Due to aggressive marketing, Medicare Advantage is becoming a bigger share of our Medicare system, now composing 34 percent of enrollees.
Medicare Advantage plans receive more money from the government than original Medicare. With its high overhead and profits, it wastes dollars that could be used for health care.
You should oppose Medicare Advantage because of its restricted choice: plans limit the doctors and hospitals enrollees can use and have little incentive to include providers who deliver value in their networks. They generally do not compete to deliver value.
Medicare Advantage shifts costs to people most needing care; high deductibles, co-pays and an out-of-pocket cap of nearly $7,000 undermine access and ration care based on the ability to pay.
Medicare Advantage plans raise costs through the time, money and personnel required for billing and other insurance-related administrative activities.
With a few notable exceptions such as Kaiser, Intermountain and Geisinger, Medicare Advantage plans put shareholders first, with incentives to maximize profits and delay and deny care.
Medicare Advantage plans have no incentive to innovate for the public good or disclose information about medical protocols, devices and other treatments that would benefit the public at large.
Medicare Advantage plans are a scam.
Jan Phillips
Durango
