Every time this subject comes up, we hear from several DUers who report that their experience with M.A. is peachy, and I say, Good for them. The problem is people whose plan screws them over or shortchanges them in ways that regular Medicare would not. And of course M.A. is part of the creeping privatization that Republicans want to foist on us.
Consumer finance expert Clark Howard has some thoughts about Medicare Advantage:
https://clark.com/insurance/health-insurance/medicare-advantage-plans/
Why I Think Medicare Advantage Plans Stink
(Excerpt)
About half of people who are eligible for Medicare choose Advantage plans for any of a number of reasons. And many people are happy with the Advantage plans they’ve picked. In fact, every time I say something negative about them, I hear from people who are upset with me because they are beyond thrilled with the Advantage plan they chose.
My objections are simple. Once you are in an Advantage plan, it’s difficult to switch to regular Medicare. After your first 11 months, in most states, you can’t easily buy a supplement without passing a medical evaluation. And you likely will have trouble switching to a competitor’s Advantage plan if yours turns out to be a bad choice.
In other words, you could end up being a prisoner of the Advantage plan you pick at 65 for the rest of your life — even if it turns out to be crummy or becomes rotten over time. In my opinion, this is a fatal flaw of Medicare Advantage plans. You could also end up with a serious illness, and the choice of doctors and facilities you are allowed under your particular Advantage plan could be the difference between life and death. With traditional Medicare, you have many more options to seek out the best care, best specialists and best hospitals for your illness.
Yes, traditional Medicare is more difficult to understand and buy upfront. Your premiums may even be higher. But you are your own boss of your healthcare. With Medicare Advantage, understand that the insurer makes money by limiting your care and your options.
That lower cost could kill you.
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