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MineralMan

(151,717 posts)
40. That is bad advice for a huge number of people.
Sun May 31, 2026, 11:39 AM
Yesterday

It's based on political matters, not health care. If you have Medicare as your insurance, you have two choices: You can get into an Advantage plan or you can pay for supplemental insurance to deal with what basic Medicare does not cover.

All Advantage plans are not the same. Even within a particular plan, there are options that involve an additional premium.

In my Advantage plan, I pay $67 per month, and, like all Advantage plans, they get the money that it deducted from my Social Security benefit each month. If I switched to a supplement, I would be paying $600 per month and not have as much coverage.

I spend weeks deciding which of the available programs I should use. I'm very happy with the Advantage plan I chose.

Each person MUST research the available plans and choose what is best for their particular needs. You cannot just flatly say they shouldn't choose an Advantage plan. You would be wrong almost all the time.

I just spend a week in the hospital a couple of weeks ago. I got a wide range of diagnostic tests, plus treatment for what send me in there. I'm home now, and have an oxygen concentrator in my house, if I need it. Fortunately, I've been able to wean myself off of it, but it will be here for the next six months.

How much has all this cost me, out of pocket? $365 dollars, and that was for a co-pay for one of the prescriptions they sent home with me. Everything else was covered 100% by my Advantage plan.

So, how do you square that up with your original statement? How would I benefit if I followed your advice?

You are not competent to tell others what they should do or not do. Everyone needs to research their own needs and what is available where they live. Please do not give such advice. You are wrong in this instance, when it comes to me, and to many others.

You can keep posting what you posted. Each time, I will come in and counter your poor advice.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Absolutely! buzzycrumbhunger Saturday #1
I've had an advantafe plan for ten years and didn't know this. How can they prevent me from switching? FadedMullet Saturday #2
you can switch back to regular Medicare Skittles Saturday #5
Plan B is allowed to do "medical underwriting," nilram Yesterday #8
You generally have a one-time opportunity to sign up for a Medigap/Supplement plan. Ms. Toad Yesterday #9
It's not that you can "never" go back buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #11
I think you mean Plan C dflprincess Yesterday #13
When I was about to turn 65, I was inundated with mail ads for Medicare Advantage Wednesdays Saturday #3
I'm 76, and I still get those ads occasionally. ShazzieB Yesterday #15
Same, and it wasn't just mail ads. GoCubsGo Yesterday #43
Yes, we've gotten them at my house... inundated is right. I can't imagine how much money is wasted on these mailers LymphocyteLover Yesterday #50
I still get a ton of calls even though I use a regular Medicare plan and a schedule g supplement LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #52
I agree, but they have made regular Medicare unaffordable for a lot of people Skittles Saturday #4
Gods, yes! buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #12
it's all a racket Skittles Yesterday #17
The biggest pisser? buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #22
oh wow Skittles Yesterday #24
My traditional Medicare is my biggest budget expense by far. GoodRaisin Yesterday #23
yup Skittles Yesterday #25
Bull OhioBack2Blue Yesterday #28
why not just say single payer Skittles Yesterday #29
I think its because scrapping Medicare Johonny Yesterday #42
There's a possibility that this admin will channel everyone into Advantage plans... allegorical oracle Yesterday #48
Traditional Medicare is far from "wrecked" Dave says Yesterday #53
This message was self-deleted by its author Emile Yesterday #33
Less than buy-your-own. (nt) ret5hd Yesterday #47
Buzzy, are you referring to Advantage? Dave says Yesterday #44
That's the worst part imo. ShazzieB Yesterday #16
I had a landlord several years ago, who said she had changed her mom's health plan to one of those... C Moon Yesterday #6
Medicare has a trust fund? n/t aggiesal Yesterday #7
Switching Medicare options after you are already on it can be done at the same time of year that other switches summer_in_TX Yesterday #10
If it was designed to destroy Medicare, why would President Clinton sign it into law? MichMan Yesterday #14
LOL Skittles Yesterday #18
Good question Hope22 Yesterday #19
Republicons held the house and senate in 1997... OhioBack2Blue Yesterday #31
+1 leftstreet Yesterday #37
honestly this describes most Democrats but they are still 1,000 better than Republicons LymphocyteLover Yesterday #49
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #20
? Skittles Yesterday #26
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #27
try online Skittles Yesterday #30
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #45
OK something ain't right Skittles Yesterday #54
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #55
"deadbeats on Medicare"? Skittles Yesterday #56
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #59
same answer as two years ago - and two years before that - and ... stopdiggin Yesterday #21
Once again, thanking God for my union. Scrivener7 Yesterday #32
Same here gab13by13 Yesterday #35
My wife is delighted with parts A/B plus supplemental plan G Shrek Yesterday #34
We've had a good experience so far babsbunny Yesterday #36
And AARP is a partner/investor in the UnitedHealth Advantage scam Ruby the Liberal Yesterday #38
My ex employer mandates a single Medicare Advantage HMO plan for all its US retitees. I pay $0 into it. So, sinkingfeeling Yesterday #39
That is bad advice for a huge number of people. MineralMan Yesterday #40
If it gives people pause I am glad I posted it. applegrove Yesterday #46
$600 Per Month ProfessorGAC Yesterday #58
I have an Allina Aetna Advantage plan. MineralMan 20 hrs ago #62
Omg, Chris is against MA?!? THE Chris,?!? gulliver Yesterday #41
I had an advisor help me when I turn 65 LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #51
In order to save Medicare, should eliminating MA be a campaign issue in 2028? MichMan Yesterday #57
Original Medicare and a good plan G supplement are the best. Desert grandma Yesterday #60
The only exception is if it is provided IbogaProject 23 hrs ago #61
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