I saw this story and I had to add a comment. The author states, as fact, that Medicare Advantage costs $650 to $750 more per member per month than original Medicare. What a joke!
We can’t let BS like this pass as gospel!
Here is the story. . .see my comment at the bottom!
Bob:
Good to see you confronted this person on his error. I don’t understand how people have to offer an opinion on everything whether they understand it or not. It would be like me commenting on the viability of clean coal technology when I spend my days selling insurance. Is it so difficult to just say you don’t know when you don’t understand something or better yet not comment on it at all. Its like all these morons that call into a.m. radio commenting on $700 billion bailout and whether or not Obama’s economic stimulus plan will work or not. Economists with Ph’ds don’t know wheter it will work or not but some Joe blowhard can say with conviction whether he thinks its a good idea or a horrible idea. Thats the kind of stuff that drives me nuts.
It’s widespread.
Locally in NC, we have an economics who doesn’t even fully understand how MA and MAPD actually work, yet it doesn’t stop him from trashing the program every chance he gets.
He actually categorized Medicare Advantage as an “add on”, in the same category as a Med Sup.
When I corrected him on his error, he blew it off as something insignificant.
Ken is obviously liberal in his philosophy trashing Capitalism and big bad business while offering the solution of how the government can solve all our problems….let’s just raise taxes a let us run the show. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line the parasites(politicans) are going to suck the life blood out of the host (the middle class). That day is fast approaching. The last I heard was the average Senior was saving several hundred dollars a year under the current MA structure.
Thanks for this article Craig. The media loves negative news about insurance companies. They never bother to check any kind of facts whatsoever. Unfortunately some politicians would consider it political poison to support insurance companies. In the next election their opponent would say, “He/she is in the pocket of Big Insurance. I’m here for the people.”
i need to see these studies he claims show that MA is costing $650 to $750 more per month per patient. see if he has them. thank you,bob.
If you think thats misleading check out this article:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/business/berko/1390939,3_3_EL22_BERKO2_S1.article
And just to add, ther are others out here that care and are doing things other than just posting on craigs blog. (that’s not directed any previous post or anyone in particular)
I have written every congressperson I could think of and post at least 3 times a week on sites outside of this one – in hopes to get out the word.
If the 100 or so people that activly post to this site did the same we might get something started. Just a thought.
Here’s a blog that I set up to get things started- Not to compete with my friends here. http://medicareadvantageplan.blogspot.com/
And a shameless plug for my website: (if allowed)
as Aetna Medicare
Medicare Advantage Plans
Thanks
Chad:
Agreed. Like Craig said in his response to the guy that wrote that article. Much of the 14% extra it costs the taxpayers for Medicare Advantage is passed on to the enrollee in the form of extra benefits like dental, vision, transportation, etc. etc. What will they do with the 10 million + people that are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage if they do away with the program? How about all the wholes in Original Medicare. $1,068 in patient deductible that can be incurred up to 5 times a year and the 20% coinsurance on everything else? Not everyone can afford a supplement. Many seniors live on Social security and have no savings. I meet them every day and they love these advantage plans especially the transportation and dental benefits. As always, its the liberal media spewing off information and they don’t know what they are talking about.
You are correct Craig we can’t let BS like this go. It’s time to get off our a- – es and voice our opinions. Defend our jobs. Show everyone we have value.
It is perfectly clear after the past few months aside from Craig nobody else cares about us.
As far as the media- We are the bad agents moving seniors from product to product for commission only. I thinks it time we take these opportunities to take a stand and defend ourselves.