% covered. Oh, by the way, latest info-Medicare Advantage now has 47% of Medicare enrollees. Are these people all stupid, or they on to something?
I enroll people in Medicare advantage plans. 95% of the people I deal with survive just on their ssn, ssi, or ssdi benefits. If you can afford a Supplemental plan, I highly recommend it but you will have to purchase a standalone dental, vision, and/or hearing plan which could run another $100/mo. 75% of the people I help are C-SNP or D-SNP eligible.
It really depends on the client’s health situation. I only recommend Medicare supplements if the clients has a lot medical health issue. Not all MAPD require referral to see specialist.
When you are a senior, health issues pop up out of no where. It's better to have good coverage when you get sick. I went with Medicare and a good supplement that pays hospitalization 100%. Eventually, all of us seniors end up in the hospital.
I was in a unique situation because I got Medicare at age 64 due to disability. I chose a Medicare Advantage plan (Anthem). I had 2 surgeries, another procedure at the hospital that required general anesthesia and a lot of hospital based tests plus I am on several RX's. I paid nothing up front but by the end of the year, I had paid over $5000 in co-pays etc not counting RX copays. Plus it was a pain to followup on bills they disallowed. Thank goodness I found out I could change back to regular Medicare with a supplement at age 65 with no underwriter requirement or extra costs. This year has been a breeze compared to last year! I have had one surgery that required numerous trips to a wound care doctor specialist, an ER visit, starting PT and stopping PT several times, lots of expensive RX's, etc. I am going to have another major surgery next month too and know I will need one or 2 more next year. My uncovered medical costs out of pocket have been $150 for this year for a specialized medical device that Medicare will not cover. My RX cost have been a lot less too. The nice thing is I can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare!!! My first surgery this year was done in a Bon Secour hospital and the next surgery will be in a Riverside hospital. All covered!!!! I can research and find the best doctors in my area and not be restricted to one group. I also travel so no worried about being out of network. Last year while out of state, I ended up with a simple eye infection and it cost me over $250 for the doctor visit and RX that was not covered out of network. Yes, I pay extra but at $190.29 a month (supplement policy, a drug plan and a dental plan) I am still way ahead of last year. I need to say I got a high end drug plan because it equals less out of pocket for my drugs over the year. I also chose to do a dental plan with the dentist I have used for over 30 years at $29 a month. The Anthem plan only had dentist an hour away from me. I get my glasses at Costco or Sams so the cost is reasonable so no insurance needed. So $190.29 X 12 = $2283.48 for the year......a lot less than the over $5000 from last year. Even if I add the $150 that none of the insurances would cover I am less than the $5000! I am a retired math teacher so the numbers are my thing and I researched a lot of plans before I chose the right supplement plan for me. After months of searching I picked Mutual of Omaha for me. Then when I was almost confident in my research I stumbled on a EXCELLENT group that does it all for you and even helps you if problems come up. BOOMER BENEFITS. They were wonderful even months later when there was an issue with my drug plan. I was always informed during the process. I even did not have to run the figures to find the best drug plan, I just sent them a list of my regular RX's. Save yourself a lot of work and money and call them. No, I am not a rep or am I paid to say this. Just someone who put a lot of time and effort to get the best cost plan for myself only to find a free phone call could have saved me A LOT of time and work. And yes they do advise you on the Advantage plans if that is what you want. They take the time to find THE best plan for their clients and it is all FREE!
Great if you have the income to afford the supplement. But why have Medicare coverage for only those who have been able to save thousands of $ for premiums? System needs to work for all income levels.
Ihave had MA HMO plans my whole eligible time and have been very happy. I just switched to a MA PPO and it is excellent. Vision covered. Hearing covered. Dental covered. No referrals. I am surprised MA PPO’s weren’t mentioned. Frequently people who are selling the supplement plans take these negative positions on MA plans.
What you say may be true for some, but if you have a Kaiser HMO everything is different. I love Kaiser. I worked at Kaiser for years and I know it from the inside and out. When I hit 65 I opted for Kaiser‘s Medicare Senior Advantage. Nothing has changed for me except that I have more durable medical equipment options and things extended care and like that. My office visits cost $5 instead of $25. I did have to sign up for Plan B which I wouldn’t have had to if I just continued Kaiser, but I could see that it could become a big cost saver down the road when I get really old. But who knows what the future will bring? That’s the thing with any kind of insurance. It’s a crapshoot. And let’s face it, with medical care, the less you need it, the better. It’s much better to pay into it not use it then not have it when you do need it. And my Kaiser Senior Advantage is always there if I need it, something that as I get older is going to become more important. A lot of people like to bash Kaiser, but it’s the best HMO out there. I can tell you that if you need something, you will get it. For-profit insurance plans make money by doling expensive care. Kaiser is a not-for-profit and their goal is to keep you healthy so you don’t need the expensive care down the road. But if you do, it is there. My husband needed a heart transplant. He checked into Stanford Hospital and was billed the Kaiser hospital admission co-pay of $250. He walked out with no more charges. Zero. He had a heart transplant, something that cost anywhere from a $half million to over $1 million for $250. And despite the huge cost of the immunosuppressive drugs, he has only a $20 co-pay with no cap. Kaiser decided that there’s no point in paying for a heart transplant if they won’t pay for the drugs that you need to keep yourself alive. Most people can’t afford a couple thousand dollars a month for medicines. So we’re fans of Kaiser and I’m a fan of Senior Advantage. I kept my original benefits except that they’ve been expanded now.
Sorry, but that is the Insurance plan I was on. They never told me my lung was collapsed....They took x rays twice. Never said a word after 2 surgeries. Changed insurance Companys and my new Dr. Sent me for an x ray and sent me straight to the hospital. I had to have a 3rd surgery at Cedar Sanai to fix the other 2 botched surgeries.
@@alysewitt3729 Are we talking Senior Advantage or Kaiser here? I’ll just say that anyone can have a bad experience at any hospital with any health plan. It’s always the luck of the draw. Because Kaiser is a good deal. You get a lot of value for your money. They don’t ration or withhold care. Mistakes can happen and things can be missed. I’m glad you got your problem taken care of.
My dad was on that plan and had a lot of health issues. It was the worst plan for him. His out of pocket monthly drug cost was $500 a month. A ER visit was $75 per visit. He had 25 ER visits in one year. His doctors had no clue how to help him and instead wasted our time in the ER. He was in assisted living and per the CA law had to call an ambulance in certain situations. It drove me crazy. My take was if you are healthy you’ll be fine if not it is harder. I had no idea there was original medicare.
I've been trying to get my Korean wife enrolled through Medicare. However, since I am a retired service member in Korea and my wife is Korean they said I have to go through the US Embassy in the Philippines. I started in March 2021 and some of the delay was sending certified mail to Manila. I did that through a military postal service. It took a month to get to Manila, the Philippines and sat there for 3 months due to a lock down. Finally around October the Medicare section in Manila said all the correct paper work was done and was sent to the US for processing. My wife still hasn't received anything and now it has been 11 months and 2 weeks since we have started. I contacted Medicare in the US but they said I have to check with the US Embassy in the Philippines. However, the US Embassy says they have to wait for Medicare to finish in the US. Talk about lazy, worthless and incompetent people. As a retired US Army service member, I was proud to serve my country. My only regret is that we also serve and protect those who could care less about us.
