Who is behind this "Ten Things" list? Whoever it is, they are doing a pretty good job themselves of spin doctoring.
Number 5:
MAPD (Medicare Advantage Plans with built in Drug Plans) advertising is misleading. Seniors can’t understand the differences in types of coverage.
It goes on to talk about doctors not accepting MAPD terms of payment, and how the doc may accept a certain plan one day, but then not accepting it the next. We all know this is true of PFFS but not other types of plans, but some readers of this list may not.
Overall, it's a good list, but I'm still wondering what the end game of the author is.
Which AARP would that be? The AARP that lobbied Congress to take funds from the Medicare Advantage subsidies and allocate it to physician reimbursement rates, or the other AARP that hawks MA plans. Talk about playing both ends and the middle.
------------------------------------ The Bolsheviks are dining in the capital.
1. Going to run out of money, it won't, we will just have higher taxes
2. 1-800 Medicare is answered by rejected crash test dummies
3. Most people that have an opinion of Medicare do not know how it works
4. The lock-in, and how Medicare does not care if you picked the wrong plan
5. Slime ball agents
6. Dr.'s abusing the system
7. The Medicare & You book is rearragned every year to furhter the confusion
8. PFFS plans were rolled out all wrong
9. Does not cover annual physical exams
10. SHIP programs are ran by half wits
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"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." Ronald Reagan
1. Going to run out of money, it won't, we will just have higher taxes
2. 1-800 Medicare is answered by rejected crash test dummies
3. Most people that have an opinion of Medicare do not know how it works
4. The lock-in, and how Medicare does not care if you picked the wrong plan
5. Slime ball agents
6. Dr.'s abusing the system
7. The Medicare & You book is rearragned every year to furhter the confusion
8. PFFS plans were rolled out all wrong
9. Does not cover annual physical exams
10. SHIP programs are ran by half wits
Regarding #10, you are giving them too much credit.
1. Going to run out of money, it won't, we will just have higher taxes
2. 1-800 Medicare is answered by rejected crash test dummies
3. Most people that have an opinion of Medicare do not know how it works
4. The lock-in, and how Medicare does not care if you picked the wrong plan
5. Slime ball agents
6. Dr.'s abusing the system
7. The Medicare & You book is rearragned every year to furhter the confusion
8. PFFS plans were rolled out all wrong
9. Does not cover annual physical exams
10. SHIP programs are ran by half wits
The "top10thingswrongwithmedicare" email is spam connected to Mypartdusa.org spammers. They've been spamming off and on for the past couple of years. Please don't take anything they say in the spam emails seriously.
They make some good points.....people that sign up for a Part D prescription plan are locked in for the whole year...yet the insurance company can change their formulary anytime throughout the year and the client can't do anything about it. Common sense tells you that's not right. If the client can't change than the insurance company shouldn't be able to make a change during that same time period to their formulary...give the insurance company a lock in period also
Last edited by insurance0707 : 05-19-2009 at 07:16 AM.
They make some good points.....people that sign up for a Part D prescription plan are locked in for the whole year...yet the insurance company can change their formulary anytime throughout the year and the client can't do anything about it. Common sense tells you that's not right. If the client can't change than the insurance company shouldn't be able to make a change during that same time period to their formulary...give the insurance company a lock in period also
They make some good points.....people that sign up for a Part D prescription plan are locked in for the whole year...yet the insurance company can change their formulary anytime throughout the year and the client can't do anything about it. Common sense tells you that's not right. If the client can't change than the insurance company shouldn't be able to make a change during that same time period to their formulary...give the insurance company a lock in period also
Aah but to CMS and the Insurance Carriers this is not a problem plus if the formulary changes you can blame your agent...Isn't that the normal catch all with CMS the agent must be at fault for not realizing that this carrier would change the formulary mid way through the year making another part d plan a more suitable alternative. I'm kidding obviously but do you think CMS and the Carriers think this is a problem I'm sure they like it just the way it is.
CMS could care less...or at least the "knowledgeable" people at 1-800 MEDICARE
CMS will blame the carrier, the carrier will blame CMS, the agent will be caught in the middle.
I can see it now...the first 30 minutes of Part D and MA presentations will be disclaimers...
Your part D formulary can change at any time
Your MA plan can add or drop value added benefits at any time
You are locked in your plan unless you are confined to a nursing home etc. etc....
And so on...
Please sign this 852 page disclaimer I just reviewed with you and then we can begin in 48 hours.
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"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." Ronald Reagan
I think there are more than 10 things wrong with Medicare. It'd be easier to list the things RIGHT with Medicare. Here they are:
------------------------------------ "Conservative: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others." Ambrose Bierce
Other than the two year waiting period when someone goes on SS disability just about all of the other things listed do not apply to traditional Medicare as we have known it. They all address either Medicare Part C or Part D. We never heard of any problems with Medicare Part C until the advent of PFFS plans.
Traditional Medicare health insurance coverage is the best deal out there when it comes to availability of obtaining quality, affordable health care. There are no other health insurance plans that provide a person the freedom and flexibility to choose their providers than traditional Medicare and a Medicare Supplement policy.
The title "Top 10 Things Wrong With Medicare" is too far reaching and was obviously worded that way for its impact. Otherwise, why didn't the author address the real problems, Part C PFFS plans and Part D, in the title?
I agree with everything said about Part C and D.
------------------------------------ Professional Medicare Supplement Sales Training, Coaching and Support.
"The Perfect Contact Management Program (CMP) for the Insurance Professional" www.YourInsuranceOffice.com
877.633.0808
Medicare pays for lots of things that no self-respecting insurer would ever pay. There is little incentive for efficiency or expense control. Once you're an approved provider, your business is gold.
Med supp does a great job of filling the gaps. That's the private sector at work.
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I thought this WAS a real job!
Top 10 Things Wrong With Medicare
I'm kidding obviously but do you think CMS and the Carriers think this is a problem I'm sure they like it just the way it is.
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