introduce it every session until it passes!

Anything that gets in the way of a scam of any kind will be royally blocked by Kevin's cacas.

when it is Republicans.

from a song. "the was it way"

I have an Advantage Plan with Humana and I'm very happy with it, thank you very much.

Maybe someone should go after ones which are actual scams, and not paint them all bad.

Last edited Wed Feb 1, 2023, 05:27 PM - Edit history (1)

99+% of the advertising I see from these plans is deliberately misleading to one extent or another. For that reason alone, I support this law.

Don't try to sell me something by calling it something it's not. That's dirty pool.

I hate that for profit private insurance companies can use the name "Medicare".

they mail out look as if it is officially Medicare. That is not right, nor fair to the consumer.

And I've found them to be INTENTIONALLY confusing so that people really aren't sure what they are getting. Then later if you realize you've made a mistake, you are locked in for an entire year.

I have a PPO Advantage plan through BC/BS that I love. It is not a Scam.

As you said, "Maybe someone should go after ones which are actual scams, and not paint them all bad."

I would not get an HMO Advantage plan, as most of them are scams.

https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.42e9ede528de6a659ffaaa4bee1ec141?rik=N6e%2fJhT7KY7klg&pid=ImgRaw&r=0

And at the lowest price I have paid in my entire life. Thanks Blue Shield.

BCBS of Michigan PPO Medicare Avantage

My understanding is that MA plans are great if you don't have a serious illness, like cancer. Many plans are $0 premium, and come with perks like gym memberships. You'll likely be limited to a network, however, which can change yearly.

If you choose an MA plan and later develop a serious illness such as cancer, you may be on the hook for a lot of money in copays/coinsurance. With original Medicare (Part A & Part B), plus a medigap plan (that covers the 20% of costs that original Medicare doesn't cover), those costs will be paid for. With an MA plan, possibly not.

And (again, my understanding), if you want to switch from an MA plan to an Original Medicare w/ Medigap plan, you'll have to go through medical underwriting. That is, you'll have to answer health questions, and you may be disqualified from the OG Medicare system depending on your answers.

I live in New York, and I believe we don't have that particular requirement here, which I'm grateful for.

And you will need approval for many procedures. And if they decide to no longer participate in your state, you may be scrambling for coverage. And they offer no coverage abroad and in some cases, even when traveling out of state. And you may not be able to keep your doctors, as they offer a network.

I looked at possibly switching to Humana and found out that my hospital does not accept it (I think they may now). Plus, I was told that I would be denied anyway because of my cancer history.

They promote all the "shiny things" and don't encourage you to "peak under the hood."

I also have a PPO Advantage plan through BC/BS that is wonderful. You mention medigap plans which are more expensive than I can afford. If this bill passes I will be hurting in a big way.

See other posts on this forum for details.

And yeah, medigap plans aren't cheap. But as a cancer patient, it's worth it to me to know what my medical expenses will be every month, and that nothing approved by Medicare will be denied me, so I'm willing and can afford to pay (for now).

I hope that, whatever changes are made, you continue to receive great care.

Medical care is so important as we age! We still need a Medicare for all in some form.

It, at best, muddies the waters, but the at worst is what the truth is. They want folks to think they are Medicare. You can't do that.

... but that doesn't mean it can be sold as canned prime rib

But they're relatively healthy. They get check ups, breast exams, and treated for minor ailments.

The way to rate an insurance policy is what happens when things go south. As inflicted as I am I was advised to stay away from Advantage companies that would limit my care, insist on generic meds, and dictate where I can get treatment.

With the name "Medicare" in them, it sound government sponsored, even though it isn't.

All Medicare Advantage plans are approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. Which reports to President Biden.

Everything you eat and drink is approved by a government agency but none of it is sponsored by the government.

And part C is just as much Medicare as part A and B.

It is private insurance.
“Medicare pays a fixed amount for your care every month to the companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans. These companies must follow rules set by Medicare. However, each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services (like whether you need a referral to see a specialist or if you have to go to only doctors, facilities, or suppliers that belong to the plan for non‑emergency or non-urgent care). These rules can change each year.”

Medicare Advantage plans are part of Medicare. It is called Medicare Part C. Their elimination would mean a slash in Medicare benefits for those on them.

It is private insurance.
It is a scam.
It is a Trojan Horse.

This bill is absolutely needed before real Medicare is destroyed.
Please learn the facts.

Have you ever read Medicare Part C? You need to learn the facts.

Yes, it is Part C, but it is not Medicare as Medicare was originally established. The scam lies in the very existence of part C. It’s there to sow confusion and it works. Private insurance is being passed off as Medicare.
Call it MINO if you like: Medicare in name only.
To that end, it is not Medicare.
And yes, Biden needs to be apprised of these facts before it’s too late.