I got a Medicare Advantage plan this year after comparing the cost of a hip replacement and knee replacement with original Medicare. My original Medicare - with deductibles, co-pays, etc would have ended up costing me approximately $6,000 - including medications & physical therapy. I had my hip replaced in April, and my total bill for allof it was $750 - did not have to pay medical or prescription deductible. I also pay $5 every three months for a total of six prescriptions - they used to cost me $75 monthly on Medicare. I don't really travel, so I'll stick with Advantage while I'm needing a lot of surgeries, anyway.
I take it you didn't get a supplemental plan which pays EVERYTHING Medicare doesn't. Plus a drug plan, very inexpensive, covers your meds. Medicare Advantage is criminal. The only reason it exists is to feed the insurance companies and big pharma AND to eventually privatize Medicare. When that happens, Seniors are screwed. We'll be under the thumb of big insurance again. Personally, I could not wait to turn 65 years old! It was such a relief to be rid of the vulture insurance companies bleeding me dry with exorbitant premiums every month. Be careful what you wish for and people should stop falling for the Medicare Advantage lies. You will regret it... eventually.
Thanks for educating the poor uninformed seniors. They should be called Medicare DISADVANTAGE. I am a MD who practiced medicine for 46 years. It is good for corporate America!!!😊
Yes thank you for understanding how advantage disadvantaged really plans from hell victimizing lonely seniors in ugly plots murder for hire .fraudulent life insurances .. killed ng eventually patients targeted I know it's happened to me.bi am now on regular medicare ..victim of a hate crime too and identity theft.
Advantage plan for us, have not paid a dime in premium since retirement in 2013, great coverage and little costs. This guy is nuts and says the same things over and over. You just need to have common sense and know what your limitations are under Advantage. This video is nonsense.
@@haroldcampbell8271 I have an Advantage plan (Intervalley - in So Cal); it is a great plan since my wife and I have little to no medical issues. Our out of pocket expenses have almost exclusively been Dr. office visit co-pays. However, what he is saying has great truth to it for many seniors; especially if one has medical issues, and or travels a lot. Our network is very small geographically, so if the wife and I travel or are visiting relatives elsewhere, only an emergency visit is covered. We really like our plan for us as it stands, and as we currently use it... I would not presume to apply our situation and plan as the end all, neither would I use our experience to decry the information put forth on this site. When and if we move, I will strongly take into account the good info I received on this site. YMMV.
@@haroldcampbell8271 He is NOT nuts, different strokes for different folks and NOT all MAPD plans are equal. You have to understand that it IS managed healthcare and some hospitals are not there for your BEST interest Harold, and if you can't comprehend that. Then for goodness sake your are obtuse. Healthcare is a BUSINESS and it isn't in the healing biz anymore, it is FOR profit and you are the product capiche!
I've had Medicare Advantage for 17 years now. The last two years I've had one that, so far, nothing out of pocket at all, ever, except for one expensive drug. Excellent doctors in my area, that I've been using for years even before I turned 65. First time in my life I've had real "universal" type medical care and I absolutely love it. Never a worry about a co-pay, no charges for surgery. My husband had a stent placement after a heart attack a few years ago. The cost to us was $0. We went to Georgia to visit our son and my husband got sick while there. He was treated at Emory University Hospital. Charge? $0. I feel like I'm living in Europe. The first 15 years we had MA, we did have small out of pocket expenses. I have always chosen physicians I knew compared with the benefits of each plan. I will chose a plan that has a co-pay if the doctors and hospitals I want to use are members. All the top physicians my this area accept the plan I have now. I'm happy as a bug in a rug.
The thing is Medicare Advantage has come a long way, they now have PPO MA plans, a lot of people these days cannot comfortably afford a Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage Plans are not that bad.
@@MedicareonVideo So do I but as Lakeia said, A LOT OF PEOPLE THESE DAYS CANNOT COMFORTABLY AFFORD A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT!!! There are a lot of people who want better but cannot have it!
The same issue was applied with Medicaid as well. When I called my local social services they informed me that , ". Federal government ' took ' the medical aspect of that from us." So I could no longer contact local social security but a toll free number.
I worked for 27;years in the medical field and have had three different Medicare Advantage programs since I retired. My current one which I have had for 2 years now has a max out of pocket of $1,000. For 2023. The previous ones had $1,500 abs $2,000. So far I have not had to pay anything for medical care, tests, dental, vision, etc. True, you have to stay in network for this but I have had excellent physicians in all of them. Maybe people that retire with a high monthly income can afford the costly payments for all Medicare options. For the majority of retirees, the affordable option is an Advantage plan. You have to compare and select the one that better fill your needs.
The thought of fighting to get approved for a procedure alone makes me glad we did not choose the advantage plan. It's so nice not to worry about it. I wanted to bring up Good RX, a prescription app. We pay for the cheapest part D drug plan. We hardly ever use it. We have our pharmacist compare prices with our Part D and with Good RX. Most often Good RX is cheaper, by a lot!
So glad I came across this video, I am in the process of signing up for Medicare and was so confused with all the info regarding advantage plans. This was very informative. Thank you very much for (in a nut shell explanation) going with regular medicare.
Two years ago I was looking at the Advantage plans ( fell for the commercials ), but when I called and mentioned that I am retired Marine, they informed me that they are prohibited from selling me a program and that I should go to Tricare for Life. Kind of felt like an idiot for not looking into that first. I thought dealing with them would be a hassle, but it has turned out to work quite well for me. I do still have some expenses for drugs, but not massive.
I’m so thrilled I found your channel. Your simple yet concise explanations have saved me a world of grief and I thank you. I thank you for your clarity and honesty. You have a new subscriber.
I'm a couple years away from Medicare, with a history that requires a minimum of three, sometimes up to five doctor visits per year (two of them specialists) and multiple ongoing prescriptions. This is very useful information for when I need to make that decision -- helps me plan my expenses once I'm off my employer's group plan. Seems like Medicare, Supplement, and Drug Plan will be the more cost effective and avoid "surprise" expenses.
I did heavy research into Medicare, MAP and supplements 6 months before I was eligible. When I went to a Medicare Agent, who's fees are paid for by Medicare, not you, they recommend what I had concluded on my own with 100 hours reading on the net. After I got A/B and a supplement I then decided not to retire and continue now working 3 years after I signed onto Medicare B and Supplement. Had I known I'd continue working I'd waited as I've had to make those premiums all these years and still have employers insurance. Oh well, I though I was going to retire in 2019. I think I'll cut back to part time so have my plan in place but still need to get Medicare D
Unitl I found Keith and his associates, I was so confused about Medicare. Must say a huge thanks to Julia Jones, a colleague of Keith's, who has patiently answered my endless questions and heped me with options for supplements, dental/vision/hearing plans, and Part D options. I am forever grateful to this team for bringing clarity to this extremely confusing venture into health insurance in retirement. A great weight is off my shoulders! Thank Julia and Keith!!!
