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Originally Posted by MX rider
Very well said! We're on UHC Advantage and like it.
Yes, there will always be "horror stories" as you pointed out. But MA plans vary, and some are better than others for sure. People need to do the research and make an informed decison.
Having a choice is a good thing, one size does not fit all.
Over 50% of new medicare enrollees chose MA plans. If they were so bad they wouldn't be so popular.
Btw, we really like the wellness and vision benefits. We get free membership to Genesis gym as a side benefit. Very nice place. My wife takes 2 fitness classes a day there 6 days a week.
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Yes, there are some side benefits as well. The gym I was paying $70/month for is now free. I just got eyeglasses for free.
But the real debate on this thread is access to care and insurance denials. I have Florida Blue MA and even Shands and Moffit are in network. The concept that we are all sacrificing our health to line the pockets of insurance company CEOs is absurd and delusional. Bottom line---most people in America don't want to be "denied" anything, even though they freely chose to save $200/month by choosing an advantage plan. No, these plans are not for everyone----If you already have multiple medical problems with established relationships with specialists who are not in network----skip to traditional Medicare. If you have some rare condition that might require travel to a nationally recognized center, advantage is not for you either. But if you are relatively healthy these plans are just fine, and the chances of developing a condition that would cause you a problem with insurance are quite low---unless you are one of the whiners who specifically want to see the doctor that your barber's cousin in Atlanta likes.
Now, if we're looking for something to bankrupt advantage plans of drive the cost up, consider all the ads for so-called "Medicare advantage dual coverage plans" These are not just health insurance plans. They are for those with both Medicare and Medicaid, and now forgive the $174 /month premium for part B, and pay for "rent, groceries, and utilities". This is nothing more than Robin Hood backdoor welfare on the backs of taxpayers hidden under the guise of "Medicare Advantage"---that's the real deceit, and not by CEOs
Lastly, if you want a "horror" story, my wife's late husband had UHC The Villages Medicare Advantage plan and developed a rare form of myelodysplasia requiring bone marrow transplants that was not on the approved "list of treatments" at the time and could only be done at Moffit, which wasn't in that network. However, with a knowledge of how to navigate the system (she's a nurse with Master's in both nursing and healthcare administration), he got all the treatment he needed at Moffit, but unfortunately was unsuccessful.