Apparently, Medicare Advantage is a Republican scam...

[Craig234]

Why Are Any of Us Paying for the Scam That is Medicare Advantage? | Common Dreams

These plans are private health insurance provided by private corporations, who are then fully reimbursed by the Medicare trust fund regardless of how much their customers use their insurance.

www.commondreams.org

 

[Greenbeard]

It's a bit of a boondoggle, for sure.

‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions

Really good look from the NYTimes this weekend at the lengths insurers participating in the privatized half of Medicare go to—up to and including outright fraud—to exploit aspects of the program designed to protect sicker patients’ access by paying insurers more for their care. ‘The Cash...

debatepolitics.com

Medicare Advantage crackdown!

Lots of privatization of government programs and functions these days, and Medicare is no exception. For decades Medicare has allowed enrollees to choose regulated private insurance plans that gets a premium from Medicare (and often the enrollee). But that opens up dangers of legislative...

debatepolitics.com

Medicare Advantage Growth Driving Up Federal Spending

When it comes to long-term federal spending obligations and the debt picture, Medicare has always been the story. And the spectacular savings (cumulative trillions of dollars so far) in Medicare savings that have been achieved since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010 are also a key part of...

debatepolitics.com

 

[Geoist]

Mark Pocan is trying to get a bill passed to make it so they can't call it 'Medicare Advantage'. So many seniors have been scammed.

 

[Craig234]

Mark Pocan is trying to get a bill passed to make it so they can't call it 'Medicare Advantage'. So many seniors have been scammed.

The author of the story is Progressive talk radio host Thom Hartmann. For years, he had Bernie as a weekly guest. When Bernie ran for president, Thom replaced him with weekly shows with Mark Pocan.

 

[Geoist]

The author of the story is Progressive talk radio host Thom Hartmann. For years, he had Bernie as a weekly guest. When Bernie ran for president, Thom replaced him with weekly shows with Mark Pocan.

Love Hartmann. Will sometimes listen to his show when I'm not working. I know he's been a big advocate of the Medicare Advantage problem.

 

[year2late]

Love Hartman as well. My favorite part of his shows - when someone was spouting off unsubstantiated information (crap) he would give them time to back up their statements and allow them to the front of the line to get back on the air.

 

[Craig234]

Love Hartman as well. My favorite part of his shows - when someone was spouting off unsubstantiated information (crap) he would give them time to back up their statements and allow them to the front of the line to get back on the air.

It also seems pretty clear he felt arguing with such people attracted listeners more than callers he agreed with. So 'free speech for those he disagreed with' and 'better ratings' aligned.

 

[jaeger19]

Why Are Any of Us Paying for the Scam That is Medicare Advantage? | Common Dreams

These plans are private health insurance provided by private corporations, who are then fully reimbursed by the Medicare trust fund regardless of how much their customers use their insurance.

www.commondreams.org

A lot of my patients who have Medicare advantage plans ger shocked when tgey find out that they DONT HAVE MEDICARE Anymore.

They don't know these advantage plans REPLACE their Medicare.

And are shocked when the plan won't approve an mri... or a needed surgery.

The sad thing is that these Medicare advantage plans have changed practice patterns in the medical community. Now care can be delayed because physicians won't order tests such as imaging until enough time has passed and documented issues persist..
Meaning patients with sever problems linger even though they have traditional Medicare and could be well on their way to recovery.

 

[Craig234]

A lot of my patients who have Medicare advantage plans ger shocked when tgey find out that they DONT HAVE MEDICARE Anymore.

They don't know these advantage plans REPLACE their Medicare.

And are shocked when the plan won't approve an mri... or a needed surgery.

The sad thing is that these Medicare advantage plans have changed practice patterns in the medical community. Now care can be delayed because physicians won't order tests such as imaging until enough time has passed and documented issues persist..
Meaning patients with sever problems linger even though they have traditional Medicare and could be well on their way to recovery.

Thank you for the firsthand report. And this is all thanks to Republicans. If you can't beat Medicare, make a scam.

 

[jaeger19]

Thank you for the firsthand report. And this is all thanks to Republicans. If you can't beat Medicare, make a scam.

Yeah no. Medicare advantage has enjoyed bipartisan support.

 

[Craig234]

Yeah no. Medicare advantage has enjoyed bipartisan support.

Medicare Advantage itself was passed by Republicans in 2003. The vote was 207 Republicans and 9 Democrats for, 19 Republicans and 195 Democrats against. Yes, Democrats are not free of corruption, and their support for Medicare Advantage has grown, but we can thank Republicans for the worst of it IMO. Admittedly, precursors existed, including passed by the Republican-lite Bill Clinton.