Which Medicare Advantage Plan will you NOT be choosing for 2025 & Why?

I still have private insurance, and original medicare as secondary; but now I am 60% disabled veteran so I’ll be switching to just using the VA. The VA will pay for everything. I have no ideal about other plans
 

We switched this year from plan G to plan F - yes, believe it or not it pays everything and was cheaper that the plan G. Our broker thinks so many that retire choose plan G ...waiting to get their operations till they have medicare and a supplement, that it is increasing the cost of plan G. You cannot join F unless you have had a medigap policy since 2020 when they closed it to new members.

Would not have a med advantage plan unless I had too - the hospital costs are high - check out the policies.
If anyone has one that doesn't cost them a lot if and when when they go in the hospital, let me know please. Plus, advantage plans are not medicare, they are "managed care' which means they aren't medicare - care doesn't have to be the same.
 
I have medicare and I am sticking with it. Why would I transfer to a Medicare Advantage Plan after paying into medicare all of these years?
 

I googled "disadvantages of Medicare advantage plans" and here's what Google AI said:

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have several disadvantages, including:
  • Limited provider networks: MA plans typically restrict patients to using providers and hospitals within their network. This can limit the number of doctors and hospitals available to you.
  • Referrals: HMO plans often require a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist.
  • Geographical restrictions: MA plans may limit coverage to a specific geographic area, which can make traveling difficult.
  • Limited extra benefits: MA plans may have restrictions on extra benefits.
  • Difficulty switching out: It can be difficult to switch out of an MA plan later.
    • Higher out-of-network costs: Care outside of the plan's network may be more expensive.
    • Performance issues: Some MA plans have been criticized for denying care and payments to providers.
    • Coverage changes: MA plans can change the doctors and hospitals in their networks, as well as their vision, dental, and prescription drug coverage from year to year.
However, MA plans can be a good option for people who are on a budget or qualify for a special needs plan.

Before choosing your coverage, you should review your healthcare needs and compare Medicare options. You can consider things like:
    • Whether your preferred doctors and hospitals are included in the plan
    • Which prescription drugs are covered
    • The maximum out-of-pocket amount

 
Many will not go with any Advantage plan but will go with a Medi-gap policy instead to pick up costs that basic Medicare does not cover. In this way they can go to any doctor anywhere as long as they accept medicare. But if you go this route you must also get a separate prescription and dental plan.
 
Buckeye said:
I googled "disadvantages of Medicare advantage plans" and here's what Google AI said:

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have several disadvantages, including:
  • Limited provider networks: MA plans typically restrict patients to using providers and hospitals within their network. This can limit the number of doctors and hospitals available to you.
  • Referrals: HMO plans often require a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist.
  • Geographical restrictions: MA plans may limit coverage to a specific geographic area, which can make traveling difficult.

Click to expand...
Mine is good anywhere that accepts BC/BS.
No referrals for my plan.
I have so far used it in three states, all considered in-network, as they all accept BC/BS.

The plans vary WIDELY and it is deceptive to lump them all together.
 
That Lady in PA said:
Mine is good anywhere that accepts BC/BS.
No referrals for my plan.
I have so far used it in three states, all considered in-network, as they all accept BC/BS.

The plans vary WIDELY and it is deceptive to lump them all together.
Click to expand...
Good for you, and I'm glad you like your plan. But remember this thread was started by someone who was unhappy with their particular plan. Two sides to every coin. :)
 
I will not be choosing all of them. I realize some people have not choice but to pick a low or no coast Advantage plan. But, I do not like their limitations and rules. I pay a bit more for my Plan F Medigap plan since it does not have a deductible. The extra money works out to be exactly the deductible on the Plan G Medigap plan, Imagine that!
 
I bought the plan G. Started Jan 1st. Unfortunately I had a surprise three night hospital stay Jan 12th, Ischemic Colonitis. Fortunately it looks like my policy will be paying everything except for a few hundred dollars deductible.
 
I had an appointment with someone from the SSA and asked about that, having seen countless ads for it that were conflicting at times. The lady told me I didn't need one because I have "Help with Medicaid", which covers a lot of my co-pays for stuff. She says with that it's almost the same, but a lot less paperwork and assorted nonsense. Good description for just about anything related to the feds.

I also like getting my Occipital Nerve Blocks in January. One of those can cover half of my yearly hospital co-pay. Three months later I have another one and even if I was in the hospital for three months like I was in 2023, I would have had no co-pay. But that was one expensive stay in three hospitals, but under SSA's rules, you don't lose any of your benefits if you're in a hospital for less than 30 days, so when I got out I had four months of checks in my bank, and that "Help with Medicaid" covered the entire copay.

That made it much easier to get this apartment and leave my savings alone. I only spent three of the checks for January - March, and still had April's and we got the apartment and could buy some furniture. The only furniture we kept were our beds. Ain't no way I'm sleeping on the floor, I wouldn't be able to get up!
 

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