I have plan F , I am happy to know I have great coverage .It may cost more per month but if you ever have any serious illness you will be glad you chose the best insurance you can afford. The best advice I was given is buy the best insurance you can afford ! People spend money on many wasteful things and complain about cost of good health care.
Thank you for sharing your perspective! Medicare can be complex and it's important to have a comprehensive understanding of all the available options. We strive to provide accurate information and appreciate your feedback. HMO and PPO plans are indeed part of the Medicare Advantage options, which offer additional coverage beyond Original Medicare. It's crucial for individuals to consider all factors when selecting the best plan for their healthcare needs. If you have any specific points or questions, we'd be happy to address them.
I just saw the end of the video. I also use my advantage plan a LOT. Again I know each circumstance can work with the plans differently. But so far no complaints from me.
My husband and I read similar advice to yours when we were researching Medicare options for him last year. We went with a Part G high deductible Medicare supplement plan, and picked a prescription drug coverage plan which had the lowest cost for premiums + prescriptions for the 1 prescription medication he takes, and which also would be accepted by our local CVS. I'll be doing similar research for myself this fall, as I will be on Medicare as of next January.
@@mutantplants1 Because they're the only pharmacy in my hometown. I know the office manager at my workplace complains about CVS, because her health insurance used to cover prescriptions via a different pharmacy chain, and she thinks the customer service at the local CVS is inferior.
@@DOSBoxMom Well, if that's your only choice.... I originally got my Rx's filled at CVS. They made me wait, often till the next day, they were rude, and sometimes gave me the wrong prescription. I heard Walgreen's was just as bad. In fact there is is sign on the wall of one of my doctor's offices which reads: "Walgreen's and CVS rarely carry dermatology related brand prescription medications. If you bring your prescription to Walgreen's or CVS and you have a problem, I will not be able to help you get your medication. These two pharmacies create much unnecessary work even if they dispensed your medication. Please fill your prescriptions at Publix, Target, Walmart , Pill Box, Budget Drugs, Locatel, etc."
You are soooo correct!!! I am so happy you are talking about this issue!!! My mother asked me if she should join a Medicare Advantage plan. Absolutely positively NO!!!!
Thank You for explaining about Medicare which I have been on for years. I get so much mail wanting me to leave the Original Medicare that I always refuse. You helped me to understand more now and I won't change.
Very good advise. I recently switched from a supplemental plan to a medicare advantage plan sponsored by my previous employer. The reasons I switched are simple, the company sponsored Advantage plan was cheaper, it is a PPO and not an HMO and the prescription drug part of the advantage plan is almost identical to the AARP supplemental drug plan I was on. So far I have been very pleased with my PPO Advantage plan. I can still see all my doctors without pre-approval and it pays without dispute, so far. Thank you!
I work with both MA and Supplements. While what you say is mostly accurate the sad fact is many seniors simply cannot afford the high premiums of Supplements AND and a PDP. Add in the monthly cost of dental, vision and hearing, which supps won’t cover, and it’s easy to be priced out completely. There’s nothing wrong with MA. I work with people every day who LOVE their MA plans and wouldn’t trade em for the world, lol. (It’s my job to try!) Many also have much lower Max Out Of Pockets than mentioned that can end up being as much as the yearly premium you pay with Supps whether you use it or not. 🤷♂️ If you travel, simply get a PPO. Easy. Everybody has different needs and means. Luckily there are multiple options to try and help people with their Heath Care.
I wrote to you earlier tonight when i worked the hmo yes i remember. I have to try to keep this short but it will be tough.. I worked most of my life with a disability since a child.. it go in and out of readmission, and then alot thru the years hit other parts of body ..back in the day they told my parents by prom time i be in a wheel chair... NOT.. i went thru the episodes pain and kept going, older it was getting worse rheumo neuro and pcp wanted me to stop work way before i was ready too and lets put it this way alot went on , lots of health issues , then from joints, neck , gait, falls, to find out from the spine lots of damage, now it was muscle and nerve endings..i tried hard in early 50s to fight back.. but not working..at 55 it was over.i knew deep down.. but had that hopeful miracle happen...Since you know all with medicare and all.. due when i could not work my doctors of years would not take me , i had no insurance, people back then... not today but back then, if you worked all your life as i did, i got accepted which is unsusual but so many medical records on all i had.. and testing..and specialists..attorney said probaly my state could be a year or two...for ssdi...which is the money i earned all my life working.. what is unfair... they go back 5 years average all your work...pay , the last year i had so many days out due specialisist said no you cannot go in. do had alot even a wound ankle., and mri cts and etc were bad...but all dropped me when i had no medical..i got a call 3 months after doctors my new ones i got one thru clinic and i am with her till today and she is also private..she got all on board to help..then from physically then to emotional i was more than down.. a private phychrist/counselor i despised to go to.. but of today i admire her as a mom, sister , friend and great doc that helped save me emotionally.. with all else going on...do you remember sir back in the day if you worked all your life or etc and went on disability... had to wait 2 years for medicare.. after accepted to medicare. but if i did not work, i could of got medical asap.....what a system.....made me feel like a failue..everything..so i got my ssdi..and 2 years later was medicare. out of my check 130.00 come out monthly for it... my medicine my pcp could get thru clinic. certain ones.....i had to pay.. that did it for my credit cards.. i had co pays that were horrific.. accept my pcp...Finally advocates for our state reached out to me.... and they will do all they can... never knew how theyy knew to contact me..they brought me they call them SHIP workers, to go all over my medical and they are profressionals with all policies and they cannot pick one out. but then ripin workers came with me to meet up due was first thing they wanted fixed due alot i was going to need...The woman did so many companies and policies and excellent.. If i said i would think this one due to...my rep would say.. to the ship worker....okay the ship lady big machine.. put my docs my meds my everything thru say. so you will know these test you need or meds are not covered with this so do you want it i say no.. then she said i can finish this your case.. i said why.. she said elderly affairs has to look at this..... asap... i looked at my rep said i did nothing... only what i was told...i said what do i do now medicare is not taking care of my needs.. and the plan i had with it... i was taking out of check 130 out of ssdi and 180 for my blue chip... . the lady said the woman from elderly affairs is in next room....when she walked in sir....she was older but standing tall , and looks at me and said will you tell me how did this ever happen she said HOW... i will continue. next reply so you can hear with medicare an my plan now of last three years.
Neither of them is wrong; simply different. It is about which one works for you. The biggest problem is that agents present with their own agenda instead of looking out for clients' best interests.
@@MedicareonVideo No. You would, instead, tell them that Advantage plans are worthless. And those that cannot afford to pay the monthly premium on a supplement plus the PDP should instead opt for original Medicare only, with no cap on the 20% coinsurance. You are a clown.
If you have access to good medical groups and live in a county like Los Angeles where the plans offer everything under the sun for $0 other than the part B premium cost, then you really can’t beat a Medicare advantage plan. However if I lived in a rural or small town, it would definitely suck to be locked into a specific network
I agree. I live in Monterey County in California, and the Medicare Advantage Plan is affordable with lot of perks. There are even several local gyms that you can join at no extra cost. It is supported by two of the best hospitals in the area.
