Medicare advantage not going away

[WheatenLover]

My mother had original Medicare and a Medigap plan (F, I think). It was a bargain for her because she had a lot of serious illnesses including 2 kinds of cancer (twice). Frankly, health insurance is an actual bargain only if you are very sick. You are basically betting against yourself, that the extremely high costs will be worth it. But whatcha gonna do? So many illnesses are random and cost a lot to treat.

I still can't get over how cheap drugs and medical care are in France compared to here. My daughter has gone to the ER several times, had drugs prescribed, and been to a specialist about her cat allergy. Turns out she is in the top 5% of people who have cat allergies -- those are the people whom the allergy can kill. I hope the specialist figures out a way to treat it because cats are everywhere.

I am on my daughter's list. I accidentally wished her a happy 31st birthday. She is 30. I knew I should have counted on my fingers.

 

[Trade]

The least they could do is post the yearly cost to themselves with whatever they have, & what if any copays they have. Would also be helpful for comparison of their surgery, hospital, specialists & med costs.

Lol! Why would I do that when you obviously don't want to hear anything negative about Medicare Advantage?

I read part of the article. I stopped at myth #2.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

Mack, it could be location, but on another forum people in many other states were also on the well care plan that was free for the past two years so I don’t think it’s that uncommon. Actually this will be the third year that I’m on wellcare and that’s been the longest I’ve been on a plan because for a while I was switching on a yearly basis.

I was worried about getting priced out of a Medicare supplement plan as I aged, but now that my Social Security has increased so much that’s no longer a worry. I won’t consider an advantage plan because I know a few people that are only alive because they could seek the best medical care out of state.

There are many considerations we take into account for the choices we all make. In my case, I want basic care and I'm trying to stay healthy as long as possible. If I develop a grave illness requiring chemo, radiation, out of state care, extensive surgeries, and so on, I will not pursue those remedies. At this juncture of my life, I have no desire to go through all of that, then succumb to some other age related disease a few years later. I might feel differently if I was 40, but not now. My doctor knows this and my wishes are expressed in directives on file.

People have all sorts of perspectives and needs, and many may make different choices than I do. And that's fine. There is no "one size fits all." I just expressed my point of view while it's all still fresh on my mind.

Since my UHC Advantage plan discontinued the plan I've been on in 2025, I have a letter from them informing me I have the indisputable right to return to original Medicare and Medigap (no underwriting) within the next 63 days. I've already had a Medigap plan in the past; there will be no going back. Last week I chose a Humana Advantage plan for 2026, and I have put the matter to rest.

 

[Teacher Terry]

The least they could do is post the yearly cost to themselves with whatever they have, & what if any copays they have. Would also be helpful for comparison of their surgery, hospital, specialists & med costs.

I heard this or not happy with how capitalism works as input IMO really isn't helpful.

My Medigap plan cost me 190/month. It does go up every year as I age. I have no co-pays whatsoever and the Medicare yearly deductible I think is 256/year. My part D plan which is my prescription plan was free for the last two years and this year it’s going up to 2.76/month.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Mack, i’m glad you were able to find a new plan that works for you. Like you I’m just not going to automatically pursue every type of medical care that’s available. I’m going to look at each situation individually and decide at my age if that is something I’m willing to do or not. Cancer would be one of those situations where I’d have to weigh the negatives of treatment to the possible outcomes for the time I would have left. I have no interest in spending my final years just sick than dying.

it really depends on the prognosis, but if I need a specific surgery where the outcome would not be good unless I had a certain surgeon that would be the type of case that I could see myself really using my insurance. Odds are probably small that would happen, but like I said, I’ve known a few people where that was the case.

 

[Knight]

My Medigap plan cost me 190/month. It does go up every year as I age. I have no co-pays whatsoever and the Medicare yearly deductible I think is 256/year. My part D plan which is my prescription plan was free for the last two years and this year it’s going up to 2.76/month.

Thank you for posting the cost to you for your health care coverage. $2,280.00 a year isn't a lot to pay if you are able.

 

[Aunt Bea]

These threads always seem to become a them against us sort of thing.

My choice of the BCBS zero premium plan is simply about the best coverage, for my situation, with the lowest annual out of pocket.

If my health or circumstances change I may go to original Medicare or some other plan that makes financial sense during the annual open enrollment period.

I have more loyalty to my brand of peanut butter than I do to my health insurance provider.

 

[Teacher Terry]

In

These threads always seem to become a them against us sort of thing.

My choice of the BCBS zero premium plan is simply about the best coverage, for my situation, with the lowest annual out of pocket.

If my health or circumstances change I may go to original Medicare or some other plan that makes financial sense during the annual open enrollment period.

I have more loyalty to my brand of peanut butter than I do to my health insurance provider.

In most states, you can’t return to regular Medicare from an advantage plan without passing medical underwriting. Most seniors have difficulty with that and that’s why it can be such a big decision.

 

[Aunt Bea]

In

In most states, you can’t return to regular Medicare from an advantage plan without passing medical underwriting. Most seniors have difficulty with that and that’s why it can be such a big decision.

I’m in New York, from what I understand it’s a guaranteed issue state that allows us to
move freely among plans.

If that’s not true or if it changes, I’ll figure something out.