Posted on 05/01/2025 1:22:53 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
The U.S. Justice Department Thursday said it had filed a complaint against three of the country's biggest health insurance companies, Aetna Inc. and affiliates, Elevance Health and Humana, under the False Claims Act.
The action also affects three large insurance broker organizations: eHealth, GoHealth and SelectQuote, it said.
"The United States alleges that from 2016 through at least 2021, the defendant insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to the defendant brokers in exchange for enrollments into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans," the Justice Department said in its release.
The DOJ also said that Aetna and Humana conspired with the broker defendants to discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities because they perceived them to be less profitable.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I thought all business was conducted that way.
Was that wrong?
So evil. Them and Big Pharma.
Come on Man, if we can’t have bribery, fraud and kickbacks in the Health Insurance business, why bother having them???
medicare advantage is a trap: once in, you basically can’t get out because medicare supplement providers are not obligated to sell you a supplemental policy if you switch from advantage back to regular medicare ... and if you have any kind of significant health issue or history, the providers will refuse you to sell you a supplemental policy, which means you would have to eat the 20% that regular medicare doesn’t pay for ...
OTOH, supplement providers MUST sell you a supplemental policy if you choose to buy one when you INITIALLY sign up for regular medicare ... thus, regular medicare coverage plus one of the GOOD supplemental policies usually mean tha you’ll never have to pay anything at all that is covered by regular medicare ...
What’s the different between a kickback and a commission?
are you being sarcastic?
Should they have not done that? If they had ANY idea that was frowned upon, it never would have happened.
Seinfeld reference :)
Some commissions are illegal and are called kickbacks. For example, imagine if an ambulatory surgery center could pay a “commission” to referring physicians. That would tend to lead to higher healthcare costs. That is what the law is trying to prevent. I don’t want to prejudge the merits of this particular case, which I know little about.
That is absolute truth about Medicare Adv plans. I work billing for a healthcare system. Humana MCR plans are the worse. Medicare plus a supplement always pay and member rarely pays anything. Supplement take cares of the deductible and copays.
Maybe that is why I get 17 spam phone calls a day trying to get me to change my insurance coverage.
“plus one of the GOOD supplemental policies”
.
Which ones?
TIA,
.
I have to sign up for medicare next year. What is a good supplement policy provider?
What’s a good supplement plan. I have to sign up next year.
This is going to be the death knell of government funded health care.
Find the company will a low annual percentage increase, since by law they cover the same by design... beware of cheap 1st year and the big increases since you only get guaranteed issue first starting out... ymmv
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans are standardized by the federal government and labeled with letters. In most states, there are 10 standardized Medigap plans available, labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. These plans are designed to help cover out-of-pocket costs not paid by Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
because the supplements are entirely standardized within each letter category you might as well buy the least costly offer within in the same letter plan you want ...
not all plans are available in every zip code, but in colorado where i live, AARP-UnitedHealthCare is the cheapest Plan F (no longer available) ... you have to pony up the annual fee to AARP to be eligible for their deal with UnitedHealthCare ... Plan G is the next best thing to Plan F, the only difference being Plan G doesn’t cover medical costs when visiting a foreign land ...
it’s a no-brainer to buy Plan G if your health is already poor, and even if it isn’t poor now, it will be some day, so it pays to buy the best level supplement, namely Plan G
these supplements do not cover drugs, so you might want to also buy a Plan D, which is a special drug coverage only play, but is horrendously complex to figure out which one to buy, thank you very much, you piece of shit, George Bush ...
at any rate, the easiest think to do once you decide which supplement you want, is to ask grok 3 what the cheapest offer in your zip code is for that supplement ... you’ll need a twitter/X account to use grok 3
your question would go someting like this:
What is the least expensive Plan X in zip code xxxxx?
according to grok 3, below is a list of the standardized Medigap plans and a brief overview of their coverage, based on federal guidelines:
1. **Plan A**
- Covers basic benefits, including:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used).
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments.
- First 3 pints of blood.
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments.
- Lowest premium but least comprehensive coverage.[](https://www.anthem.com/medicare/medicare-supplement-plans-medigap)
2. **Plan B**
- Includes all Plan A benefits, plus:
- Medicare Part A deductible.
- Slightly more coverage than Plan A, with higher premiums.[](https://www.in.gov/ship/medicare-supplement-plans/)
3. **Plan C**
- Includes all Plan B benefits, plus:
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
- Medicare Part B deductible.
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits).
