Say Goodbye to Medicare Advantage

[G.Gordon]

I'd think most of us are wise enough to understand that the MA's aren't going away completely. What made this an issue was W's attempt to expand them into every nook and cranny in the country... places they shouldn't have been. And with this a flood of unprofessional head hunting agents that had nothing but their pocket in mind.

Down the road I can see the MA market being more popular and more receptive as the current 55-60 year olds age in. They are wiser to computer usage, the fact that not everyone is truthfull, and can tolerate out of pocket expenses.

 

[jdeasy]

I like to keep track of the good, the bad and the ugly of all this stuff. What links can you direct me to that will prove your statement?

"They have already demonstrated that they can't do a better job than the government with handling the healthcare for seniors. That's a really sad statement for the insirance companies."

You need a link to know that the companies have mis-managed the business? Seriously?

I said "demonstrated". I didn't say I read it somewhere.

 

[URDRWHO]

Ok, allow me to rephrase.

What examples are you willing to give about their demonstrated mis-managment?
Just a few. I know that my P&C companies were a bit too happy to keep premiums low due to the stock market. Examples of the health companies mis-managment would bring me up to speed.

If you didn't read it you must have your own analysis of the situation.
Did they not correctly invest their reserves or manage surplus? Did they pay too many fraudulent claims? Pay the providers too much too little? Too much money paid to the sales force?

You need a link to know that the companies have mis-managed the business? Seriously?

I said "demonstrated". I didn't say I read it somewhere.

 

[Josh]

I have to completely agree with you on this. HMO plans are great at managing healthcare costs and could survive a cut to 100%. Some were actually making money at 95%. This will of course mean they might have to pay a premium instead of the trend being $0/month and you'll likely see carriers either go under or pull out of certain markets, but MA is still going to be able to be a viable option for many seniors in many markets.

So how do you explain how HMO plans have been around since the early 90's in Kansas City?

They were surviving long before over funding, and I do not see them going anywhere.

 

[Todd King]

"""Say Goodbye to Medicare Advantage""" ......


I never said hello to it. My total number of MA plans on the books....

zero~

Not having to deal with all the rule changes and not getting paid.....
PRICELESS!

 

[stormtracker]

The Obama Manifesto says that you must eliminate the current regime before you replace it. It also says that you must act in haste, with the only objective being instant implementation without recourse. Basically, the definition of rape. America voted for this, now, let's see if we are stupid enough to tolerate it.

 

[URDRWHO]

We already know there are masses that are stupid enough to allow it.

Heck look at Octomom. The jobless, unmarried mother of 14 faces eviction from her home in two weeks. Suleman's mother, who owns the residence, hasn't sent a mortgage check in 10 months and owes $23,000 in back payments. Nonetheless, the plastic surgery-enhanced, welfare-dependent Octomom was photographed this week at a video store splurging on games for her brood.

The stupid ones will tolerate it because it is a lifestyle enhancement for them.

The Obama Manifesto says that you must eliminate the current regime before you replace it. It also says that you must act in haste, with the only objective being instant implementation without recourse. Basically, the definition of rape. America voted for this, now, let's see if we are stupid enough to tolerate it.

 

[jdeasy]

I have to completely agree with you on this. HMO plans are great at managing healthcare costs and could survive a cut to 100%. Some were actually making money at 95%. This will of course mean they might have to pay a premium instead of the trend being $0/month and you'll likely see carriers either go under or pull out of certain markets, but MA is still going to be able to be a viable option for many seniors in many markets.

I'm sure you are probably right. All the MA HMO/PPO plans here in western Ky and southern In will flourish. All one of them, that is. Humana'a horrible PPO with a $39/mo premium will do just fine.

 

[Tom Highway]

I always thought these subsidies were being phased out over the next 5+ years anyway. Any savvy plan administrator that hasn't already planned for this is just blind, and their bad plans should wither away anyway.

To me this just means that the crappy plans that aren't worth people enrolling in will go by the wayside, and the better plans (and agents) can scoop those people up, where their healthcare can be better "managed" fiscally.

 

[Mac1958]

This is not news nor will it be the end of medicare advantage. What you'll see is the big players (Humana, United Health, UAFC) strengthening their PPO/HMO networks.

Bingo.

Medicare Advantage will be pretty much what it has always been, a lower-cost/lower-benefit option to Medicare Supplements. I'd guess you'll see in a typical market:

MAPD plans (HMO/PPO) at around $30-$70
Medicare Supplements plus PDP totalling around $120-$250

The big players will continue to offer both MA and Medigap to hedge their bets, seniors will continue to have a choice, and life will go on.

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