Medicare is administered through private companies. The claims and health care. `When you call Medicare you are calling employees of a private company. It has been that way since 1965.

The part of which costs are not covered we purchase supplemental insurance for, not called “Medicare”.

Just as much as Part A and B. Take it up with President Biden if you don't like it. Part A and B are also private companies. Your monthly Medicare fee for Part B goes to private companies. Part A health care is administered by private companies and the health care is paid by a private company.

that government funding for medical care is being shifted away from the public sector to the private insurance industry; therefore, privatizing the public’s medicare dollars. I liken it to charter schools, in which government funds are taken from public schools and given to privately owned charter schools. It’s really no different at all. The law allows both, but both are trojan horses to larger scale privatization.

If you are interested in the actual facts. And President Biden's HHS Department approved them if you think they are "scams".

Traditional Medicare does NOT include prescription coverage. My PPO Advantage plan covers prescriptions as well as dental, a break on copays and more for $80.00 a month more. My Mom has a stand alone prescription plan that she pays $50.00 a month.

If this bill passes I and others like me will be paying more for services not covered by Traditional Medicare.

for ending Medicare — at which time private insurance will simply call itself “Medicare” and once again fully control premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and out-of-pocket costs for subscribers themselves without “interference” from government. …. Rs have been working at doing the same thing with SS and public education for decades. Create and support enough attractive alternatives to SS and public education and in the process reduce the number who value publicly funded and administered programs so they can ultimately pull the rug entirely out from under those programs … and thereby make money offering such services themselves. “Why pay taxes? Just give us your money.”

Inquiring minds want to know.

How did this abomination ever come about?

That was the Clinton administration.

Respect and dignity for human life are more important than dividends for stockholders.

It is Medicare Part C. Approved by the Department of Health and Human Services.

insurer it’s not Medicare. You can argue semantics all you want but it’s doesn’t change that fact.

Unfortunately there is no way to get the sharks to quit calling. I have made a recording on my machine
telling them I will blow their ear drums out with a whistle if they continue and still they persist.

I am so tired of these calls!

Think of the incredible amount of money they must be pulling in from our government to have people calling 24/7 even if the sweatshop is located in India.

I tell them I'm 48 when they call. click bzzzzz

"Hello, I'm Harry with your Alternative Facts Private Health Plan calling" CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK

too many people get fooled by the name alone.

If the government passed legislation providing dental and eye care for everyone on Medicare and Medicaid. Then, they companies could not fraudulently sign you up for junk they will not reimburse for. It will all be provided in the first place!!!!!!!!

There are we limited providers in the area and it’s created some real problems for him.

so tired of people falling for this scam and assisting in efforts to PRIVATIZE MEDICARE

for our overall health, just like everything else about our absurd healthcare "system", if you could even call it that.

All the ridiculous hoops we have to jump through just to preserve the sacrosanct belief that profit is god, above all else.

We've made shareholder value the ultimate authority over everything, with that class writing all our laws, then wonder why everything has to be so complicated.

It's by design.

How many seniors have fallen for this?? My doctor didn't even know...

I have an Aetna "Advantage" PPO plan, which I took because my employer pays for it as a retirement incentive. I have two cards: A Medicare Part A & B card, for which I pay through a deduction from my Social Security, and an Aetna Part C & D card, which my former employer pays for. I am partially covered by Medicare, am I not?

Once you opt out of the medigap, you are out of Medicare n covered by private insurance.

I’m under the impression that private insurance companies are allowed to offer part C due to a law change but that once you opt out, you’re not in Original Medicare, you’re in their Medicare plan. I’m sure there are taxes to be paid but I don’t have an answer as to what or why. I’m retired n my employer health benefits will be only offering Advantage plans next year so..I have a lot of questions, too

and was happy with the previous ones I have had with several insurance companies. I have never been denied benefits that I would have had through original Medicare. In fact, I have benefits beyond what medicare offers.
Everyone who has one knows that they are run by private insurance companies. You can research them along with medicare drug plans (all private} and medicare supplements ( Medigap)(all private) on the medicare web site.
Many medicare advantage plans provide drug coverage for free. All have a maximum out of pocket cost for care covered by parts A and B. Most provide drug coverage at no cost. Many provide some OTC medicines at no cost. Many have no extra cost to the insured, some even refund part of the part B premium.
Every plan can be compared with each other and with original medicare on the medicare.gov website.

is more appropriate.

for profit insurance.

Now, since my retirement medical plan is an Advantage plan not Medicare, I won't have to pay into Medicare when I retire. Right? Oh, wait... I still have to pay into Medicare and can't even get the Advantage plan if I'm not enrolled in Medicare? Sounds kind of Medicareish to me.