- **Note**: Not available to those who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, due to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/insurance/health-insurance/seniors/medicare-supp)
4. **Plan D**
- Includes all Plan B benefits, plus:
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits).
- Does not cover the Part B deductible, unlike Plan C.[](https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/insurance/health-insurance/seniors/medicare-supp)
5. **Plan F**
- Most comprehensive plan, covering:
- All Plan C benefits, plus:
- Medicare Part B excess charges.
- Also available as a high-deductible plan in some states.
- **Note**: Not available to those who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan F remains popular for those eligible before 2020.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.medicaresupplement.com/articles/medicare-supplement-plans-comparison-chart/)
6. **Plan G**
- Includes all Plan D benefits, plus:
- Medicare Part B excess charges.
- Also available as a high-deductible plan in some states.
- Often considered the most cost-effective for those newly eligible after January 1, 2020, and is growing in popularity.[](https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/insurance/health-insurance/seniors/medicare-supp)[](https://www.medicaresupplement.com/articles/medicare-supplement-plans-comparison-chart/)
7. **Plan K**
- Cost-sharing plan with lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. Covers:
- 50% of Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance, first 3 pints of blood, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice care coinsurance, and Part A deductible.
- 100% of costs after meeting the out-of-pocket yearly limit ($7,000 in 2025).
- Less comprehensive but more affordable.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)
8. **Plan L**
- Similar to Plan K but with higher coverage percentages:
- 75% of the benefits listed under Plan K.
- 100% of costs after meeting the out-of-pocket yearly limit ($3,500 in 2025).
- Balances affordability and coverage.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)
9. **Plan M**
- Includes all Plan D benefits, except:
- Covers only 50% of the Medicare Part A deductible.
- Offers lower premiums with moderate cost-sharing.[](https://www.in.gov/ship/medicare-supplement-plans/)
10. **Plan N**
- Includes all Plan D benefits, plus:
- Covers 100% of Part B coinsurance, except for copayments (up to $20 for some office visits and $50 for emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission).
- Popular due to lower premiums with manageable copays.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medicare-supplement-insurance-plans)
### Important Notes:
- **Standardization**: Plans with the same letter (e.g., Plan G) offer identical benefits across all insurance companies, though premiums vary based on factors like age, location, and insurer pricing.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics)
- **Availability**: Not all plans are available in every state or from every insurer. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have different standardization structures for Medigap plans.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics)[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits/massachusetts)
- **Eligibility Restrictions**: Plans C and F (and high-deductible Plan F) are not available to those who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Those eligible before this date may still enroll if the plans are offered in their area.[](https://www.medicaresupplement.com/articles/medicare-supplement-plans-comparison-chart/)
- **Medicare SELECT**: Some plans are offered as Medicare SELECT, requiring the use of specific networks for lower premiums. These are still standardized but have network restrictions.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics)[](https://www.in.gov/ship/medicare-supplement-plans/)
- **Popularity**: Plans F, G, and N are the most popular, covering 85% of Medigap enrollees as of 2022. Plan G is increasingly favored for its comprehensive coverage and availability to new enrollees.[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medicare-supplement-insurance-plans)
For a detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, you can refer to the Medicare.gov comparison chart or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for personalized guidance. To explore plans available in your area, visit www.medicare.gov or contact a licensed insurance agent.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options)[](https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11575-Getting-Started-Medicare-Supplement-Insurance.pdf)
Plan G ...
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans are standardized by the federal government and labeled with letters. In most states, there are 10 standardized Medigap plans available, labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. These plans are designed to help cover out-of-pocket costs not paid by Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
because the supplements are entirely standardized within each letter category you might as well buy the least costly offer within in the same letter plan you want ...
not all plans are available in every zip code, but in colorado where i live, AARP-UnitedHealthCare is the cheapest Plan F (no longer available) ... you have to pony up the nominal annual fee to AARP to be eligible for their deal with UnitedHealthCare ... Plan G is the next best thing to Plan F, the only difference being Plan G doesn’t cover medical costs when visiting a foreign land ...
it’s a no-brainer to buy Plan G if your health is already poor, and even if it isn’t poor now, it will be some day, so it pays to buy the best level supplement, namely Plan G ...
btw, you’re guaranteed to be able to buy any supplement offered in your zip code when you FIRST sign up for medicare, so do it right away because there’s only a short window for that guarantee ... after that, no guarantee, so don’t think you can buy a cheap plan now, get really sick, and then try to buy a better supplement later ... that won’t work ...
these supplements do not cover drugs, so you might want to also buy a Plan D, which is a special drug coverage only play, but is horrendously complex to figure out which one to buy, thank you very much, you piece of shit, George Bush ...
at any rate, the easiest think to do once you decide which supplement you want, is to ask grok 3 what the cheapest offer in your zip code is for that supplement ... you’ll need a twitter/X account to use grok 3
your question would go something like this:
What is the least expensive Plan X in zip code xxxxx?
according to grok 3, below is a list of the standardized Medigap plans and a brief overview of their coverage, based on federal guidelines:
1. **Plan A**
- Covers basic benefits, including:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used).
