For all the Medicare Advantage haters:

[question everything]

More than two weeks ago I rushed my spouse to the ER where he underwent a surgery for a twisted and perforated cecum.

Yesterday was moved to a rehab place but is still attached to a wound pump.

So far charges are $15K. Our share: $30 to visit Urgent Care at a clinic where we were told to go to the ER.

The amount does not include the hospital stay where our copay should be.. $250.

[snowybirdie]

1. Great!

Glad your expenses were covered. However many haven't been so lucky and feel cheated. Hope your good luck keeps up.

[comradebillyboy]

2. Medicare advantage has always worked well for me

through two surgeries and a heat attack. I don't understand what's not to like. Now if we could only get some malpractice reform here in poor old New Mexico...

[stopdiggin]

3. the people that are hating on Advantage plans

(to be clear, I am not one) are mostly doing so on policy and political grounds - not necessarily 'coverage'.
The basic issue is that Advantage is a mash-up of federal funding and private for profit health care administration (as was intended by designers and politicians that ushered it in to being). What it isn't, is nationalized health care as administered by the federal government - and many are going to be satisfied with nothing less than that real article.

I too am an ardent advocate for nationalized health care - and think it something of an embarrassment that the richest country in the world ... On the other hand - I have a hard time envisioning at what point over the past 25-30 years - the country had any real prospect of enacting such a system?

[ariadne0614]

4. This I believe.

Medicare Advantage is a trojan horse. It’s a vehicle to lure people in with low/no cost plans and tasty extras. Once they snare the lion’s share of citizens desperate for affordable healthcare, they will make a case for forcing the rest of us into for-profit plans. That’s when they’ll lower the boom and start denying coverage and eliminating the extras. It’s hard for me to understand why so many people are willing to put the future of national healthcare in the hands of private insurance executives and their shareholders.

[question everything]

6. we have been on the same program with the same carrier for more than 15 years

Spouse had an open hears surgery four years ago and the data were the same.

It is considered a not for profit company. No million dollar salaries and not listed on the stock exchange

[ariadne0614]

8. I'm sincerely glad it's worked well for you.

It sounds like an exception to the rule.

[Thunderbeast]

5. Last year, my plan paid all but $2,400 on $60k hospital chages.

ZERO premium plan.

I pay $200 monthly for $2,600 of consumable medical devices.

While I am all for universal Medicare, I am pretty satisfied with current coverage.

EVERY US RESIDENT should have access to quality Healthcare withobaut fear of bankruptcy. It works in 31 out of 32 economies.

[Nigrum Cattus]

7. this is a rare experience

most people using "advantage" have less than positive
experiences. As a original Medicare recipient + supplemental
I don't get co-pays after treatments/surgeries
https://www.newsweek.com/list-of-health-systems-dropping-medicare-advantage-plans-in-january-11291771