While I haven’t posted on FR in so long that I forgot my old login, I have been following some of the dialog with interest for many years, and this one really hit me close to the heart. I am in the mid-point of my seventies and make a good living during my retirement by not only selling Medicare health plans but teaching my clients about the pit falls of the various choices they can make, many of them exactly what have been mentioned in your post.
I do not like the Medicare Advantage plans in general. Not because they are intrinsically bad, but because most people coming onto Medicare have no knowledge of how it works or how the plans themselves work. The absolute best plan for those that can afford the premium is a supplement (medigap) plan “G” that really is a Cadillac plan regardless of the company selling it, and possibly the worst would be a Medicare Advantage HMO plan. The difference being the upfront cost of the supplement plan that pays everything and is network free nationwide, and the MA plan that is a nearly free option with ancillary benefits, but that is loaded with co-pays and also binds the client to a narrow network of providers in a specific location.
While we have to take courses annually on ethics and fraud among other things, there are agents that intentionally commit violations of both to sell unsuspecting prospects something that they cannot afford in the long term.
I would suggest everyone spend some time on Medicare.gov to educate themselves about Medicare, and don’t agree to purchase any plan presented by someone you don’t know.
Agree with the “Plan G”. But it will cost you. And if you have any serious pre-existing conditions you may not qualify for it.
Very good advice.
Thank You.
Welcome back!