You omitted two serious disadvantages of tradition Medicare + supplements: 1) You guessed that supplementary plans would cost maybe $100/month in premiums. My AARP supplementary plan at my age (76) has $265/month premiums. Some difference! 2) Medicare Advantage, unlike traditional Medicare, covers some degree of dental care. A friend of mine had some major dental surgery which was partly covered to the tune of $6,000 by Medicare Advantage. In my case, I need to replace crowns, and was quoted a cost of $2,300 by a dentist for just one of them. I wish you had discussed this matter more thoroughly and honestly.
I have AARP Medicare Advantage plan and I do not need a referral for a specialist and it has a huge network. It also paid the full cost of two crowns. Having an Advantage plan saved me about $2000 in premiums and dental costs that Medicare does not cover.
Thanks , my MD agrees with you, but I'm in a medicare advantage plan. I'm going to try to bail out of it. Those delays can cause LOTS of pain and suffering. Thank you
Hi Ed! It can be done now before the end of March. Only thing is in most states you need to be in pretty good health. Give us a call and we can walk through it. 877-885-3484
I completely understand that the big plus for Supplement Plans over Advantage is that you don't need pre-authorizations, that is whatever the doctor decides you need, you can get it. But may I offer the opposite side of the coin: Don't you want the insurance company to act as a "check and balance" to review the doctor's decision? After all, aren't you afraid that the doctor might order unnecessary procedures on you so they can make money? Don't doctors also have financial motives in their decisions?
I had regular medicare and a supplement plan to start with and I went with advantage plan with Blue Cross and I am very happy with the advantage plan and I totally disagree with your opinion! Everybody has the right to make their own decision with out you trying to sell them your plan.
What did he say that was wrong? He is absolutely correct about the network and you are tied in to a network. My mother needed to see specialists that weren't in her network and she couldn't. She suffered because of that. He does have a right to sell his plan as long as he is telling the truth. Just because you don't prefer something doesn't give you the right to deny the information from others.
This man speaks the truth. Been in the business 30+ years and he is 100% accurate. You may hve it good now on MA but when their numbers dont look good..they can and will change the rules WHENEVER they want!
So informative. Thank you for this video. If you’re already on a Medicare advantage plan can you switch back to regular Medicare? If so, what’s the process for doing that?
Hi M! We are in the OEP until 3/31 which is the time period you can leave a Medicare Advantage plan and enroll in a Medigap plan + Part D. Give us a call at 877-885-3484 and we can walk you through how that works!
Before you switch you need to check the advantage plans in your area. For example, in some areas there are chronic need plans, ie diabetes, COPD, cardiac. The have no premium, no copay for physicians, transportation, meals at home after hospital stay, $1000.00 for non medical needs. There are other options. A good local agent can help. BTW. All medicare advantage plans will pay by Medicare allowable rates. Out of network on an HMO will not cost you more, you will pay your contracted rate. I know it sounds like chasing a mouse but talk to friends, find an agent you can trust, review YOUR situation, THEN choose.
@@vessel1854 the problem is finding an agent to trust...they seem to be all about the money they can make. In my opinion, it should be illegal for agents to make money based on the plan they recommend. I think we should have already had universal single payer healthcare and joined the rest of the civilized world by now. I'm so stressed about healthcare, I wish it was an option to just move out of this horrible country.
@@Kim-dm4yb I understand your dilemma. It's worse than you think. True with advantage and med sups. Best bet is to call companies direct, like Humana and ask for a company employed agent. The TEND to be better trained And honest
I am really struggling to pay the continual cost increasing for the monthly premiums. I have a lot of health issues and not worring about having limited health care options. The fees are becoming overwelming.
I'm a new Medicare Agent, 56 years of age. I have been an HMO member for most of my adult life and have so far found the doctors and services available to work for myself and my family. Medicare Advantage is a HMO, PPO or PFFS. From my studies, It looks like Original Medicare does not have a annual out of pocket cap. Meaning that in the event of major medical expenses, it could cost the beneficiary a fortune to cover their share of the cost. Medicare Advantage does have annual out of pocket limits for beneficiaries. Am I wrong?
I answered my own question. If choosing Original Medicare, to avoid the possibility of enormous co pays, additional Medigap policies K and L would put in place an out of pocket cap.
0:57 The end of the the year (10/15 - 12/7) is the Annual Enrollment Period, not Open Enrollment. The Open Enrollment Period is 1/1 - 3/31. You have some good insights here and I like your tactics, but I can think of an unfathomable amount of scenarios where a Medicare Advantage plan would be the best choice for a person. A good example: The Maximum Out Of Pocket limit means that the Medicare advantage plan will pay 100% of all Medicare covered services when the limit is reached annually. If the Max Out Of Pocket is $3800.00 in my $0.00 premium, MAPD plan, and your Med Sup plan costs $300.00 per month with an additional $85.00 per month for the Prescription Drug Plan(PDP), if I switch to your Med Sup and PDP in January, I'm now inevitably paying $4620.00 this year in premiums alone. That's not to mention the additional premiums I will pay for the standalone plans needed for things like dental and vision. If I stay with the Medicare Advantage plan, the max amount I would spend for that year is $3600.00 for Medicare covered services, and I also get thousands of dollars in allowance to help me pay for dental, vision, hearing, transportation, healthy groceries, utility bills, assistive devices, etc... I'm not gonna sit here and dissect everything you said but as to the network of doctors in the HMO plans... There was no mention of PPO or HMO-POS plans that expand your network beyond the 100 mile local service area which typically consists of thousands of doctors. Moreover, even with an HMO plan, referrals are suggested but not required these days. Most every specialist you see will be a referral from a Primary Care or Urgent Care Provider anyway, no matter what coverage you have. A nice addition is that, with some companies in 2023, PPO plans allow you to see ALL providers that accept Medicare assignment, and if they refuse to accept your insurance, you take care of the copay out of pocket, submit a claim, and get reimbursed for that copay. Medicare Supplement plans are great. I would sell them like hotcakes if my boss pointed me in that direction and I'd probably be sounding a lot more like you. However, they do have their place and it really just depends on the customer's circumstances.
I won’t pick Medicare Advantage because of their surgery deductible of &5000 per surgery. Knowing I may face at least 2 more surgeries this is not practical for me. My supplement cost for a year is less than a half of one surgery deductible.
Hi Matt & family! Matt, you are amazing for what you are doing for the community! I have never come across someone that wants to help people as much as you do! Thank you to you and your family for all that you do! I fight with PTSD, ADHD, depression, and learning disabilities. I'm on SSDI and can't even have a part time job. I also had many other health issues. Last year I had cancer and now have side effects from the chemo. I would love to have an air fryer with french doors or a pull down with rotisserie to make chicken. There are many to choose from so, a cash drop would be an amazing gift. Thank you for reading my message!
I love this ❤ this video. I have worked as a medical biller, claims processor, done surgical authorizations, and now am a certified professional coder; you Sir, are on the money. I just went through this with my Mother. I was furious 😠 at the attempt to push an MADP on her; it was utter garbage. Keep educating on the reality of these plans.
