Comments on: Mitt Romney likes Medicare Advantage

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:46:00 +0000

Keith: providers (doctors, labs, hospitals, etc) are contracted with multiple Advantage plans as well as multiple insirance plans for people younger than 65. And they are also contracted with Medicare.

You mention “writedown” so I assume you believe the medical billsmyou receive where there is a big number and then the provider accepts rhe insurance company payment – poor things have to give up sooo much money, how do they stay in business? Thr truth is that they negotiated the payment rates. medicare has the lowest rates and insurance companies offer 10 a 20% more. Advantage plans generally pay providers the Medicare rate.

Medicare Advantage has a sweet deal with Medicare where they get more money per enrollee than Medicare spends on the average senior. Of course they don’t complain because they are in a no-lose business funded by taxpayers.

Medicare Advantage is not a good deal for Medicare, so it can only continue if Advantage plans can truly be more efficient than Medicare. So far they have not shown that they are.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:01:00 +0000

Medicare Advantage is 17% more subsidized than traditional and never argues. Their negotiated writedown with providers adverages 45%.

I dont need separate policies for additional coverage or drugs.
They use proactive software screening to reject fraudulent claims..like most ins co.

Medicare uses post pay recovery auditors …the dumb expensive way.

Heres my chack for additional 17 bucks a month for the next year..now shove Oibamacare in your ear.

Oh and Advantage providers deal with one admin group..not two or three.

By: Superboy 60

Superboy 60 — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:04:00 +0000

You are absolutely correcty. MA is for people who are healthy, and for those who are turning 65, since people turning 65 do not have to answer any underwriting questions, except for special issues, which is beyond the scope of this post.

Obama is the answer. Our President Elect shall remain the choice of voting Americans. Why? Because there are more “have-nots” than “haves.” Simple, right?

By: Denise_Early

Denise_Early — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 16:48:00 +0000

Jason may be referring to Medicare Advantage plans for people with chronic illnesses or people on Medicaid. I agree that these folks are sicker than the average senior or disabled person. These “Special Needs Plans” receive quite a bit more money from Medicare and are supposed to provide more services for their members. But the vast majority of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans are not in special needs plans.

By: Denise_Early

Denise_Early — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Jason, you have it backwards. Medicare Advantage attracts healthier seniors while Medicare supplements (which are “guaranteed issue” for the first six months of a person’s Medicare coverage) are more cost-efficient for people with health problems. I’m in the business of Medicare Advantage and Medigap, and I can tell you this is the case.

A person turning 65 who is healthy sees Medicare Advantage as a good deal because they will “pay as they go” for their medical care (especially if they have a zero premium Advantage plan).

If a person is turning 65 and has health problems, Medicare supplements require them to pay up front, but then they have limited co-pays, or even no co-pays for their medical care (with Plan F).

I have spoken to a college professor who has studied Medicare claims, and he told me people with full coverage (no co-pays) use the medical system more. Maybe this is because they are sick – or maybe because they’ve already paid for full insurance coverage, so there is no “speed bump” to keep them from seeking a second opinion or more services.

Having worked with Medicare clients for seven years, I can see that people in Medicare Advantage plans get older and sicker – though I have plenty of 80-year old clients who are very healthy. When they do get sicker, they will have to pay the co-pays that go with their Medicare Advantage plan.

I tell people who are thinking about enrolling in Medicare Advantage that they should put money aside each month so they will have the funds to pay their co-pays when/if they get sick. People with money can do this, but many of my clients are living on less than $1,200 Social Security checks and don’t have the extra cash to put aside.

By: Howard Ellis

Howard Ellis — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Competition lowers, rather than raises, costs and prices. Look at public education compared to private education. Private schools (e.g. Catholic schools) provide a better education in a safer environment for much less than many public schools. They spend far less on admin costs and deliver services much more efficiently. Do you think that if the US had one (government-run)
automobile manufacturer that the cost of cars would go down and the quality up?

By: Jason Wisneski

Jason Wisneski — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:22:00 +0000

you are an idiot. medicare advantage plans receive more money per enrolle, because it is based on RISK you fool! They have the SICKEST enrollees on their books! The people on original medicare are mostly also on medicare supplement plans which are not guarnateed issue. So those people are healtheir & wealthier. Medicare advantage has people on disability, diabetics, etc. because they cannot refuse coverage based on pre-existing conditions (ESRD the only exception). If those people were on Original Medicare costs would be even higher. This is demonstrated by Medicare advantage plans having a 27 % less hospitalization rate than enrollees on Original Medicare despite having sicker patients….