According to the endless commercials urging seniors to sign up, the deadline was December 7th, but the commercials still haven't quit like they did before, they've started all over again.

Which is when people can switch plans. But they figured out people turn 65 throughout the year and they don’t want to miss anybody.

to get a plan or switch till next fall--total 100% LIES. Hell...mine got so outrageously high with that AARP con job United Health care I had to cancel.

I'm also giving AARP the boot when my sub runs out it August. Those fuckers don't give a shit about seniors other than to sell them a supplement plan and life insurance and a yearly subscription.

they tried to push me into an Advantage Plan. In California we have the “birthday rule”. You can switch plans for 30 days before or after your birthday month. I went with Anthem. Not that they’re wonderful people either. But they’re not UHC.

The enrollment outside of the typical "open enrollment period", can correspond to a "life change", as in someone turning 65, and that is continually happening year round (with the threat of a "use (sign up) or lose" if you don't apply on time and end up with a penalty! You might also have someone over 65 and still working, who switches jobs and the coverage changes, etc.

and that (under it's current name "Medicare Advantage" as a change from what Clinton had enacted almost decade earlier) was all a Shrub production as a trade-off for getting Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug coverage for Medicare).

As a great character one said
INCONCEIVABLE!!!!!!

It would still be cheaper than regular medicare and having to pay a supplement plan to cover what medicare won't. Medicare part A only covers 80% and no doctor bills. Having to pay 20% of a hospital would be a life-breaker for most people. Supplemental plans cost an additional $2000 or more per year on top of the part B expense. It's all a ripoff. Of course, a universal health care plan would work best.

Long story short, they dropped the only decent hospital in the network due to “contract negotiations”. They didn’t let us know. I found out when I tried to make an appointment for a mammogram. Oops, no, sorry, we don’t take your insurance anymore. Gotta go to the two star clinic across town.
Thank goodness I was able to get out and get OM with a supplement. The premium is worth the peace of mind. I can go anywhere, no problem. It’s been great.

It all depends on the amount of financial resources of the individual. Most retirees on smaller fixed incomes find it harder to afford it.

https://archive.ph/12xZK

For me, the OP link gets me on the article page, but a big banner pops up asking me to subscribe to The Hill's Health Newsletter, and when I click on "No Thanks", it takes me to The Hill's front page. I browser-searched that for "Medicare" with no hits.

There isn't much additional in the article beyond what is excerpted in the OP.