More insurance brokers would choose traditional Medicare over Medicare Advantage: Report

[DonP]

The few situations where MAPD is a fit for my client base that I really don't care about missing a few $$ in exchange for fewer client complaints. As @sman said, I have no problem referring folks to him that are not a fit for Medicare supplement. Plus I know they will be taken care of in the same manner as I would if I were in the MAPD market.

I had 35 years working the under 65 market and that was enough to last a lifetime. Some of my clients were lower income, some were salt of the earth folks but most were a PITA. Not going back there . . . ever.

There are 11,000,000 people in Georgia age 65 and older. The average income for folks 65+ is $48,000. KFF says 56% have an Advantage plan, that leaves almost 5 million folks who want what I have.

I like those odd.

Plus most of them are never exposed to a discussion about Medigap so I really have a captive market.

Somarco your getting old and your memory’s failing you .You said there’s 11 million people in Ga 65 or older and and 5 million or 42% aren’t on mapd .I looked it up . The TOTAL POPULATION of Ga is 11 mil . There’s 1.9 mil medicare eligible . Also your analysis is making a fatal mistake . You quoted 58% on mapd and 42% are on sups . That’s incorrect . Of those 42% not on mapd a good chunk are on original Medicare only , tricare or champus . I was looking at nationwide states . 65 million Medicare eligible. 31 million on mapd , 14 million on sups and the rest on other stuff

 

[rmhaire]

It’s near impossible for an agent starting out to make a living selling sups .

Damn. I wished you'd told me this back in 89 when I started out making a living selling supplements. Just shows what I know.

 

[DonP]

Damn. I wished you'd told me this back in 89 when I started out making a living selling supplements. Just shows what I know.

Im talking today if a new guy comes in today .

 

[somarco]

Damn. I wished you'd told me this back in 89 when I started out making a living selling supplements. Just shows what I know.

Never figured you as a slow learner but apparently I was wrong.

 

[rmhaire]

Never figured you as a slow learner but apparently I was wrong.

At least I learned something new today ... Probably gonna have a lot of free time on my hands next week.

 

[maxherr]

Have been actively promoting MAPD for years, and have personally been a subsciber for more than 5 years. Am fortunate to be in Southern California, where there are an abundance of plans available -- and I represent about 6 different insurers. Almost $0 out of pocket in all this time -- just a few copays for some meds and one visit to an ER a few months ago to diagnose Bell's Palsy. Thankfully, my MAPD plan included 12 acupuncture treatments at $0 copay and I used 10 of them to chase the Bell's Palsy away in just over 4 weeks. With $0 premiums in the past 5-1/2 years compared to several thousand in Med Supp premiums + Part D PDP premiums, I am miles ahead.

Having said all this, I still make sure my clients get the right coverage for their needs. Those looking for $0 premiums . . . before all else, I have to make sure their doctors/specialists are in the available networks/plans. Same as with IFP health insurance . . . the last thing I want to do is disrupt existing doctor-patient relationships. And with due diligence, I almost always manage to do that.

If someone doesn't want the HMO -- or, increasingly available, PPO (with modest monthly premums) -- MAPD plan, and wants the freedom to see any provider without referrals (or plans to travel extensively), then Med Supp Plans F and G make the most sense if one can afford the monthly premiums. But the Part D PDP plans have been a real pain in the butt since their inception in 2006. Some of the plans have premiums in excess of $150 per month, and folks still end up with major out-of-pocket expenses for their meds.

 

[somarco]

before all else, I have to make sure their doctors/specialists are in the available networks/plans.

Do you ask which providers they will use when their health changes? Which hospitals? Which infusion centers?

What they have now is completely irrelevant . . . the only thing that matters is who they can use when they need their health insurance the most.

Life is not static, especially when it comes to health.

 

[InsuranceGuy29]

dude really pulled up a post from 5 months ago to shit on agents who sell mapd... smh

It's become a running joke. Nowadays, MAPD's are just as good (if not better, when accounting for absolutely everything involved) than supplements. Everyone always conveniently leaves out the massive monetary savings of MAPD. That's effing HUGE in this economy.

Both of my parents have had MAPD's for 12 years, and zero complaints to report. Same goes for my clients. A client of mine just had a full knee replacement for about $350. That's a $50,000 surgery.

Nowadays, it's all just agenda-driven fear-mongering. I offer both supplements and MAPD's, and I'd recommend either to any person. It all just comes down to personal preferences of what the person prefers in a few different areas. As far as the actual health coverage, you're well-covered on both.

 

[sman]

It's become a running joke. Nowadays, MAPD's are just as good (if not better, when accounting for absolutely everything involved) than supplements. Everyone always conveniently leaves out the massive monetary savings of MAPD. That's effing HUGE in this economy.

Both of my parents have had MAPD's for 12 years, and zero complaints to report. Same goes for my clients. A client of mine just had a full knee replacement for about $350. That's a $50,000 surgery.

Nowadays, it's all just agenda-driven fear-mongering. I offer both supplements and MAPD's, and I'd recommend either to any person. It all just comes down to personal preferences of what the person prefers in a few different areas. As far as the actual health coverage, you're well-covered on both.

$50,000 huh? You sure about that?

[EXTERNAL LINK] - Procedure Price Lookup for Outpatient Services | Medicare.gov

 

[straightnochaser]

$50,000 huh? You sure about that?

[EXTERNAL LINK] - Procedure Price Lookup for Outpatient Services | Medicare.gov

View attachment 10196

So if the patient pays $2163 and the Part B responsibility is 20% what would be the total cost?