I always hear the horror stories that they are both terrible.
On the surface I don’t like them.
Every single one that I know that has them is very pleased.
What am I missing ?
Regards Med Advantage plans. Everyone loves free or very nearly free with what seems at first glance some extras thrown in that you can’t get with traditional Medicare. They do, at least, until the denials for treatment with who they want to see start rolling in. A friend was delayed in getting a treatment for glaucoma while he was losing his vision in the meantime. He tried to switch during open enrollment but it was just too expensive. He was able to switch from an HMO plan to PPO which has helped.
Medicare Advantage has cost the taxpayers more than traditional since it’s inception and despite congress trying to rein in the excesses they keep doing it. What would you expect when you have to make a profit for the executives and stockholders of the companies that run those programs. I won’t bore you with how they are doing that but a search for something like why does MA cost more for taxpayers will turn up plenty of information.
If you do still decide to go that route be sure the plan is a PPO instead of an HMO but be aware that there are still health care providers that won’t accept any MA plan in the country. The Mayo clinic in Arizona won’t for example.
Good luck
So people are pleased with purchasing a time share that has a resale value of $0 or less ?
I am 77 and have not signed up for Medicare at all. I am taking a risk that I am willing to take because I have spent 50 years learning how to take care of my body without Modern Medicine. The new buzz word is “Functional Fitness”. It used to be called “healthy lifestyle” “traditional medicine” “alternative medicine” and “quackery”. I have health care providers who tell me what tests to get and what supplements to take. My family did not have health insurance by choice (we could well afford it) and didn’t need it. A horse stepped on my daughter’s foot and we got $295 x-rays for $125. Anything we needed in the medical field was significantly discounted. Educate yourself and decide what’s best for you.
Are you not financially penalized for not having Medicare? I will be the first to admit Medicare reimbursements to docs are laughable. But I would hate to face hospitalization without any insurance at all.
Rush Limbaugh made a big deal about not wanting or needing health insurance. But then he was making at least 25 million $ a year at the time.
You are taking a big risk being uninsured. You could be badly hurt in an accident without warning. Maybe you are as wealthy as Rush Limbaugh and a health catastrophe would not bankrupt you. Most of us are not so fortunate.
yes, It is a risk I am willing to take based on all the decisions I have made about my lifestyle. I will be a burden to no one.
I had a very close friend who got lung cancer. She never smoked a day in her life. Her lifestyle was healthy. Stuff happens. But if you’re saying that you are good with foregoing treatment - more power to you.
They are still probably withdrawing the fee from your social security (if you’re collecting that) whether you “signed up” or not. Please check
I am not foregoing treatment. I do not yet need treatment for anything. I have maintained a healthy lifestyle for 50 years and continue to study and educate myself. I have 2 health care providers (the new buzz word is “Functional Fitness”) who haven’t let me down so far.
Thanks for the heads up. No, they aren’t taking anything out.
My only point ws…my friend lived a healthy lifestyle and never smoked, yet she got lung cancer. One lung removed and chemo wasn’t cheap.
First, I would not do chemo. Second, I would probably go to Mexico if I got treatment at all. Third, her “healthy lifestyle” may not have been as high a standard as I have. I have PhD and DOM practitioners advising me. I find that people who use Functional Fitness AND Modern Medicine don’t have the success rate that those of us who reject Modern Medicine completely. Fourth, cash payments are significantly lower than insurance payments. I got a $2000 MRI for $500. I had an acquaintance who died of cancer at 72. She had cancer, and it came back 20 years later. She was self-treating her healthy lifestyle without professional advisors. I read and study on my own, but I run everything past my advisors. Mainly because I don’t want to spend my money on something I don’t need.
You do not believe there is any genetic basis for disease, then?
While she’s proud of her lifestyle, since theey are going to take medicare from her social security anyways, it might not be a bad idea for her to take a Medicare Advantage plan with no premium…just in case.