I basically agree with you regarding Med Advantage plans - they are an example of the government outsourcing services to the private sector, which the private sector will only do if they can make a healthy profit. The customer/patient bears the cost for this when serious illness strikes. But Medicare Part D (drug) plans, which are required if you choose Original Medicare, can be very expensive. Mine went from $31 a month to $127 a month, forcing me to change plans. The Part D program, signed into law under the George Bush II administration, was designed by drug and insurance company lobbyists. If you take a lot of meds like many of us, it is an expensive rat’s nest of complexity which is totally unnecessary. If Medicare was allowed to directly negotiate drug prices (like the VA and almost every other country), seniors would be far better off.
I agree that IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, never take an advantage plan. about 40% of retirees only have that only have social security income can't afford Part B let alone the extra premium for a supplement plan. So you don't have the choice to get a supplement plan, you either get the Advantage plan or just go with part A. There are examples of folks that had major surgery like a knee replacement (I have receipts) that there out of pocket is way less than with a supplement plan. Only about 5% of people pay the full out of pocket yearly amount. Most don't even come close. The big problem with advantage plans is Pre Authorizations. Which unfortunately almost everyone has had to deal with that there entire life, because that is generally the kind of insurance you get at work.
I am licensed in WA&OR. Saying no one should get an Advantage plan is ignorant. In WA (community-based) The typical cost for a Plan G is $200-$230 a PDP will be another $30-50 depending on the prescriptions. You still have your Part B premium. On the optimistic side that is almost $400 just for the premiums. In OR (attained age) an 80-year-old will be paying over $300 for a Plan G. I have a lot of clients who can not afford this. A married couple pays for each of them. For many people, a supplement is NOT the right choice.
Thank you for sharing your perspective! It's interesting to hear from someone with firsthand experience in the insurance and healthcare field. While Medicare Advantage may not be the right choice for everyone, it's important for individuals to thoroughly research and understand all their options before making a decision. Each person's healthcare needs and preferences are unique, so what may work for one might not work for another. It's always a good idea to consult with a trusted healthcare professional or advisor for personalized guidance.
I have been selling Medicare plans for 45 years in Minnesota. Now that I am on Medicare I have choose to go with a Medicare supplement. You have much more flexibility and many less issues with a supplement vs an Advantage plan. The government mis-labled these plans to help sell them to the American public. They should be called "Medicare Alternative Plans". And they should be standardized to make them easier to compare. They pay agents 2X as much commission to sell an Advantage plan as a supplement. This in itself pushed agents to sell a lower quality product more often. It is a shame that these plans only help insurance companies increase profits and help the government save money.
Thank you for sharing your valuable insights and experience with Medicare plans. It's interesting to hear from someone with 45 years of experience in selling Medicare plans. It's true that Medicare supplements offer more flexibility and fewer issues compared to Advantage plans. The labeling of these plans as "Medicare Alternative Plans" might help in providing a clearer understanding to the public. Standardization of plans would certainly simplify the comparison process, making it easier for beneficiaries to choose the best plan for their needs. It's unfortunate that the commission structure has incentivized agents to sell Advantage plans, possibly compromising the quality of the product being recommended. We appreciate your perspective on how these plans benefit insurance companies and save the government money. Your comment highlights important factors that need to be considered when making a decision about Medicare plans. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and shedding light on the intricacies of the industry.
my insurance is from my employer im retired from (city gov.) is original medicare the HMO part because it sucks the advantage plan is better so im kinda not sure what plan to pick. i only have humana but which plan the HMO part sucks is that original medicare and advantage are the only choice time to choose open enrollment now.. AZ
My Advantage Plan has been very good. So far I have had no problems with coverage. Additionally, if one goes with the typical Medicare coverage with part D coverage, there is a risk of entering the doughnut hole with prescriptions if you happen to take a lot of meds. The Advantage coverage I have, there is no doughnut hole. So I hear a lot of mumble jumble on which is the best and things are confusing when I see videos such as this. Consequently, I will stick with the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
@@jeffgoble4761 No, it does not have a doughnut hole. My retirement plan and insurance carrier eliminated the doughnut hole as part of the retirement package. That was verified long ago.
@@jarmstrong2843 then it ain't an Advantage plan. Standard feature of every Part C (Advantage) plan whether it's individual or group is to have a donut hole, if it covers drugs.
If only I could afford the supplement. I can’t even afford rent, and unless I choose to develop a heroine addiction I can’t qualify for a section 8 housing voucher as my SSDI income is just a smudge over the limits. On the street, in a wheelchair, but in a vehicle and surviving, 8 years now. I’m forced to pay over $170/ month for 80% coverage but can’t pay the 20% or co-pays or deductibles, basically I can’t afford any out of pocket costs and really can’t afford the Medicare premium. What I get is not enough to live conventionally anywhere. So it all has to be used to live unconventionally. There’s none let for medical. I must gamble to never need a doctor or find one that is willing to waive the 20% if I do need one. It’s good that there are programs available but if you have no way to add another expense to your budget, then I still lose $170+/ month and can’t see a doctor unless they are willing to work at an 80% rate. This is my world as a disabled in a wheelchair on the street for 8 years. Neither party has done anything to help. But the whole SSDI and housing program need fixed so physically disabled have other options than living in a car. I paid my taxes and 1/2 my employee taxes for decades and became physically disabled, and I get less each year than I paid in taxes to the government each year. Some retirement, forced homelessness. If I was only an immigrant or refugee and paid no taxes I bet I could get housing and healthcare, possibly a job. Maybe one day after I’m gone people will fix this.
I am 65 in good health with no medical problems. When I turned 65 i signed up for a Medicare advantage program. Can I get off advantage and go back to Medicare with supplements?
Reply: Hi! If you're interested in switching from a Medicare Advantage program to Medicare with supplements, you do have the option to do so during certain enrollment periods. It's important to note that the eligibility and timing for making this change can vary, so it's best to consult with a Medicare expert or contact Medicare directly to get the most accurate information for your situation. They can provide guidance on when you can make the switch and any requirements that may apply. Remember, understanding your options is key to making informed decisions about your healthcare. Good luck with your Medicare journey!
Never had any Medicare Advantage Care plan. Never had Medicare. I simply retired outside the US and use local insurance. 100% of my increases in SS comes to me.
Here's a real life experience. I've had a Medicare Advantage plan for about 6 years. In all that time I have never had an issue in getting the medical services I needed. Recently I had a major health issue which put in the hospital for 6 days, including 3 in ICU. The total bill for my stay was $353,000! Yikes! What did I have to pay.....$200.00. I know people across the country have different experiences both good and bad. I'm not sure where all the Medicare Advantage negativity comes from. All my friends who have an advantage plan have had similar experiences to mine. If I I had a Medicare Supplement F plan my premiums at my age would be $451.00 monthly and would need to also pay separately for a prescription plan. My advantage plan including prescriptions cost me $104.00 monthly. As I said real life experience.
Thank you for sharing your real-life experience with your Medicare Advantage plan! It's great to hear that you have had positive experiences and that it has provided you with the medical services you needed, especially during a major health issue. It's important to highlight that everyone's experience with Medicare Advantage plans can vary, and it's wonderful that you and your friends have had similar positive experiences. One of the advantages of Medicare Advantage plans is that they often have lower premiums compared to Medicare Supplement plans, like the F plan you mentioned. Additionally, many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription coverage, which can be convenient for those who require it. It's important for individuals to weigh the pros and cons and choose the plan that best suits their specific needs and circumstances. Thank you for sharing your perspective and providing valuable insight. We appreciate your support and hope you continue to find our channel informative. If you have any more experiences or questions, feel free to reach out.
