Originally Posted by rsmurano (Post 2340733)

I would never never go the Advantage plan route. If you are thinking about going this route, make sure you check these things out 1st:
1) something like 70% of medical procedures are not approved by the advantage provider. Since these policies are usually ran by insurance companies, they don’t approve medical procedures to save money. If you don’t believe this, check it out, and also look into why congress is looking into this. Why? Because Medicare doesn’t need approvals for medical procedures, so why do advantage plans?
2) I will always pay less with a supplement. No copays, $200 year deductible
3) once you are in the Advantage plan, you might never get into a supplement plan in the future. If you have any medical issues within the last 2 years, the supplement plans will not accept you. But when you turn 65, any plan has to accept you.

My insurance broker told me: if you can afford the supplement plan cost, keep it, this is the gold standard for Medicare coverage.
I agree!

Originally Posted by bowlingal (Post 2340889)

Advantage plans are good.....until you need medical care. Then, they suck

Originally Posted by MX rider (Post 2340918)

I guess you ignored this comment from an actual advantage customer:

"#1 is not true. I have an advantage plan and have cancer. I have never been denied anything."

As like many here you really don't know the facts or you choose to ignore them. Not all MA plans are the same. As I said in a previous post, SHINE said the one we chose was a good option!

Originally Posted by MX rider (Post 2340918)

Not all MA plans are the same. As I said in a previous post, SHINE said the one we chose was a good option!

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2340945)

Although true, and SHINE said it was a good option, many plan work until it doesn't. The fact that MA plans were denied their increase this year may change their customers' viewpoint eventually.

Many plans work, until they don't.
My wife's subordinate's private health care plan worked for her and her husband, up until this year. Same insurance we have. They stopped pre-authorizing her medical requirements. . . .

A retired friends' MA plan worked until it stopped working, they had to switch very quickly to maintain post heart surgery care. . .

Many plans work, until they don't.

Originally Posted by jojo (Post 2341014)

My mother had what I call a "high-end" advantage plan and it worked well with her doctor and the hospital. However, when she needed skilled nursing following a bout in the hospital, we had few choices and it was an absolute nightmare. In addition to poor nursing care, they lost her hearing aids the first night she was there. Even though she was fully continent, they put a diaper on her despite her protest. I have a neighbor who just experienced a hip fracture and was limited in skilled nursing because of her advantage plan. Beware.

Originally Posted by Marine1974 (Post 2340815)

What do you mean by we haven’t paid enough ?

Medicare is funded by a combination of sources, including:
General revenues: Contributions from the government
Payroll taxes: Paid by both employers and workers
Beneficiary premiums: Monthly payments for coverage
Other sources: Taxes on Social Security benefits, state payments, and interest
My taxes on my social security payments up to 85% also pay for Medicare . I’m being taxed on money I contributed.

Originally Posted by ithos (Post 2341112)

You may be right. I meant in the collective. But the vast majority of retirees will receive more than they put in. This in large part due to the advancements in medicine and the deteriorating health of elderly Americans due to poor lifestyle.

PolitiFact | Medicare and Social Security: What you paid compared with what you get

Payroll Taxes Fall Short of Paying for Social Security and Medicare-2023-12-18.

The system will continue to get worse until beneficiaries are incentivized or convinced to eat a healthier diet and do more exercise. But I don't see that happening. But of course the downside of people living longer healthier lives will mean that the SS retirement age will need to be raised but that would be a good tradeoff.

Blue Zones: Lessons From the World’s Longest Lived Blue Zones - PMC

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2341151)

I think a pretty big chunk of the "why retirees get more out of it than they pay in" is because many of them refuse to go to a doctor at all until it's an emergency. Emergency care, heart disease, stroke, cancer - are all VERY expensive medical issues to treat/cure. Much of this can be prevented (or risk greatly reduced) with regular checkups, routine exams and blood tests, appropriate nutritional and dietary information, and guidance with physical activity.

If you don't go to the doctor until you're sick, you probably could've avoided getting sick if you'd just gone to the doctor first. It costs the doctor less, it costs the health care system less, and it costs you less in your overall health, to participate actively in preventative (wellness) care.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2341151)

I think a pretty big chunk of the "why retirees get more out of it than they pay in" is because many of them refuse to go to a doctor at all until it's an emergency. Emergency care, heart disease, stroke, cancer - are all VERY expensive medical issues to treat/cure. Much of this can be prevented (or risk greatly reduced) with regular checkups, routine exams and blood tests, appropriate nutritional and dietary information, and guidance with physical activity.

If you don't go to the doctor until you're sick, you probably could've avoided getting sick if you'd just gone to the doctor first. It costs the doctor less, it costs the health care system less, and it costs you less in your overall health, to participate actively in preventative (wellness) care.