I'm so sick of all the Medicare advertising.

[milestogo]

Real Medicare does not advertise.

All these advantage plans pretend to be Medicare. They are intentionally confusing and they make the elderly look like idiots.

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. Those ads will stop

once they destroy real Medicare and we no longer have any other choice

[brush]

3. I get tons of calls too everyday hyping these plans.

I sat through an analysis once on my situation and it turns out I would lose money from my SS monthly benefit if I switched to one of them.

[RobinA]

11. All Medicare

comes out of your SS benefit, at least in part.

[brush]

14. I know. That's what I mean.

[Rebl2]

30. Oddly I

haven’t gotten calls this fall, just mail. Just went on regular Medicare in May and before that, I got soooo many calls. At first I would tell them I have insurance through my husband’s plan-(which my doctor told me to keep if I could. I take medications that advantage plans and even part D won’t cover at a reasonable price) The more call’s I got the angrier I got and finally quit answering the phone if I didn’t know the number.

[MuseRider]

40. You do have to be carefull with that advantage plan.

If we were not paying attention we would have put me on because I had so many meds for a while. When we looked closely there was no coverage for anything I was taking. They really do not tell you these things easily.

[lostnfound]

15. That when the 'dental care' and gym memberships will probably wind down then too. Nt

[Historic NY]

2. I love how they say they will get you more of your social security money.

what they actually mean how they will get more of your social security money.

[KPN]

37. And once all Medicare becomes Medicare Advantage, they will start giving you

less.

[chriscan64]

86. That part of it bugs the shit out of me.

They describe a reimbursement as "adds money back to your Social Security check." There is no such phrase in the English language, "adds money back", or at least there never used to be. The brain of the casual listener hears "adds money".

"Adds money back" is the new "risk free".

[TwilightZone]

5. The enrollment period ends December 7th.

The ads will go away for another nine months or so.

As an aside, there isn't just one "Medicare" plan. The commercials are accurate in noting that most people will need an advantage plan to receive all of the benefits. Technically, it is still Medicare.

"Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D."

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/parts-of-medicare

[dweller]

7. No. They won't go away

They have been playing non stop all year. They have no time limits to their advertising and will be trying to entice ppl who are just signing up for Medicare

Medicare has a set time to change your plan. Med advantage does not.



✌🏻

[Farmer-Rick]

13. I just got on Medicare

And my landline never stopped ringing.

I have slowly identified each Mediscam caller and blocked them now. So, now my phone doesn't ring every 5 minutes.

These so called advantage plans aren't all that much of an advantage. But why would I get one if them when I have TriCare for Life. You would think the cheap robocall scammers would research who they are calling but nooooooooo. They have to annoy you night and day.

Medicare advantage is a scam. Why do I want to deal with a corporate bureaucracy on top of two government subcontractor bureaucracies?

[Ilsa]

26. My MIL had Tricare for Life.

I envy her on that one. I managed her bills for the last 5 years, and I never had to pay a Dr or hospital bill for her.

[Farmer-Rick]

48. Yeah, what Medicare doesn't cover

Tri-Care covers.

When I joined the military in the 1980s, they kept pushing the medical coverage as a big benefit. But back then, everyone offered decent lifelong healthcare and if they didn't, it was only $50 for a doctor's visit.

Now, I'm glad for it because the military is one of the few to honor their medical coverage promises for retirees. Most corporations got to change lifelong medical coverage to 20 years of coverage or to declare bankruptcy and raid the funds.

And the military tried to do that too and back out of lifelong coverage. So, they got sued by The Retired Enlisted Members Association. The military tried to claim that Medicare was just like the lifelong medical care coverage they promised. But the military lost and now we have Tri-Care for life.

[Ilsa]

57. I wrote one of our senators about 7 years ago over the new pharmacy

co-pays. They started at $5 per 3 month prescription for generic. No complains about that, right? But now they are $12 each, and my MIL had five or six Rxs. I guess they'll hit $15 next year?

[Farmer-Rick]

58. Yeah, they still whittle away at our current benefits

It maybe time for another lawsuit.

