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Lonestarblue

(12,105 posts)
15. And get rid of Medicare Advantage.
Fri Dec 2, 2022, 10:01 AM
Dec 2022

It was sold as a way for private insurance to take on Medicare patients and save the government money. Instead it costs more money because Advantage patients are now costing more than original Medicare patients. Plus, the plans vary widely, as does the actual quality of healthcare. Some people get good results on Advantage plans, while other have nothing but complaints about insurers adding on costs or refusing to pay fir treatment.

Advantage was an attempt by the insurance industry to privatize Medicare and thus make a fortune in premiums. They’re succeeding because people want the extra services not covered by Medicare. Then when they become the only providers by getting the government out of Medicare entirely, they can raise prices and cut services as insurers frequently do.

I chose original Medicare because I can go to the doctors of my choice, not just a few doctors in the insurer’s network. I don’t need an authorization to see a specialist of my choice. My doctors and I make the decisions about my medical care, not a profit-driven insurance stooge. And if I need medical care while traveling to another state, I am not charged extra because I’m out of network.

Preserving original Medicare is worth doing because at some point we may find it has all been privatized and is no better than the thousands of for-profit healthcare plans offered by insurance companies. I had private insurance through employers my whole working life, and I can say for sure that Medicare is much better and less a hassle than any private insurance I ever had.

Recommendations

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

Throw more money at it bucolic_frolic Dec 2022 #1
K&R burrowowl Dec 2022 #2
We've seen private sector efficiency make things very slow, poor quality, and expensive IronLionZion Dec 2022 #3
Facts about American Healthcare? We don' need no stinkin' facts about American Healthcare. jaxexpat Dec 2022 #4
I believe the system is broken for many. Between co-pays, deductibles, "out-of-network", and Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #5
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Dec 2022 #6
We have a new healthcare system for all within our reach. We just need the courage to do it. fightforfreedom Dec 2022 #7
Let's add mental health coverage as well as dental, optical. erronis Dec 2022 #10
I think all of us deserve the I_UndergroundPanther Dec 2022 #22
Very well said! nightwing1240 Dec 2022 #11
And get rid of Medicare Advantage. Lonestarblue Dec 2022 #15
Medicaid I_UndergroundPanther Dec 2022 #23
TFG has a plan. The Jungle 1 Dec 2022 #8
But, but national healthcare would be socialism nightwing1240 Dec 2022 #9
+1 n/t area51 Dec 2022 #14
And healthcare in the US is treated as a "benefit" for companies to use as leverage. erronis Dec 2022 #12
I have wondered why US companies have not been pushing for Medicare-for-all. 70sEraVet Dec 2022 #20
Also consider the takeover of all of human life activities by capitalists erronis Dec 2022 #13
I so dispise capitalism. I_UndergroundPanther Dec 2022 #24
The plan is working. The one where we all get screwed. twodogsbarking Dec 2022 #16
Yes, voter/vassals dependent on corporations for their very health and well being, as god intended! Alexander Of Assyria Dec 2022 #21
It is another universe worse. onecaliberal Dec 2022 #17
We don't have a Health Care System, we have a Health Care Industry... Wounded Bear Dec 2022 #18
The ACA expanded access to "coverage" dflprincess Dec 2022 #19
Kick. Feels kind of relevant today. ck4829 Dec 4 #25
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