Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2068269)

OP, very sorry this happened to you, and this is one (of many) reasons that we choose to stay with Medicare and supplemental plan. We were on advantage plan for a short period when Villages Health decided to stop grandfathering of supplemental plans. We had some problems and were able to get back to supplemental WITHOUT the underwriting requirement. We will never go back to an advantage plan.

Originally Posted by noslices1 (Post 2068501)

I have had advantage plans since I turned 65, 14 years ago and have had several surgeries, lots of different medications and appointments with specialists and have paid hardly anything but a small co-pay ($20-35), and no more than a couple hundred for any of the surgeries Advantage plans work very well from my experience.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2068177)

An advantage plan is Medicare Part C. It replaces and covers most things that Part B (doctor visits and surgery) and Part D (drugs) cover. Part A is hospitalization.

Originally Posted by Larchap49 (Post 2068536)

Wrong wrong. Medicare part c is a supplement from an insurance company ie humana, blue cross etc. It is identified as part E, F, G, M, etc. An Advantage
Plan is total aftermarket coverage from an insurance co. GOVERNMENT Medicare is off the table with an advantage plan. Lower premium with advantage but high deductible and co- pays.

Originally Posted by Larchap49 (Post 2068536)

Wrong wrong. Medicare part c is a supplement from an insurance company ie humana, blue cross etc. It is identified as part E, F, G, M, etc. An Advantage
Plan is total aftermarket coverage from an insurance co. GOVERNMENT Medicare is off the table with an advantage plan. Lower premium with advantage but high deductible and co- pays.

Originally Posted by dougawhite (Post 2068542)

Plan C is often mistaken with Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, but the two are very different. Plan C is supplemental insurance for people who have Original Medicare. Medicare Part C is a private health insurance alternative to Original Medicare.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2068095)

Typically, it would be the insurance company who dropped the doctor from their plan. I can understand them not notifying you because they would have no way to know if you had an appointment with that doctor. I think the doctor should have notified you, but a 60 day notice seems unrealistic. They do confirm appointments, but that is usually a few days before the appointment.

Originally Posted by rsmurano (Post 2068519)

You do know the advantage plans are terrible don’t you? The supplement plans like ‘g’ ‘n’ and others, these are the Cadillac plans for very little money with no copays, $200 deductibles, and I can go to any dr in the country that supports Medicare. My insurance broker told me to never go to an advantage plan and i never will

Originally Posted by Caymus (Post 2068507)

I am still a year away, but I have a side question. Can supplement plans be changed annually without underwriting? I know that underwriting is not required initially when reaching age 65.

PS I spent my first 22 years in Allentown

Thanks

Originally Posted by jswirs (Post 2068059)

Just recently my PCP cancelled my appointments because it was decided that patients with my particular Medicare Advantage Plan are no longer being accepted, unless I pay "out of pocket" cost. (For personal and financial reasons I decided not to pay "out of pocket"). This information was not given to me until I called the office one week before my appointment.
I understand a doctor's decision to do this, however, I was not informed by my insurance people, Medicare, or my doctor's office. If I did not happen to call the office I would have shown up for an appointment that no longer existed.
I know I am not the only person this has happened to, so, my question is: "Why can't the doctor's office inform patients when the decision is made to drop those patients who have a particular insurance plan?"
I was told that the responsibility to do this falls on the insurance company. But the insurance company may have tens of thousands of people on their books, leaving the possibility of overlooking someone.
The way I see it, if a doctor can confirm every appointment by texting, why couldn't a simple "FYI" text be sent to patients when their appointments are cancelled because of an insurance decision? (There are some states that require a doctor's office to inform patients with a 60 day notice before any existing appointments are cancelled.)
I know there are a few MD's, as well as insurance folks, on this forum, and I thank them and anyone else who may reply.