I am disabled as well as retired. Instead of giving retired disabled vets 2 different pays. They consider your disability as part of your retirement pay. So, instead of getting my $400 a month disability on top of my retirement pay, the military says $400 of my retirement pay is my disability and I pay no taxes on just that $400 out of my retirement.

During Trump's term in office my disability pay dropped and I had to pay taxes on more of my pay. It was a small amount but the military disability charts clearly show a decline in military disability pay. I feel sorry for those Vets who live off their disability. I wonder if it will continue to decline?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

62. You need to get with the VA

The law changed in 2004 to allow concurrent receipt - you should be getting your disability pay in addition to your full retirement pay.

[Farmer-Rick]

67. I am not 50% disabled so I don't qualify for concurrent pay

Until my disability gets worse will I be eligible. I may ask them to do a reevaluation, since my injury/problem is getting worse as I age.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

69. Lucky you.

Tri-Care is wonderful but most of us don't have that.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. I Thought That Too

But, they didn't. Then it dawned on me that about 90,000 people turn 65 every month.
The density of ads may fall, but they won't disappear.

[rampartc]

6. if they spent the advertising budget on health care ........

this is the style of "privatization" they have planned for social security as well.

all the money will be sucked up by marketing and management.

[MichMan]

8. The Open enrollment ends Dec 7, so they should stop after that.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. And the Georgia runoff election is Dec 6.

No Medicare Advantage ads, no texts or emails from Warnock, Ossoff, et al. There should be plenty of spare air time for online betting ads, hooray!

[RobinA]

9. I'll Be Happy

when they are over, but I don't see these ads making older people look like idiots. They are selling a product just like any other annoying ad. Coke ads don't make Coke drinkers look like idiots.

[milestogo]

16. The one I saw this morning had an elderly lady with huge glasses

who seemed confused and stubborn.

[dweller]

23. MARTHA !!

The worst one of all 😩



✌🏻

[XanaDUer2]

49. Martha

Is horrible. I had to start muting it.

[GoodRaisin]

60. Now they have a regular Martha and a cartoon Martha

One is as stupid as the other. Hard to believe anyone falls for this advertising.

[Raine]

85. I HATE Martha the most, what a horrible image she gives of a senior ... DISGUSTING!!! 🤢🤮👎nt

[mopinko]

10. this is why m4a was always a bad brand.

if bernie had run on fully implementing the aca, he might have won.
picking a medigap was the most confusing thing i ever did. and i picked a lemon the 1st yr.
it's been picked and poked at from the jump.

[MichMan]

12. Most people seem to like them

I just signed up for one. More benefits than traditional Medicare with less co-pays and no additional premiums.

There are so many different ones it can be overwhelming. I went with a bigger player with a plan rated high by Medicare, not one of those hawked by Joe Namath or JJ Walker, even though he said it was "Dynamite!"

[milestogo]

18. Yes, and the one I have calls and emails me all the time to try to upsell.

The other day i answered the phone and I had someone offering me an in home nurses visit which would result in a $50 gift card.
I mean, WTF?

[MichMan]

19. If you don't like the plan, you can always change next year to something else or regular Medicare

[milestogo]

20. I'm ok with the plan I have.

I just hate all the phone calls and emails telling me to spend more.

[Ms. Toad]

75. In most states you cannot switch back to regular Medicare.

(Or at least the version of regular Medicare most people think of - which is Medicare + a Medigap plan).

You can switch to just plain Medicare, but if your Advantage plan isn't covering enough your Medicare plan (withough a Medigap policy) will leave you with larger bills (20% of all expenses).

In most states you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a Medigap plan. If you pass it up, no one is obligated to sell you a Medigap plan - and if they choose to do so, they can charge you whatever you like for it.

[MichMan]

88. Medicare gap plans are not part of regular Medicare; they are private insurance

[Ms. Toad]

90. They are private insurance in name only,

Unlike Medicare advantage plans, the are very few aspects of medigap plans over which insurers have discretion (price charged, basis for annual increase in premiums (age at issue, community rating, current age). Everything else is dictated by the lettered plan type, and the applicable Medicare rules. Medicare + medigap is what people think if when they say original Medicare. It is the original structure for handling the 20% not covered by Medicare alone.

