The GAO Finds Fault With Medicare Advantage

Reader Comments
Back to blog

I have a medicare advantage plan. Medicare Plan B takes more than $100 of my disability check. Medicare Advantage takes $200. I then pay $300 a month for additional MD
expenses (co-pays etc.) Somehow I dont see where I am saving money etc. By the way, I also pay for my medications as I am in the infamous Donut hole" That's another 400 a month and I don"t have heart disease, diabetes, hpertension, etc.
Somehow I feel overwhelmed. $1000 a month for health care and that is with "insurance".

Celia G. Aslan of SC 11:40PM July 30, 2008

In response to the post titled "Choice", I would make an alternate suggestion regarding cutting other programs to pay for Medicare. How about we cut the fat profits that are being paid to the Advantage companies, and let them see how well they handle it on the funds provided to Medicare? If they can't, the whole program is a sham, and we should return to traditional Medicare. We were told that they would be able to manage the program as well or better than Medicare on the same money, but they want Medicare to pay them more. Sounds like they are taking the money and giving it to advertisers and politicians rather than for the benefit of seniors.

Ross Boehning of MO 1:02PM July 15, 2008

Edward Hartman is in a plan he doesn't like because he didn't do his homework. That said, there is no reason he cannot change plans, although he will have to wait until the end of the year.
Statistics like "16% pay higher costs for inpatient hospitalization services" in Advantage plan implies something that strangely is omitted from the article:
Eighty-four percent of people on standard Medicare pay more!!!!
While the wisdom of having a private plan compete with Medicare can rightly be challenged and discussed in Congress, it is stupid to tie two completely different issues together to try to hammer out a last-minute, politically fueled decisions.
How about cutting subsidies to the wasteful pork-laden ethanol program to pay for Medicare Advantage plans. Or how about cutting $300 billion of tax payer money forked over to fat cats in the shameful agriculture bill to pay for Medicare shortfalls?
Doesn't that make better sense?
In fact, neither action makes any sense at all and is just one more example of why Congress is held in contempt by 91% of voters!

John Frykman of MN 8:04AM July 12, 2008

I am in a medicre advantage program--not by choice. When I was enrolled, against my wixhed, I lost my state coverage since it was combined with medicare. I was much better covered under the traditional medicare plan to which I wish to return.

Edward Hartman of WV 1:08PM March 08, 2008