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments.
- First 3 pints of blood.
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments.
- Lowest premium but least comprehensive coverage.[](https://www.anthem.com/medicare/medicare-supplement-plans-medigap)
2. **Plan B**
- Includes all Plan A benefits, plus:
- Medicare Part A deductible.
- Slightly more coverage than Plan A, with higher premiums.[](https://www.in.gov/ship/medicare-supplement-plans/)
3. **Plan C**
- Includes all Plan B benefits, plus:
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
- Medicare Part B deductible.
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits).
- **Note**: Not available to those who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, due to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/insurance/health-insurance/seniors/medicare-supp)
4. **Plan D**
- Includes all Plan B benefits, plus:
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits).
- Does not cover the Part B deductible, unlike Plan C.[](https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/insurance/health-insurance/seniors/medicare-supp)
5. **Plan F**
- Most comprehensive plan, covering:
- All Plan C benefits, plus:
- Medicare Part B excess charges.
- Also available as a high-deductible plan in some states.
- **Note**: Not available to those who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan F remains popular for those eligible before 2020.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.medicaresupplement.com/articles/medicare-supplement-plans-comparison-chart/)
6. **Plan G**
- Includes all Plan D benefits, plus:
- Medicare Part B excess charges.
- Also available as a high-deductible plan in some states.
- Often considered the most cost-effective for those newly eligible after January 1, 2020, and is growing in popularity.[](https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/insurance/health-insurance/seniors/medicare-supp)[](https://www.medicaresupplement.com/articles/medicare-supplement-plans-comparison-chart/)
7. **Plan K**
- Cost-sharing plan with lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. Covers:
- 50% of Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance, first 3 pints of blood, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice care coinsurance, and Part A deductible.
- 100% of costs after meeting the out-of-pocket yearly limit ($7,000 in 2025).
- Less comprehensive but more affordable.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)
8. **Plan L**
- Similar to Plan K but with higher coverage percentages:
- 75% of the benefits listed under Plan K.
- 100% of costs after meeting the out-of-pocket yearly limit ($3,500 in 2025).
- Balances affordability and coverage.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)
9. **Plan M**
- Includes all Plan D benefits, except:
- Covers only 50% of the Medicare Part A deductible.
- Offers lower premiums with moderate cost-sharing.[](https://www.in.gov/ship/medicare-supplement-plans/)
10. **Plan N**
- Includes all Plan D benefits, plus:
- Covers 100% of Part B coinsurance, except for copayments (up to $20 for some office visits and $50 for emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission).
- Popular due to lower premiums with manageable copays.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medicare-supplement-insurance-plans)
### Important Notes:
- **Standardization**: Plans with the same letter (e.g., Plan G) offer identical benefits across all insurance companies, though premiums vary based on factors like age, location, and insurer pricing.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics)
- **Availability**: Not all plans are available in every state or from every insurer. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have different standardization structures for Medigap plans.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics)[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits/massachusetts)
- **Eligibility Restrictions**: Plans C and F (and high-deductible Plan F) are not available to those who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Those eligible before this date may still enroll if the plans are offered in their area.[](https://www.medicaresupplement.com/articles/medicare-supplement-plans-comparison-chart/)
- **Medicare SELECT**: Some plans are offered as Medicare SELECT, requiring the use of specific networks for lower premiums. These are still standardized but have network restrictions.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics)[](https://www.in.gov/ship/medicare-supplement-plans/)
- **Popularity**: Plans F, G, and N are the most popular, covering 85% of Medigap enrollees as of 2022. Plan G is increasingly favored for its comprehensive coverage and availability to new enrollees.[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medicare-supplement-insurance-plans)
For a detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, you can refer to the Medicare.gov comparison chart or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for personalized guidance. To explore plans available in your area, visit www.medicare.gov or contact a licensed insurance agent.[](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits)[](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options)[](https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11575-Getting-Started-Medicare-Supplement-Insurance.pdf)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.