Unlike Medicare advantage plans, medigap plans serve as a check writer for the balance covered under the Medicare rules for the plan you selected. They don't get to question who you choose to see, or whether treatment was really necessary, or whether you should have tried something else first. They can't require pre-approval for tests, or a referral to see a specialist. They simply receive the Medicare approval, and pay their share of the remaining balance.

So yes they are administered by insurance companies, but otherwise, they act nothing like health insurance because the strict rules for such plans prohibit then from interfering in any meaningful way with yours access to health center care, and payment therefore.

[not fooled]

45. The problem is

Last edited Tue Nov 22, 2022, 02:14 PM - Edit history (2)

that now you no longer have real Medicare--you have private insurance, with all of the hoops to jump through re getting authorization, being in network, etc. And, it may work great as long as you are relatively healthy, but if you develop serious medical issues expect problems, i.e. denial of coverage which woulldn't happen with real Medicare.

"Medicare" "Advantage" was always designed as a Trojan horse to privatize Medicare. All of the "perks" are to lure people in.

There are many articles about problems with this program. Thom Hartmann does a great job covering the scam. Here's just one of his pieces:

[link:https://hartmannreport.com/p/time-to-end-the-medicare-advantage|]

Medicare Advantage plans are not Medicare. They’re private health insurance most often offered by the big for-profit insurance companies (although some nonprofits participate, particularly the larger HMOs), and the rules they must live by are considerably looser than those for Medicare.

Even more consequential, they don’t get reimbursed directly on a person-by-person, procedure-by-procedure basis. Instead, every year, Advantage providers submit a summary to the federal government of the aggregate risk score of all their customers and, practically speaking, are paid in a massive lump sum.

s
On Hartmann's show just now, Rep. Ro Khanna said that once enough Americans sign up for Advantage, the next time the GOP controls Congress they will simply say that the people have decided they want privatized Medicare and real Medicare will be phased out. That's the plan. Then, he said, the rationing of care will begin in earnest--panels of healthcare executives will determine what gets covered. Khanna said that then the American people will be in for a rude awakening.

The higher their risk score, the larger the payment. A plan with mostly very ill people in it will get much larger reimbursements than a plan with mostly healthy people. After all, the former will be costly to keep alive and healthy, while the latter won’t cost much at all.

Profit-seeking insurance companies, being the predators that they are, have found a number of ways to raise their risk scores without raising their expenses. The classical strategies of tying people to in-network providers, denying procedures routinely during first-pass authorization attempts, and having very high out-of-pocket caps are carried over from regular health insurance systems to keep costs low and profits high.

But with Medicare Advantage, the big insurance companies have invented a whole new way to rip us all off while padding their bottom lines.

For example, many Medicare Advantage plans promote an annual home visit by a nurse or physician’s assistant as a “benefit” of the plan. What the companies are doing, though, is trying to upcode their customers to make them seem sicker than they are to increase their overall Medicare reimbursement risk score.

Several investigations re fraud in the program covered here:

[link:https://publicintegrity.org/topics/health/medicare-advantage-money-grab/|]

Rep. Ro Khanna was just on Hartmann's show. He said the GOP's plan is that once Advantage has more than ~60% of seniors enrolled, the next time the GOP controls Congress they will simply phase out real Medicare, saying that the people have shown that they want privatized Medicare. Then, panels of healthcare executives will determine what gets covered, and the rationing will begin in earnest. Khanna said that at that point, the American people will be in for a rude awakening.

[Ms. Toad]

76. Agree with one clarification - Medicare Advantage plans ARE Medicare plans.

They are Part C.

While I don't like them - largely for the reasons cited in the article excerpt - they are part of the Medicare program (privately adminstered, yes, but Part C or the Medicare rules cover them).

[Ms. Toad]

74. I hope you don't regret it.

Far too many people choose a Medicare Advantage plan over original Medicare + a Medigap plan because - frankly - advertising works.

