Recently an NPBO Member shared with me a report on Medicare Advantage plans and the increasing amount of prior authorizations that are being required with Advantage plans. But that is just one disadvantage of these plans…
If you, a family member, or a friend receive Medicare, you’re well aware of the uptick in marketing (aggressive marketing) before each annual renewal period. This is true for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans.
Medicare is a complex topic for consumers and providers alike. So before I go further, let’s do a brief Medicare review.
Medicare Reviewed
To cover our bases, here’s a 40,000-foot overview of Medicare.
Original Medicare, of course, is administered by the federal government and consists of two parts.
Medicare Part A covers inpatient care in the hospital, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and home health care. Most people don’t pay for Part A because they’ve paid Medicare taxes while working.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient services such as provider visits, lab tests, medical equipment, and some home health. But Part B is not “free,” and there is a monthly premium based on income. Part B does not cover everything and leaves a coverage gap.
The Gap
And this is where extra insurance comes into the picture and why people choose to get additional coverage to bridge the gap.
The extra coverage, called Medicare Part C, comes in two flavors: Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans.
And this is where it gets interesting…
When I checked Google for the number of Medigap plans in 2023, there were ten. They all have different benefits and cover all or part of the Part A deductible.
At the same time, when asked about Medicare Advantage plans, Google told me there were a total of 3,998 Medicare Advantage plans available in 2023.
Did Google make a mistake? Unlikely…
I can’t help but wonder why the drastic discrepancy.
Insurance companies don’t rush to pick up more subscribers unless there’s money to be made. Unless there’s a healthy profit to be had…
And please, don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with profit. Every business is in business to make a profit.
But I start to ask questions when I can’t see why insurance companies are so eager to sign up more people and how they will make money from it.
I understand it’s a numbers game… So, the number must work for the insurance companies, right? Why else would they do it?
To learn more about these plans, tune in to Episode #75 of the NP Matters Podcast, where Don Self and I talk about Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans. Find out what the Advantage Plans are, how they differ from the regular plans, and why so many insurance companies offer them. And, understand how Advantage Plans may hurt providers and patients alike.
You can watch the episode on YouTube, listen to it on this page, or on your favorite podcast app.
Topic Resources
More Resources
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Your Turn
What is your experience with Medicare Advantage Plans? What has worked, and not worked for you? Or have you opted out of Medicare altogether? Share the good, the bad, and the ugly below.