I am a 74-year-old woman who has been on Medicare and Medicaid due to low income. I recently sold my home and now have money in the bank which I will no longer be eligible for Medicaid. I want to go about getting a supplement insurance along with my medicare and am concerned about what the best one would be
I had cancer before Medicare and getting approval was a pain and stressful and a no brainer when I turned 65 to get plan g and original Medicare. A month after I was on original Medicare and my G plan I went to my opthamologist and he found I had tears in my retina. That same day we did laser on my eyes to seal the retina. If I had an advantage plan who knows how long that approval would have taken for my laser surgery. Regarding costs this is going to save me money in the long run. I am now cancer free from cancer and I do have to see my oncologist every 3 months. 233 is my out of pocket a year. Amazing !
I am on Medicare with a blue cross blue shield supplement and over the last 6 months I have had an Endoscopy, a Colonoscopy, a bunch of X-rays, blood work an MRI and an ultrasound and now I am scheduled to get more stents. I have not gotten one bill from any Doctor or Hospital. Medicare has covered it all. It has also paid for a medical emergency helicopter ride to a major hospital for a heart emergency and it has covered all my heart problem expenses. My own doctors have all told me they dont like advantage plans because they have a hard time getting paid. Advantage plans are championed by the Republican party that's why they suck. These insurance companies are trying to take over Medicare and replace it with what nonsense they offer....NO THANKS. The republican party is the enemy of all seniors on a fixed income to say they are not means you are an idiot.
My wife and I signed up for Medicare plus the G supplement plus Medicare D. At First it was fine, but after 3- 4 years it was costing us 700 dollars a MONTH. We kept it when we were traveling. It did pay claims, but we did have to pay some stuff. It just became too expensive to keep. So, we changed to the Advantage type after moving to a higher population area. Referrals are not a problem most of the time. Now our max out-of-pocket is 700 dollars a YEAR. My drug copays were 25 bucks for the YEAR, no deductible. True, we have to stay within the provider groups, but we have quite a few to pick from. Original Medicare is great, if you're rich or can go to wherever you have the money to afford to seek out expensive care. Not so much if you live in a backward state or a medical wasteland. Either way you go, you're screwed. Insurance companies, PBMs, hospitals, medical groups, drug companies, crooks who cheat Medicare at every turn are what we Americans are stuck with at this point. The ruling rich overlords will never change it. Congress and the courts have been bought, and YOU AND I have been stuck with the bill.
Absolutely. This comment spells it out the way it is. Doctors don't like to take original Medicare. In effect, you have a more limited network by staying on Medicare original, and you have to pay for both the supplement the medication premium. I strongly recommend the Medicare advantage plans with no monthly premium. They have enough providers of all types that you still have choice.
Have you been really sick yet? The kind of sick that cost over a $100K I have..Thats when you will hate that advantage plan...Did you buy that advantage plan because Donald Trump and the GOP supports them?
Check out Cigna, I really like it, Cigna advantage plan.. 3.000 a year dental, nothing is not covered, like a blank check! Broke my back in several places a year ago this October, no exaggeration, Ive had every diagnostic procedure there is plus any doctor, any hospital therapy, Chiropractor, braces medicine, never a copay yet, much more.. I'm sorry I didnt check this out years ago.. I've had Viva (can't be trusted), used my ss plan when I first started ss which is zero helpful! 😅
I don’t know which Advantage plan you have but I’m a physical therapist and every patient that has an advantage plan have consistently been cut short on coverage for services! Every Advantage plan cuts services!
Why I think you are a crummy agent: 1) Supplement plans in my state go for $220 per month, plus the drug card at $35 per month. That's over $3,000 per year paid in premium WITHOUT FAIL! 2) Most Advantage plans have a $0 premium with reasonable co-pays and no deductibles. 3) Although extremely unlikely, the maximum out of pocket could be as low at $4,500. This compares favorably to the fixed out of pocket cost for a supplement of $3,060. 4) Catch up with the times! Many Advantage plans are PPOs, which allow the enrollee to see any provider who takes Medicare. 5) You have to carry around only one card....only one party to call when there is an issue. With the supplement, you have to handle your Medicare card, the supplement card, and the drug card. Good luck getting to the right people. 6) Advantage plans offer extra stuff that isn't covered by Medicare nor its supplement. Dental, eye care, hearing aids, fitness memberships, Over the Counter items, flex cards to augment the Dental/Vision/Hearing, etc. 7) Even some HMOs, like Aetna, do not require a referral to an "in network" provider. BTW, I have been a Medicare agent for 10 years and have NEVER received a call from one of my clients complaining about a lack of a qualified specialist in the area. So, Mr. Expert, be careful the next time you say the word "NEVER". In the vast majority of situations, an Advantage plan is a much better deal to the consumer. About the only time a supplement is preferred is when the enrollee is on a Part B medication.....very rare.
Many high end hospitals in California will not take advantage plans C supplemental coverage plans anymore they only accept A@B with D prescription coverage and G supplemental. Never get supplemental C advantage plans you will be denied medical care at many hospitals.
Don't forget to download my free Medicare book ! medicareonvideo.com/freebook It would be VERY helpful to me if you could leave a 5 star Google review here: g.page/r/CWv2A0RReuvvEAI/review
I worked both for a HMO and medical biller in my working life. Yes, traditional Medicare AND a supplement are the way to go. HMOs ALWAYS had lots of customer service calls regarding problems- especially when a person was traveling and had a medical emergency and could not use a network provider. I remember one time the HMO denied paying ambulance service saying it was not "medically necessary". The person died IN the ambulance. That was nuts- the family got the bill after denial. They were livid.
I'm sure the logic was, "Well, they died enroute; they could have died just as easily at-scene and saved the ambulance call; so, obviously, the ambulance was not Medically Necessary!" Jerks!
You’re right on point. I’ve worked in healthcare business for 20yrs. When asked, I tell people to hold onto their traditional Medicare. Don’t buy into the selling points. When my parents became Medicare eligible, I advised them the same way. Stay with traditional.
@@kiaraosorio7276 part C is Advantage. Part D is drug. You can get drug coverage with your supplemental insurance. Or you can buy a stand alone Part D coverage.
The problem with brokers are they make their $$$ by selling insurance and insurance plans. One insurance plan pays them more $$$ than the other one, example, if they sell plan G they get paid more by the insurance company so, who do you trust 🤷♀️.
