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Will Latest Medicare Advantage Cuts Kill the Program?
President Obama has described Medicare Advantage as a "waste," and Congress has agreed, proposing $132 billion worth of cuts to the program over 10 years in the health reform package.
We are not able to afford a supplemental plan and a drug plan to take care if what Medicare doesn't cover. If Medicare advantage is eliminated we will not be able to pay for even basic preventative care.
Medicare Advantage plans are not just for seniors...they are also for those for example that are disabled and not eligible for supplemental care. It offers us a RX Plan, Part A and B. Everything is billed through them, and they deal with Medicare billing. The Advantage Plans I checked; offered in our state, do not offer extra silly things like a gym plan.
I'm scared witless about rising costs to consumers who choose this option over traditional Medicare. I subscribe to one of the lowest cost Medicare Advantage Plans because that is all I can afford. It is a no frills plan that does not have "luxury" type benefits this article implies. Having set co-pays helps me budget medical expenses better and the co-pays are cheaper than traditional Medicare.
Medicare Advantage is NOT Medicare, it is private insurance. A private insurance card is presented at Dr. visits - not the Medicare card. These enrolles are getting benefits not given to traditional Medicare and were never established as Medicare benefits - like dental, eye glasses, gym memberships - these extra payments will drain the Medicare fund dry - the higher reimbursements to the insurance companies are grotesque profits - plain & simple profits - cut out all Medicare Advantage programs and treat all Medicare seniors alike.