Medicare Advantage plans skim money off of for profits by working just like a traditional insurance plan - limited network of physicians, limited geography, pre-approval of everything under the sun (with unwarranted denials of coverage, or delays). They make money off of the relatively healthy Medicare participants - leaving those who develop chronic illnesses with bigger and bigger shares of the bill each and every year. And - once you skip Medigap - in most states you are stuck with Medicare Advantage - even when it becomes completely unaffordable.

Want to know why Medigap plans aren't advertised? They don't offer the money-making opportunities that Medicare Advantage plans do. There is no place for them to skim off cash - their role is reduced to signing checks to providers. If Medicare approves the charge, the Medigap insurer writes a check for the portion of the bill covered by the particular plan (in my case, 100% after the first $233)

If it has been less than 6 months since you signed up, I'd encourage you to talk to your state SHIIP counselor about the two types of plans - and the implications of the choice you recently made, while you still have an opportunity to switch to original Medicare. Once the opportunity to swith back psses, if your bills become too high because of the high out-of-pocket limits (or you need specialty out-of-network or out-of-state care), as a general rule no one is required to offer you a Medigap plan and, if they do, they can charge you as much as they want.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

17. Hi folks! I'm so happy and you can make me happier by calling and giving me money!

[a kennedy]

21. IT'S NON STOP AND SO ANNOYING!!!!! 🤬 🤬 🤬

[Scottie Mom]

25. If I'm bored, I take the time to talk to them. Why?

I know it's a scam, but there are seniors out there who do not know that bad BS this is. So, I let them go on and I ask questions like I am interested and then, m last question is something like, "So, isn't this really private insurance and not Medicare?"

[zipplewrath]

31. All medicare is

Even part B plans are "private insurance". My spouse has Part B through Blue Cross.

What most folks don't understand about "Advantage" plans is that predominately they are HMO's, not PPO's. And in some areas of the country, this can severely limit your access to providers. It can also require approval to see specialists.

[Rebl2]

27. +10000

[P-Nutt]

28. I Turn 65 in Early December

Since July, I have been bombarded with more than 50 calls per day about Medicare Advantage Plans and the benefits over straight Medicare. Having sold Medicare Supplements in the past, I know what works best for me. I have a friend from my association with High School athletics who sells Medicare Supplements and Advantage Plans. I sat down with him and actually got him to admit that straight Medicare with a good supplement plan and a drug plan, was superior to Advantage Plans, and much cheaper. Long story short, I have my choices made and my future medical situation under control. Yet the phone rings off the hook with these charlatans trying to sell me that bag of magic beans. My friend also told me that the Advantage Plan Companies pay a much higher commission on their plans than they do on Supplements. He also said that the Government is pushing these Advantage plans with the stated goal of getting people off of the Medicare rolls. Sounds like a republiKKKan scheme to me. I am not having any of that crap.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

33. Cheaper than an Advantage plan that doesn't cost any extra?

And when I had a heart attack, got a stent and spent two days in hospital and paid something like $700? When basic Medicare only covers 80%? You do the math.

I really get tired of people trashing Advantage Plans here.

[Riverman100]

35. I agree

These plans are not like they are represented on DU. Mine has no premium and has saved my ass a couple times.

[MichMan]

47. They aren't mandatory

If someone doesn't like them they are free to stay on traditional Medicare. People don't need to lie about them. Advantage plans are all listed on the government website with costs, and consumer ratings.

I turn 65 in a couple months and clearly understood that there are benefits and tradeoffs, but the advantage plans were hard to turn down.

Given that 90% of the advantage plans available to me had zero additional cost over Medicare B, there is no way the poster can claim they got gap coverage and Part D coverage at no cost.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

68. Bingo.

If you think traditional Medicare is best for you then go for it. I'm not about to criticize that choice. Just as others shouldn't trash mine.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

70. Exacttly. If you don't think an Advantage plan is right for you, then don't

sign up for one. Go with what you think is right. And stop trashing other plans.