@@10speed4 Who do you trust? I trusted my doctor's Financial Office workers' opinions. They deal with Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage programs and supplemental coverages on a daily basis. I used their advice as a guide to help me find an insurance broker. That person told me the same as this speaker has related. Medicare is backed by the government. If your Dr decides you need a test, procedure, or surgery, you get it with original Medicare, no questions, no refusals. The amount Medicare does not cover is paid for by your supplemental insurance, no questioning. But, if you have Medicare Advantage, it is run by private insurance companies who: - can refuse coverage, even though your Dr has prescribed the test, procedure or surgery. - they (insurance companies that run Advantage plans) can go out of business, leaving you with no coverage. - The private insurance company that runs your Medicare Advantage plan can significantly increase your cost of coverage by increasing your premiums & deductibles, as much as they want, as many times as they want. Medicare does have increases in cost & deductibles, but not as much, or as often as Advantage Medicare's increases. - Original Medicare is the same coverage, no matter where you live in the US. If you have Medicare Advantage, the coverage can vary, depending on which state you are in. Private insurance companies do not have the same coverage in each state. So, if you move to another state, you may not get the same coverage that you had in the state you moved from. This experience shaped my decisions on choosing my Medicare coverage. Years ago, I was very ill (not on Medicare then, had private insurance policy). It was a long, serious illness. Long story short: though I had an insurance policy that was supposed to cover the care I needed- the insurance company continually refused tests, procedures, and surgery needed to save my life. They refused to pay for things that were supposed to be covered under my policy- that I continued to pay each month. They were trying to save money- at the risk of my life. Obviously, I survived. But- due to my previous experience with insurance companies, I was not about to go with Medicare Advantage when they could do the same thing to me again- deny coverage they had promised. This is my experience, my opinions & my conclusions from the info I was given. I suggest you research the differences in Medicare & Medicare Advantage carefully before you decide which to choose.
Thanks, I hope many stay with regular Medicare. That way those of us getting all the extras at no cost will continue to reap the rewards. If everyone went with the Advantage plans they would take away our great benefits. I also tell some folks to stay with Medicare. As for my wife and myself, we have had the Medicare Advantage plans for 17 years and they have saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars. We never see a medical bill and pay NOTHING for our plan. Our plan pays us back what is taken out of our Social Security checks plus gives us a grocery card for 50 dollars each for groceries. We also get 75 dollars each for OTC products. We have comprehensive dental and vision included at NO COST. And of course it includes prescriptions at no cost. Oh, yes, they have a nice minivan to take us to our appointments or pharmacy. We do our grocery shopping while at our Walmart pharmacy . But, PLEASE , folks stay with regular Medicare! You are paying for our extra benefits! Our doctor's office even pay us to see the doctor and to get our flu shots. Our Doctors office ALSO has a van to take us to and from appointments . So PLEASE folks stay with the old Medicare.
I had very different experience with HMO plan. I think ( correct me if I am wrong ) all the long waiting of referral and complaint are really depending which Medical Group that you Choice, For my 40 years with HMO and the same Family doctor and Medical Group, I had no issues being on HMO. I even got sent to USC to treat my Bone Tumor under HMO, my ISP authorize a biopsy in 24 hours, and to see a spec list. because my ISP was willing to sign special contract to send me since at that time only 1 Doctor in the West Coast can save my life.... I don't think private insurance compamy has anything to do with you., It is your Dcotor and ISP are or are not willing to treat ( manage ) you fast and well, PICK A GOOD ISA AND PRIMAY DOCTOR
For regular folk the Medi-gap premium can get really high as you get older. Best option is to research and educate yourself the difference between Medi-Gap vs Medicare Advantage. The entry rate for Medi-gap may be great but increases rapidly. The competition in the Medicare advantage is really providing great benefit but remember to alway look at the Medical Group you choose. The Medical Group make all the difference in the quality of your care.
You are correct. there are thousands upon thousands of us out here that survive on Social Security only and we simply can afford nothing other than the zero premium medicare advantage. I dont know what you mean by medical "Group"
I don't care what medical group I get. You can change every month. Very few care about your health, they only want that free Medicare money! If they are good doctor and have a good practice they don't want to deal with Medicare. In Florida very few actually understand English. They can say English words but have no idea what you are really saying. You HAVE TO. E YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!
@johnsonpaul1914 ALL the MA plan are owned by groups then bought out by a major company like Anthem. Those owned by those big broker houses are the o es that give you trouble. You MUST know what your plan pays for and what they don't. ALL must cover EVERYTHING that original Medicare does. Most cover some type of Dental but many don't ACTUALLY have dental offices that will honor their plan. These EXTRA services are proctored by other companies that care NOTHING about you. There actually is NO OVERSIGHT over any of these plans except Congress itself. CMS just turns your complaint back to your plan. That's like letting a fox guard your chickens. CMS is like a union for the Medicare Advantage plans. They protect the MA plan NOT YOU! CONGRESS does have control over all these plans so make certain you know your congressman. IF you are lucky he is a Democrat, the Republicans won't help you.
He is selling supplemental so take that with a grain of salt. Supplemental is going to cost you hundreds-maybe a few hundred, maybe many hundreds-a month extra. I have ACA Marketplace insurance with Kaiser Permanente (an excellent healthcare system) which has generally served me well except for the high deductible. About to turn 65 and I can choose a Kaiser Advantage plan that COSTS NOTHING EXTRA, and continue with the same coverage as I had before. No brainer? Pretty much.
Fortunately you never had to get an authorization for a treatment that your doctor prescribed. I have worked in medical offices and would need to get these authorization. So here I am talking to some kid that was selling bicycles last week, trying to explain why it’s necessary. Finally, the doctor would ask for a peer to peer. After waiting sometimes a week to be able speak with the company’s doctor and convince him/her, that it is necessary.. (wait time) and often they would make you try different treatments that were less expensive before granting the authorization. Advantage plans do work for some... but, sadly not all
He is telling the truth about Medicare DIS-Advantage ! The proof is that the very BEST (Ivy League) physicians and state of the art, cutting edge hospitals are no longer accepting Medicare DIS-Advantage Plans. UNLESS that Medicare DIS-Advantage Plans are issued from a EMPLOYER'S GROUP Plans (patient's fromer employer provided medical coverage). Medicare DIS-Advantage Plans have become a NIGHTMARE and ENDLESS approvals, and increasing patient co-payments, and splitting up single visit lab tests into separate charges to force the patient to pay for co-payments for EACH lab test during a single visit ! Also, they are REDUCING the lifetime limit of hospital visits to force patients to go back to straight Medicare. Manage Care plans offer to drive you to doctor's visits, pay your gym membership, and fluff your pillows, BUT HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE REDUCING COVERAGE ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEDICAL COSTS, LIKE SURGERIES, HOSPITAL VISITS & REHAB STAYS ! They even offer plans that pay your Medicare Premium, but HIDE the fact that these very plans that return your Medicare Premium, pay for LESS MEDICAL SERVICES ! The ones that claim to pay for your prescriptions will only do so for GENERIC drugs, but refuse to pay for drugs that have no generic option ! Then if your physician prescribes a drug that has no generic, these plans will only pay a "PORTION" of the drug price. But you can get that same non generic expensive prescription FROM CANADA FOR LESS than what the Medicare Advantage Plan is paying ! If you talk to a Medicare Advantage "agent" who helps you to find a plan during open enrollment, give him/her THE ZIP CODE of WHERE you WANT TO RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. You will find that the BEST PHYSICIANS & HOSPITALS IN THE MOST EXCLUSIVE NEIGHBORHOODS DO NOT ACCEPT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS !!! UNLESS that Medicare Advantage Plan is issued by.the patient's EMPLOYER GROUP POLICY! Then if you give them a zip code from a WORKING CLASS OR POOR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF PHYSICIANS that WILL accept Medicare Advantage, and also WEEKS TO MONTHS TO GET AN APPT !!! EVEN LONG WAIT TIMES FOR EXISTING PATIENTS !!! Btw, IVY LEAGUE DOCTORS DO NOT WORK FOR KAISER !!! ALSO, RICH PEOPLE NEVER GO TO KAISER, FOR A REASON ! Kaiser IS NOT & NEVER HAS OFFERED, "CADILLAC MEDICAL CARE !" KAISER HAS ENOUGH HORROR STORIES, TO FILL A HALLOWEEN MOVIE THEATER FOR THE NEXT CENTURY ! Rich people, go to Johns-Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, UCLA, Cleveland Clinic, St John's Providence (Santa Monica CA), etc.
