Medicare Advantage vs. regular Medicare supplement plan

[Chris]

I am facing a decision as to whether to go with a Medicare Advantage Plan or regular Medicare Supplement. I'd like to hear pros and cons from people who have tried one or other....or both.

To me, Medicare Advantage sounds like a Republican plot to privatize Medicare. The next step will be Social Security.

[Dave Roberts]

Chris, I wish I could help but am still on employer insurance plan while I remain a worker. The choices are somewhat challenging and daunting.

[Gary]

Chris,

One never knows when Lucy will pull the football away from the tee. The current crop of "Lucys" are getting very good at it.

However, to answer part of your question, go to: .

You'll find a bunch of resources, including comparisons.

A 50K foot overview chart is located here as well:

Almost all of the remaining Medigap plans taking new enrollees ramp up the cost with age while Medicare Advantage plans costs the same for everyone in that particular plan. Make sure that prescription, dental, vision, etc., is included in the plan specifically if you want it.

And let's hope that they don't pull back the football a few years down the road.

Gary

[Cathy]

Chris, as someone who spent most of my practice time caring for sick people I would make these comments.

If you don't get sick the Medicare advantage plan is fine and may save you money.

Frequently Medicare Advantage plans in Texas had a very limited choice in specialists. When people are ready to leave the hospital but need specialty rehabilitation care they did not have a facility near their home on the advantage plan.

The good news was that generally you could get off of a plan at the end of the month and some facilities would take a patient that would be funded in couple of weeks if not the day they left the hospital.

Last time I read about the Advantage plans the government was actually paying private insurance companies more than the regular Medicare plans were costing per patient.

We found a lot of patients were on Advantage plans after part D came out because Advantage plans used the marketing of their D plan as a package with the part B and A plans. This caused a lot of confusion that meant patients were getting care from their usual doctors only to find that their doctor was not on the plan.