I've been impressed and happy with my Advantage plan, so essentially fuck you to all who think they are wrong.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

73. I don't get

Why anyone cares what someone else chooses for their healthcare. If regular Medicare works best for someone, then they should choose that. If a Medicare Advantage plan works better for someone else, have at it.

The amount of effort that some people out into telling other people why they’ve made the wrong choice on something, even after they’ve been told they’re wrong puzzles me.

[P-Nutt]

53. I See That You Are Unfamiliar

With Medicare Supplement Plans. Plan G pays 100%. And is significantly cheaper than an Advantage Plan. Just because YOU made the mistake is no reason to ignore facts.

[MichMan]

54. My advantage plan costs me zero

How is it adding Plan G cheaper than that? Do they pay you to sign up for it?

If that was the case, why does a plan G even exist? Just tell everyone it is 100% free and give it to them then.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

71. Cheaper than zero?

Do Plan G's give you money back?

Remember, I'm not paying any additional money for my Advantage Plan.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

82. Plan G has deductables.

$2490.00. I have no deductible. What am I missing here?

Again, I offer up my hospitalization that was billed at a huge amount, and I paid $700.00.

[Zorro]

89. With Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans

You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company, and for a Plan G for my wife and me that would be around $400/month (there are cheaper plans that provide less coverage; coverage information is available online). Then you will have to get a Medicare Prescription plan (another $30-$40/month) plus the cost of prescriptions (which aren't discounted as much as they are under the Medicare Advantage plan I belong to currently).

When compared to my Medicare Advantage plan (zero monthly premiums, zero doctor copays, $10 specialist visits) it's an easy decision to make. I am restricted to using the plan's doctors, but it's with one of the best health care organizations in the country -- plus I'm using the same doctors I've been seeing for years.

The only real risk with a MA plan is getting medical service when away from home, although emergency medical treatment is supposed to be covered on a reimbursable basis -- but this may be one key discriminator for some people.

Again, the issue may be with where people live -- those in rural areas may be at a disadvantage when it comes to deciding between Medigap and MA plans, because there are less options available.

There may be valid issues with MA plans, but the solution isn't to eliminate them, but to fix them. Running on a platform to eliminate Medicare Advantage plans is a LOSING political proposition.

[Ms. Toad]

78. Medicare Advantage plans deserve to be trashed.

The reason they are marketed so heavily is that they are cash cows for insurance companies. You don't see any advertisements for traditional Medicare supplements because they are not profit centers for insurance companies.

Medicare Advantage plans manage care in ways that increase the profits for the insurer rather than the health of the patient: (1) limited networks (have a rare cancer and need to go to MD Anderson in Texas, or a rare liver disorder and need to go to Mayo Clinic - forget it. They aren't in network), limited geographic area (same story - if I'm in Ohio - good luck getting treated at an out-of-state facility with the expertise I need) (2) gatekeeping: reviews similar to standard insurance reviews before covering treatment, putting roadblocks between your doctor and your healthcare - this often delays critical treatment and, if you don't have a doctor willing to fight for you, inadequate care when the doctor substitutes the procedure the insurance company deems sufficient.

If you like traditional insurance, you'll love Medicare Advantage. I've been on original Medicare for close to a year now. 100% of my bills are covered, aside from the $233 deductible (lower next year). I've been hospitalized twice, had several scans instantly (insurance companies impose a minimum 10-day waiting period). I've had a genetic scan for a tumor, to determine whether to stay on an anti-cancer drug for another 5 years. Insurance companies refuse to cover the test; medicare didn't bat an eyelash.) When I travel, I can go to whichever doctor I choose, wherever I happen to be. I don't have to worry about network coverage. I don't have to get pre-approval. I just go. And it is covered. 100%. (Until 1/1/2023 - and then I'll have to pay a whopping $226 for all of 2023.)