@@kitcatmeowpurr745 I have had Kaiser Permanente for three years. Kaiser is one of the best health organizations in the US. Although my ACA coverage had a fairly high yearly deductible ($6,000) that’s not unusual anymore. Next month I switch to Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage plan. The coverage and cost is nearly identical.
@@Nicksonian kaisers attitude towards high cost populations is questionable. Oncology, premature babies and elder populations disproportionately cost more. Look closely at how these populations are treated by Kaiser before signing up with them.
After working in healthcare (I'm a psychologist) through the heyday of managed care, and knowing how important it is to me to be able to choose my own doctor (they aren't all the same!), I went straight to Traditional Medicare. I know that there are some great Medicare Advantage plans that people really like. But people often love their plan until they get very sick. Then the claims start getting denied. My best friend and I were seeing the same physical therapist. I could get as many sessions as my doctor would recommend. She had to beg for more sessions, haggle for a reasonable cost due to confusing payments from her Medicare Advantage plan, and end PT before she was better. It was appalling! You may believe you are saving money with a MA plan. But if you have to pay for physical therapy or some other service that isn't covered, you'll send up spending more. And God forbid you need prior authorization for something before getting much-needed treatment! There are horror stories of people who have died waiting for that prior authorization. Ever notice how many ads there are for MA plans? Guess where they get that money? It comes out of the premiums they collect. That's money that won't go to healthcare. This is just wrong.
Most of these stories are made up by those selling those supplement plans. The MA plans MUST cover EVERYTHING that original Medicare does BY LAW! In more than 15 years on a MA plan we have NEVER been turned down for ANY care covered by Medicare or the .A plan! There are rules these plans MUST go by. Several times my MA plan has even gone out of network for me and paid the ENTIRE cost even though I would have had a copay in network. If you can't read your plan, please have someone else read a d explain it to you. I call CMS first if I expect a problem. If my MA plan doesn't have a supplier within a reasonable distance, they have gone out of network. At one point Walmart optical refused to sell me the transition lens for the plans agreed upon price so I purchased the glasses anyway but complained vigorously and they sent me out of network to purchase another complete glasses both frames and lenses and paid the entire 420 dollars!
@@GAderly-fn5ly Nobody should to have to complain that much to get what they need. Very glad that it worked out for you but it may be denied for another.
@glw5166 You have to be your own person when it comes to your health! NO one can speak for you better than yourself. Those on original Medicare are much more at risk than those on an MA plan. MA plan personal and doctors help you oversee your health plan. They want you to stay healthy. Original Medicare folks want you to come as often as possible to see all kinds of doctors as that's where they make the big bucks. With MA plans your primary care doctor gets your referrals for you. They KNOW if you really need a specialist and they willingly refer you to a specialist if needed. It's not the MA plan that gives you the referrals but your PCP. IT'S NOT the MA plan that gets you the referrals, it's your PCP. It doesn't cost your PCP for your referrals and even your MA plan has specialists on contract so referrals are NOT a problem. With original Medicare doctors get paid from each other for referrals so they will give you referrals even if they know you don't need that specialist. They will pass you around from one specialist to another just for the money. With MA it doesn't work like that. You have no advocate with original Medicare, you are on your own. You can go bankrupt on original Medicare. MA plans protect you with max out of pocket expenses. If you need lots of Healthcare and many doctors you reach your max early and then there's no charge after that. Even you prescription drugs have a max out of pocket, then it's all free. This doesn't happen with original Medicare even with those super expensive supplements. My wife had both knees replaced, at different times of course. The first cost us 295.00 and the second cost us 195.00 TOTAL! That INCLUDED aftercare and rehab! Her second knee replacement, they gave her a sw
Not being able to go back to Medicare Part A&B after moving to an Advantage plan makes it clear to me which is the best decision. I will stick with the original and get a supplement so I can have health care choices. Thank you for the very informative video.
Nobody would choose Medicare advantage plan....but people can barely pay to live now, and the price of supplements plus Medicare B cost is just too much for most per month
This advice is good for those that can afford the Medicare option. Couple of years ago I was climbing up out of homelessness. And I should the age where I had to either go on Medicare or Medicare advantage. I had no choice but to pick the best possible Medicare advantage plan that I could. Still don’t have sufficient money for month-to-month living expenses. But I’m not on the street anymore. Every situation is different and specific. Is he saying something good? Yes. Is it the best advice for everyone? Not by a long shot.
My very first doubts came when I heard the name "Medicare ADVANTAGE!" Sadly, in our (1984) culture, terms are often designed to trick the buyer by using a name that is the exact opposite of what your going to get. These HMOs should be called "Medicare DISadvantage."
@@bethdavis7812 and they are PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization. Yes, you can use doctors, etc not on the preferred list, but you'll pay more to do so. Also premiums, and out of pocket expenses are higher.
My mother just passed at 96 1/2 & regular Medicare paid for literally all of her end-of-life care. I was amazed that we never got any medical bills. They even covered the helicopter transport to a larger hospital after a heart attack.
When your mom was enrolled in Medicare it was a whole different plan than what is offered today. Her plan doesn’t exist anymore. I’m sorry for your loss.
@@MrElby100 I'm finding that also. It seems all of this - insurance plans and medicare - keep cutting coverage and charging more. And refusing services to stall medical treatment.
I totally agree! I was a RN case manager for 5 years & frequently after a hospitalization the Medicare Advantage plans would not pay for skilled nursing facilities or long term care facilities. Everyone would talk about the great “dental & vision benefits”, but if you’re 85 & break your hip & can’t go to skilled nursing, you’re hosed.
I broke my hip at 50and went home. What do they do at skilled nursing? I had a pt and my family helping. Did have pain sleeping on that side for years.
@@melindalicht6699 my friend that is 70 just had hip replacement and she didn't have anyone at home to help. Because she has a supplemental plan she was able to go to a rehab hospital for two weeks and then had home pt for a few weeks.
@@MrDONTEATUS It's not because she had a supplemental plan! She had original medicare along with a supplemental plan (which picks up the 20% medicare doesn't). Medicare Disadvantage is a ripoff.
I know for a fact this stuff is untrue! My brother broke his hip when he was 89 and he lives in a very small town and they transported him to Sayre Pennsylvania to have the hip replacement and took care of all expenses including aftercare!
