Yes, the predictions of the death of Medicare Advantage were a bit premature. rates will come down

[JohnWxy]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-09-21-medicare_N.htm


WASHINGTON — Virtually none of the 11 million seniors who choose private health insurance plans under Medicare will lose access to those plans next year, federal officials announced Tuesday, despite fears that strict payment rates under the new health care law would cause some insurers to drop out.

In addition, average monthly premiums in the popular Medicare Advantage program will drop by 45 cents, or slightly more than 1%, following negotiations between the government and private insurers. This year, premiums rose by about 15%.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Tuesday that the continued access and declining premiums for 2011 prove the program will remain vibrant, even as government payments to private insurers are reduced beginning in 2012. They said the program should grow by about 5% in 2011.

"Despite lots of predictions of gloom and doom, the Medicare Advantage program … is stronger than ever before," Sebelius said.

(more)

[Cleita]

1. Privatized plans should be outlawed.

The money that is siphoned off Medicare by those plans could probably give full coverage to seniors under traditional Medicare, but the huge insurance lobby will keep buying our politicians because they are profitable for them at the expense of our seniors. If Sebelius thinks they are so great, I suggest we get her coverage to be under one of them.

[JohnWxy]

3. I agree. Thank the Republican's for providing their services to insurance companies for Med Adv

[MineralMan]

2. My parents were on one of those for a couple of years.

After they couldn't get referrals to specialists, they switched to Medicare and a supplement. They're much happier. The Advantage plan simply wouldn't provide services they needed. Now, at age 86, Mom has had two knee replacements and spinal stenosis surgery, and Dad had a quadruple bypass at age 75 (the Advantage plan would only give him stents) and a hip replacement. Both are still active, and they're off to a reunion of my dad's Bomber group next month in South Dakota. He was a B-17 pilot.

[Cleita]

4. They almost killed my husband by denying payment

on his medical condition when he needed medical care the most. We too switched back to traditional Medicare with a supplement and that is what I have although I really think Medicare should cover 100% of basic care and prescriptions with bartering like the VA does it. We wouldn't need insurance at all then unless we want some fancy additions to our basic health care.

[MineralMan]

5. Yup. the Medicare Advantage plans are the real Death Panel.

They should simply be outlawed.

[JohnWxy]

6. Medicare advantage was really seen as an advantageous tool for private insurers to suck up more

public money. It's not worth keeping but one of the Buggaboos the Republicans raised was that MAdv would go under. IT won't (although it should). I think in time it will be rendered irrelevant as HCR advances.

[Cleita]

7. Well, the new health reform plan we got is a variation

on the same theme. The insurers keep health insurance coverage private, but now they can get welfare from our Treasury.