[Traildogbob]

29. Coming soon

To a fool near your. Social Security Advantage Plan. Privatize it as well. That is the whole scam, to totally privatize it. Read the fine print. Those plans have zero affiliation with Government Medicare.
Free free free!!! Really, you believe that shit you believe trump is honest for the people. They take your Medicare Money out or your SS as your premium. And spend 40 percent of that on advertising. It’s nearly impossible to get back in real Medicare. Sign up period be damned. Took me a year of letters, and VA assistance to get back. They were going to redo my VA benefits because of constant denied coverage from BCBS Advantage scam. When they get enough to leave Medicare, it’s done. And so is our health care. Two Congressmen are pushing a bill to demand they stop using the term Medicare.
Yep, under GQP, Social Security Advantage is around the corner.

[MichMan]

50. The government lists all the advantage plans on the Medicare website

If Advantage plans are a scam like you say, why would the current administration let you enroll in them from the official Medicare website ?

[Traildogbob]

51. Republicans

Want Medicare done with. They are paid to assist it. AARP supports it too.💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
All the facts are available about the scam. Thom Hartmann site has all the info you can hope for. Rep Ro Konna and and Rep Pocan are fighting to expose the scam and end these thieves from using Medicare in the name. Advantage is a For Profit Insurance. Medicare is not for profit. When Advantage pulls enough out of Medicare, Repubs will then push to end it as a failed entitlement. Then the knives come out from the for profits. They scammed me so bad under the Name of Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage that the VA demanded I switch or they would need to adjust my allowed coverage from the VA. Took a year to get back on Medicare, some can not and loose coverage if allowed back. So if you really believe For Profit Insurance is gonna give you Free Free Free and no premiums, you be you. I only need a stick upside my head one time to learn.
JJ Dynomite, Joe Namath and those pitiful old spokespeople are not gonna drag me into snake oils so they get paid. “For profit” heath care is just that. Not “for people.”
Privatize SS and Privatize Medicare has been a GQP wet dream for decades. They are getting close, with Medicare, and are openly coming for SS.

[MichMan]

52. Why is the administration helping Republicans by letting it on the Medicare website ?

Can you please answer why they would participate by promoting advantage plans?

If the goal is to ruin Medicare, why is the administration helping ?

[Traildogbob]

55. Where is the best place

To fish your scam? Call Medicare and ask them their thoughts. I have. Had to spend hours and months on the phone to get reinstated. Why is AARP non stop advertising? 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
Look, glad you are happy with your plan. I got screwed. The VA, about as government as ya get, told me to get out. Many others have gotten screwed. My Private Doctor said stay away from it. Drug dealers can sell amazing drugs to a few to Get The Word out, then sell trash to the majority.
Take a look at the site posted above referring Thom Hartmann.
Again, wish you well, glad your good with it, but how long do you think For Profit is going to give you no premiums, Free Dental, Fee eyes, Free Surgery, free free free free.
Advantage takes your SS Medicare premium from seniors on their plans. And ya really believe they put money back into you SS as the say.
My Grand dad and dad were Carnies. I know scams. This one hooked me, thank God I got out.
Good for those that like it, hope they keep getting cared for, for free. Just not for me. There was no free.

[MichMan]

56. You still never answered the question

[Traildogbob]

59. I did (💰💰💰💰)

If they are so honest and on the up and up, why do they “HiJack the name Medicare”, and in small print at the end of all there advertisements and sites state” we are not affiliated with Government Medicare whatsoever? Why not be honest, just say, “we are ‘private for prophet’ health insurance. We give you everything for free, we will not rob you like that Gubment shit. We are free free free”. Why fish in seniors falsely advertising as Medicare? Who pays for millions of mail trash, and TV advertising using Medicare as bait” , that ain’t free. How do they profit from that and covering all health care for free free free. Joe and Shatner ain’t working for free.
Drop the name Medicare, call it what it is. Private Health care, for prophet. No need to try and trap seniors by using the name.
Why do they eliminate your Medicare you paid for your whole life when you sign
With them? Why not just be a private gap coverage and keep their damn hands off of Medicare?
Like I said, they proved to me who they are. Glad they treat you great. Insurance has paid off everybody and most in government. Unlimited cash to buy the right to advertise anywhere. Dems are not all angels. If so, what are there not more on the Bill in progress to eliminate them using Medicare as bait in their name.
Read the site listed above from Thom Hartmann. I got firewood to cut and haul. I’m out. I am out of the scam too. I will just wait for “Two weeks” to get the greatest health care the likes of which the universe has never seen. Two weeks, Authored by trump and gubment.
Social Security Advantage. Wait for it.

