Another one that is too stubborn to even think about offering a client options. 34 million on MA are all morons for being on it?By all means it’s about what you think and not what is best for the client.
A dying agents warning ‼️
- Thread starter Duaine
- Start date
Well he ain't exactly wrong.
And maybe he wasn't talking about 34 million people. Could have been someone else.
Suitupshowup1
New Member
- 4
I never implied to not offer a client options, only to also explain that they will be more restricted at a stage in life where they will need medical care more than ever. And they may not qualify medically to change later to Med Supp. Some can only afford MA. I get that. I was reacting to those than claim it to be better coverage, and do not consider the potential downside. My post never claimed it was the only viable option. But you usually pay more keeping Original Medicare and buying a Med Supp. And there is good reason. Most with a chronic illness will fare much better with the OM and Med Supp. Nothing wrong with MA if it presented with eyes open. It does belong in the marketplace. But not for those with high net worth and can afford the other IMO.
straightnochaser
Guru
- 978
MAPD is way way more trouble than med supp, and im not sure anyone here is saying it's superior coverage - welcome to the forum
I'm reasonably well educated and if you think anyone has time to read and decipher this in October, I've got a bridge to sell you. It goes over a Holiday Inn.
Why are you taking offense and then attacking me? Credible research generally is more often "correct" than a bunch of anecdotes although a bunch of anecdotal comments often can lead creating hypotheses to test to see if, in fact, they are true (and of course they can be). Nowhere in my comment did I say to go read/look for that now when people are their busiest. Sheesh.
The agent dying from cancer?
I had to look back to see what the OP was about.
FWIW, someone facing a major illness quite often has one of those "Wow, I could have had a V-8" moments. Observations made retrospectively often are made with regret. Getting old and sick isn't for weenies.
Most of us will have one (or more) of those times when we want to take a Mulligan on life but will just have to suck it up and deal with our choices.
Some of you may remember this post & thread by Dr. Who. It puts a completely different perspective on life through the rear view mirror.
Former CMS Administrator Weighs in on Advantage Plans
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Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Releases Majority Staff Report Exposing Medicare Advantage Insurers' Refusal of Care for Vulnerable Seniors
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BALDELMO
Expert
- 71
Clark Howard: Why I Think Medicare Advantage Plans Stink
Written by Clark Howard | October 22nd, 2024Why You Can Trust Clark.com
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If you’re approaching your 65th birthday, you may be shocked by how many solicitations you’re getting from Medicare Advantage plans. By comparison, you may receive only one official notice about traditional Medicare. Salespeople, mailers, phone calls, and other forms of communication will tell someone turning 65 that the only wise choice is Advantage.
Let me explain the difference.
Medicare: Explaining the Difference
Traditional Medicare confuses the daylights out of people. There are parts A, B, and D, and then there are Medicare supplements.- Part A: “free” (taxes pay for it) and covers hospitalization.
- Part B: premium-based and covers doctor visits and other expenses other than hospitalization. The premium for Part B is set each year and is the same for everyone except for people considered to be wealthy (who pay a surcharge that can be rather small to quite large).
- Part D: premium-based and covers prescriptions. The premiums vary based on how much drug coverage you buy and who you buy it from. This is different from Part B which is bought directly from the federal government.
- Supplements: You may still have a lot of out-of-pocket expenses even if you have Part B, so you can buy a plan known as a supplement from a private insurer. These plans are standardized in terms of coverage, and there are so many of them that they’re labeled by letters A through N. Each letter has a different level of coverage (Plan G covers the most). The premiums will vary from one insurer to another but know that each plan of a letter will have identical benefits.
Avoid Medicare Advantage Plans
You should know I warn people away from Medicare Advantage plans.About half of people who are eligible for Medicare choose Advantage plans for any of a number of reasons. And many people are happy with the Advantage plans they’ve picked. In fact, every time I say something negative about them, I hear from people who are upset with me because they are beyond thrilled with the Advantage plan they chose.
My objections are simple. Once you are in an Advantage plan, it’s difficult to switch to regular Medicare. After your first 11 months, in most states, you can’t easily buy a supplement without passing a medical evaluation. And you likely will have trouble switching to a competitor’s Advantage plan if yours turns out to be a bad choice.
In other words, you could end up being a prisoner of the Advantage plan you pick at 65 for the rest of your life — even if it turns out to be crummy or becomes rotten over time. In my opinion, this is a fatal flaw of Medicare Advantage plans. You could also end up with a serious illness, and the choice of doctors and facilities you are allowed under your particular Advantage plan could be the difference between life and death. With traditional Medicare, you have many more options to seek out the best care, best specialists and best hospitals for your illness.
Yes, traditional Medicare is more difficult to understand and buy upfront. Your premiums may even be higher. But you are your own boss of your healthcare. With Medicare Advantage, understand that the insurer makes money by limiting your care and your options.
That lower cost could kill you.
Funny that most people could afford them before MA plans were introduced. I understand that many struggled to make the payments, but I can guarantee you many that went onto an MA plan found out just how "affordable" those med supps were.
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