Comments on: The Medicare Advantage Plans Obama Wants to Defund: More Evidence on their Performance

By: Bielizna Damska

Bielizna Damska — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:19:49 +0000

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By: Margaret Kurzius-Spencer

Margaret Kurzius-Spencer — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:01:29 +0000

Is the difference in inpatient hospital days, readmissions, etc. potentially due to differences in socioeconomic status of MA enrollees as compared with Medicare patients? Have differences in SES, age and education been accounted for?

By: David

David — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:25:44 +0000

The sad thing is that these 3 to 6 million Advantage Plan members will more than likely not be able to afford a medigap policy. Many of the members have only had a Medicare Advantage Plan and may not even understand the ramifications of original Medicare’s cost sharing for beneficiaries. You don’t give someone a hand up, just to let go.

By: A Rivera

A Rivera — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:30 +0000

I am a medicare marketing representative. I work the field for a private insurance company assisting medicare beneficiaries with their plan selection. I come across many different needs which which are sought to be satisfied by a myriad of federal,state and local solutions. The question is which is the best one for them.
Beneficiaries are being baraged with choices . Some better than others. There is an unfanthomable amount of money intended for their care and there is no doubt that these resources could be consolidated and used more efficiently, good luck.
What I would love to do is work for the people through the federal government as an agent for the people weeding out these benefits and providing solid meaningful solutions.I would help government by providing reports that would help us connect the dots and develop a better system throughout these United presently divided States. Federal ,state ,city and private programs need to pool their reources for a stronger Medicare for all.
We are all worth it. We all deserve better health care which is protected by us for us.
I personally love what I do . I make a difference in choice within the Medicare environment. Policing the choices that beneficiaries make where I represent them would illiminate any conflict of interest and make the medicare beneficiary the priority as it should be.
The marketing of Medicare Advantage plans through the internet,and by phone is an invitation to exploitation and should not be permitted.
Together we can find a better way to provide intelligent informed choices for the elderly and diababled persons through proper professional represention.
A Rivera

By: Beverly

Beverly — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:04:01 +0000

I cannot for the life of me understand the negative comments re: medicare advantage plans. I have had one for almost 3 years now, and LOVE IT. I have never been refused a payment, matter of fact my doctor sent me to the wrong lab for a blood test, the plan billed me, I protested, and the plan paid it. If Obama and Congress does away with these plans, I do not know how I will manage. I will probably just die as I cannot afford a regular Medicare supplement.

By: Erik Sieurin

Erik Sieurin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:37:07 +0000

Everyone loves to talk about the “high” taxes here in Sweden. I think one needs to look at how much disposable income one has here in relation to those high taxes.
We pay the equivilent of 200 usd per month for full time day care for for 2 children, which includes lunch as well as breakfast when they have to be there extra early. That is 200 for both kids, not 200 per child. I havve nothing at all to pay for the care that i recieved for my heart. If I loose my job, I am still protected. My pension is taken care of as well.
Mr. Graham points out correctly that there was a great deal of debate over privatization of healthcare here in Sweden. Healthcare is the last vestage of the Social Democratic party’s domain here in Sweden.
It has been the Social Democratic party that has acted as a conservative party form the perspective that they have been unwilling to make changes. But changes have been made. It is much, much easier to contact a doctor in Sweden now than it was 10 years ago. The lab at the nearest regional hospital to me in my province is run by a private company conracted by the provincial healthcare authority, somewhat like charter schools are run in the States. That is another point that one must understand. The healthcare system is administrated at the provincial level here in Sweden, not at the national level.
My wife has a healthcare system via her job that is plugged into the public health care system. If she needs a doctor for “routine” illness, she goes to the company doctor. If she needs more serious care which I hope she never ever does, she goes right into the public healthcare system.
Looking at the problems over here and the problems back home in the States, I prefer the system over here. I cannot imagine having had the heart problems that I experienced over there.

By: ken hodne

ken hodne — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:16:15 +0000

Its all so simple Obamaha lies everytime he speaks.This is our country and we don’t apologize for being americans.

By: Gene Powell

Gene Powell — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:25:46 +0000

I guess I’m a little confused. Isn’t aarp supplemental insurance a Medicare Advantage Plan? My Dad who recently passed away was in Medicare and had AARP supplemental insurance. Doctors visit bills and hospital bills were first sent to Medicare then sent to AARP. Any costs that were not paid by Medicare or AART were sent to me which were nominal or zero.

Does AARP receive Federal Subsidies? If so, why were they not given a gag order when they publicly endorsed Obamacare?

By: Karen Rowland

Karen Rowland — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:44:29 +0000

I can’t understand why Obama is saying that seniors will have the same benefits under original Medicare when they lose their Advantage Plan. I give people, these Advantage Plans in Hawaii with no premiums to the beneficiary and they get many more benefits and lower their out of pockets costs a lot. If they are costing 12% more than if the person was in original Medicare, they why doesn’t Obama just cut the 12% to the private companies and leave the rest alone?

By: Linda Gorman

Linda Gorman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:21:16 +0000

One has to be careful in comparing results in Medicare Advantage plans with those from fee-for-service Medicare as there is some evidence that people who have complex medical conditions opt out of Medicare Advantage plans at higher rates.

It may be easier to get care for complex conditions in the fee=for-service system as one does not have to deal with gatekeepers.