[MichMan]

63. Got it. You accuse Biden administration of conspiracy with insurance companies to destroy Medicare.

By promoting Medicare Advantage plans on the Government Medicare website for 💰

Doubt you'll get many to agree here.

[Traildogbob]

64. Why the need to use Medicare

In the name if they are private for prophet insurance, period. That’s a scam to fish in people that believe they are getting Medicare. Period. That’s false luring into the plans. Why not be honest and up front state you are private insurance that will take over your Medicare? Not a stop gap covering.
That is intentional to mislead. ALL those sites, on TV and on Websites, IN VERY SMALL Print say these plans are “not affiliated” with Government sponsored Health Care. Why is it they are required, though hidden in small print the disaffiliate with Medicare? Then why use the name???
Many people here DO agree Advantage a scam to destroy Medicare. Tenet are on the website to lure in the target audience. And by printing “we are not affiliated makes it legal”. If honest they should drop the name and say we are an independent to for prophet insurance that will over rude your Medicare.
“Why can these extended auto insurance coverage plans use the auto Makers name and Emblen to fish auto owners to get those plans, on a new vehicle that is covered with the auto maker? They are scams.”
Go argue with others here that have told you they were scammed as well. We are done. I got seriously scammed and that’s all I was letting others know, beware with the plan you choose.
There ARE many here that agree Advantage is a path to end Medicare.

[blue neen]

65. +1

Agree with everything you said.

[patphil]

32. Unfortunately, Medicare ad sickness isn't covered by Medicare.

But it is covered by your calendar, and you can expect it to go into remission on December 8th.

[Sneederbunk]

34. Nothing compared to prescription drug advertiding.

[markodochartaigh]

36. There is even a program now

to convince doctors to change all of their patients to a "Medicare" advantage plan. I heard about it on Thom Hartmann. A great resource in the fight against privatizing Medicare is Dr Susan Rogers.

https://pnhp.org/news/dr-susan-rogers-on-healthcare-now/

[Mr. Sparkle]

38. I cant watch live Tv because of the Ads

I think i'm allergic

[GoodRaisin]

84. Me either. I DVR everything.

Love skipping through the Medicare Advantage lies. And all the rest of the lies too.

[PA Democrat]

39. They have been calling me non-stop.

I am turning 65 and how the f*** are they allowed to call all hours of the day to push their crappy private plans?

If you don't answer the phone they repeatedly call back... sometimes 3 times in a single day for multiple days; if you block the number they simply use another phone number; if you answer you wait 20 seconds for a human to get on the line to try to get them to stop calling. I have started telling them they have the wrong number and no one lives here who is eligible for their shitty fake Medicare plans.

They claim they are not violating the Do Not Call list because they are simply offering to give you "information" and it is NOT a sales call.

I've contacted my Senator. Their business practices are abhorent and should not be allowed.

[GoneOffShore]

41. Asked an insurance agent about Medicare Advantage, they corrected me: It's Medicare Disadvantage

I'm now only on Part A, because we're on the French healthcare system.

[vapor2]

42. Thom Hartmann on Medicare Advantage vs Medicare

https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-latest-for-profit-advantage-assault?s=r

[Vinca]

43. Plus most of the stuff they advertise are scammy plans that will drive you nuts

trying to get out of. The one ad with an old lady they've dubbed Martha is right up there with the Joe Namath ads. And why oh why is William Shatner debasing himself doing those things?

[elocs]

44. Being a poor retired person, a Medicare Advantage plan is one of the best choices I've ever made.

It's great and it cost me nothing, even no copays for meds. I get a vision checkup each year and $300 towards new glasses, 2 dental checkups each year with $3000 per year to spend on other needed dental care. Plus I get $200 to spend each month on healthy food or otc products. Also Medicare part B is not taken out of my SS check either. So I have absolutely nothing bad to say about my Medicare Advantage plan. I do, however, see more of Joe Namath on tv than I've seen since he played football decades ago.

