Why Warn About Advantage?
in today’s column 10/24/24 about medicare change begins…..you write…”longtime readers know i warn about advantage over supplement if you can afford premiums cuz costs add up”…..my friends & i can afford supplement premiums….BUT…..when the px. are $6000-7000 per year now at our age and the max. out of pocket on an advantage is $5000 for example ……what about the years that you might spend a few hundred or a couple thousand??? We have several that finally dropped their beloved F plan and have been very pleased with an advantage this year….for exp: one had a knee replacement plus PT plus normal doctor appts. for a billing $27,000 (with no hospitalization) and paid a total of $492 out of pocket thus far!!! (her supplement px. was $429 /month x 7 months YTD. We think there’s alot of fear tactics out there for some reason. Why??? Thank you. Bob
Terry Says
Because of the facts I outlined in the column. So far so good for your friends. But this is “managed care” — and the companies like Humana and United Healthcare are being squeezed on profits as the govt cuts back on per capita stipends and the aging population needs more specialized healthcare. t
The likely next step is more denials of tests and treatments. It’s already happening, or causing delays in care while appeals are pursued.
It’s your decision — but be warned that this is not only an issue of cost, but of ACCESS to the specialists and hospitals of your choice, which is what original Medicare plus a supplement gives you. Please read the articles in the RED box on my home page at TerrySavage.com for more details.
