Looking for SLN Pundits on the Democratic Debate

[Rogar]

The reason the advantage plans are cheap or free is because if you need a lifesaving procedure or drug they can require you to under go a step plan that’s cheaper and by the time you get to the step you need you will probably be dead so they saved money.

I'm not sure I understand. Is it that if you need some sort of expensive procedure an Advantage plan provider can arbitrarily change your coverage to avoid expenses.

[Tybee]

I'm not sure I understand. Is it that if you need some sort of expensive procedure an Advantage plan provider can arbitrarily change your coverage to avoid expenses.

Rogar, in my experience with my parents, every treatment is run by them for approval, and they tend not to approve.
Original medicare does not require the same approvals.

[Teacher Terry]

Roger, yes Tybee is right.

[Rogar]

Rogar, in my experience with my parents, every treatment is run by them for approval, and they tend not to approve.
Original medicare does not require the same approvals.

Interesting point. It gets complicated.

[Tybee]

You are so right!

[Tammy]

My parents have significant assets and they chose regular Medicare with no supplemental. They choose to pay cash for their prescriptions which they recognize is a risk they’re willing to tolerate. My dad had a couple of cardiac events with surgery and his out-of-pocket cost was only a few thousand dollars. The hospitals can only bill you according to the Medicare rates and he’s convinced that his assets are not at risk. He thinks the supplemental plans are a big rip-off.

The sad thing is that I worked in healthcare for over 20 years and it still is all a big mystery to me. It’s way too convoluted and confusing no matter what plan you choose.

[pinkytoe]

When I of average intelligence spent hours trying to figure out all the various Advantage plans with Medicare...I can only imagine how complicated Medicare for All would be. I have paid for Medigap through my last employer and I am told that is the best to use with Medicare. The Advantage plans sound good up front but not so great when calamity strikes. DH spent literally hours trying to get Part D drug coverage to avoid the penalties and it is still all screwed up. They deducted from his SS without his permission, etc...It is all way too complicated.

[Rogar]

My parents have significant assets and they chose regular Medicare with no supplemental. They choose to pay cash for their prescriptions which they recognize is a risk they’re willing to tolerate. My dad had a couple of cardiac events with surgery and his out-of-pocket cost was only a few thousand dollars. The hospitals can only bill you according to the Medicare rates and he’s convinced that his assets are not at risk. He thinks the supplemental plans are a big rip-off.

That's a thought worth entertaining. I think I'd at least want the drug insurance part, but when you consider the monthly charges for some of the more expensive Medigap plans over the years of a life expectancy, a person could even come out ahead if they were in average health.

[jp1]

When I of average intelligence spent hours trying to figure out all the various Advantage plans with Medicare...I can only imagine how complicated Medicare for All would be. I have paid for Medigap through my last employer and I am told that is the best to use with Medicare. The Advantage plans sound good up front but not so great when calamity strikes. DH spent literally hours trying to get Part D drug coverage to avoid the penalties and it is still all screwed up. They deducted from his SS without his permission, etc...It is all way too complicated.

If I were to make a guess how things would play out if Medicare for all becomes a reality (not that I expect that to happen in my lifetime (and I'm not old unless 52 is the new 72...)) I suspect that we'll end up with a system like we have now, with the difference being that government insurance will provide a baseline and most people's employer will still provide insurance. It would just be supplemental at that point instead of the whole deal, but it would still be provided by them. Depending on the size of one's employer there may be choices but the decision of what insurance would still be mostly out of our individual hands. People who currently buy their own ACA plans would, of course, have a much bigger decision to make at that point.

[Yppej]

Bernie's plan (he wrote the damn bill) is improved Medicare for all, with more coverage. Supplemental plans might not be needed. For instance, he said at one of the debates out of pocket expenses for drugs would be capped at something like $200. If that's the case would Part D even be needed?

I think simplifying Medicare and then gradually lowering the eligibility age is a good way to phase in the program. As older on average sicker people enroll it will lower costs for private plans. As older sicker people just working for the insurance are able to retire earlier it will open up jobs for younger people.