[milestogo]

46. Which plan do you have?

If I may ask.

[elocs]

91. Sorry not to get back sooner. I have United Healthcare Dual Care Coverage.

It is income based and I am under, just under, the federal 100% poverty level. Medicare is the first payer and what they don't cover is picked up by Medicaid. I used to have to pay $1.25 copay for meds, which is all it ever cost me, but now I don't even have that. This Medicare Advantage plan has been a financial lifesaver for me.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

61. I am getting numerous calls each day trying to sell me one of these plans

Caller id shows that most of these calls are spam. They all want to explain new benefits if I sign up for a medicare advantage plan

[Meowmee]

66. So am I

isn't it fraudulent for them to do this?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

72. This is why I'm happy I don't have regular TV.

No ads.

No political ads, no medicare ads, no ads at all.

Honestly, I would encourage all of you who read this to get rid of your television.

When I moved here to New Mexico in 2008, I didn't get a TV for several reasons. One was the cost of a set. Another was the cost of being connected. At the time I assumed that no TV was temporary, and as my finances improved, I'd buy a TV and get a provider. After a while I figured out that I could watch a lot of what I wanted on-line. And that major breaking news was always available on line. Hooray for me. And so I simply never got a TV.

At least four earlier times in my life I was without a TV. The details don't matter, but during those times I didn't miss TV very much. Perhaps more importantly, I had no trouble keeping up with current events. During one of those no TV times, a co-worker was honestly concerned that I wasn't up on current events. So he'd quiz me, and was always amazed that I did know what was going on, and sometimes more than what was out there. My secret? I subscribed to the local paper, The Washington Post. And I read it.

These days the internet is priceless.

I do watch a reasonable share of television shows. I just don't do it live, with regular commercials. Honestly, I am years behind various shows, and there are many popular ones I've never seen. Not a problem, in my opinion. There really are so many worthwhile shows to watch (whatever your definition of "worthwhile" might be) that you'll have trouble keeping up. Not such a bad problem.

My point here is that having regular TV may not be such a good thing. Reconsider it.

[Skittles]

77. plenty of people buy into the "Medicare Advantage" scam

it is truly disturbing

[SickOfTheOnePct]

79. For some people

It’s a better option. For you it obviously isn’t, which is fine, but if it works for others, why do you care?

[Skittles]

80. I care because the ultimate goal is for it to be ALL those fucking scams

they're chipping away at Medicare bit by bit

[SickOfTheOnePct]

81. They're not all scams

But you do you

[Skittles]

83. yes I am sure they toss a few legitimate bones

but they'll go away eventually too

ultimately it's private insurance with their special private rules, limiting care while stiffing the government

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/11/21/1137500875/audit-medicare-advantage-overcharged-medicare

[MerryBlooms]

87. It's relentless! I swear some days, I see Joe Namath

And his vampire face and huge ears about100 times a day. , I'm tempted to buy a gun, just to shoot the TV. Jimmy walker is just as bad. Ad after ad! They're now calling my client's phone starting 6 in the morning!. This needs to stop!!!

[Zorro]

92. California Medigap Plan Annual Costs

Here is a useful link provided by the state of California showing the annual costs of different Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans per insurer per local area (go to the insurance rates survey):

https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/05-health/03-medsup/

Other states' Department of Insurance may provide similar information.

It is easy to understand why a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan with no monthly premium and which may also include Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage -- something that must also be purchased separately with a Medigap plan) is a compelling option for millions of seniors when compared to going with an alternative Medigap plan.

All that being said, some people may not need anything more than basic Medicare Parts A and B, if their medical care provider accepts the Medicare payment as full and complete (it's called "accepting assignment" -- you can check and see). Going with either a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap plan mitigates the risk to reduce the cost if they don't.

[GoCubsGo]

93. I'm far more sick of the goddamn drug ads.

I swear that if I see one more fucking Ozempic commercial, I'm going to throw a brick through my TV. Ditto for the Dupixent and other skin disease drugs.