Why millions of seniors have suddenly lost health care coverage, Medicare Advantage

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

At 70, landscape artist Anthony J. Petchkis lives with a host of health problems. There was the heart attack that sent him on an ambulance ride from his home in the mountains of New Hampshire to Portland, Maine, for an arterial stent. His cholesterol is stubbornly high. He has diabetes, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. He takes eight medications a day.

Until this year, he at least felt confident insurance would fully cover his medical bills, which he estimates run to several thousands of dollars a year. Then his Medicare Advantage plan dropped him.

“How am I going to pay all these things going into the future?” said Petchkis, who lives on about $24,000 a year from Social Security and the sale of the White Mountain landscapes he paints in his Conway studio. “Now I seem okay, but six months or a year from now, something really catastrophic could happen.”

Petchkis and thousands of other elderly people in New Hampshire lost their insurance and were forced to scramble for alternatives this year, part of a broader phenomenon as Medicare Advantage companies abandoned communities where their plans threatened profits or lost money. Hardest hit were a half-dozen rural states from New England to Idaho.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/why-millions-seniors-suddenly-lost-131030605.html

Didn't know the Advantage part meant they'll take advantage of you.

[vapor2]

1. Advantage programs are scams so the govt should be saving (pocketing ) money

[Goonch]

2. ;-{) Many hospitals have financial assistance programs - you have to ask.

[anciano]

3. Two thoughts here .....

First, traditional Medicare is still an option for seniors, and it sets an approved amount for charges.
Secondly, medical debt is negotiable. There is an excellent book available from Amazon titled "Crush Medical Debt" by Virgie Bright Ellington MD that addresses this concern.

[MichMan]

7. Traditional Medicare as an option was mentioned in the link.

Petchkis was one of about 77,000 in New Hampshire forced off Medicare Advantage and among a subset who had no viable alternatives. He was forced to enroll in traditional Medicare, which only covers 80 percent of doctor and outpatient services. Because he said he can’t afford a supplemental “medigap” insurance plan to make up the other 20 percent, which would have cost about $200 a month, he worries he will face thousands of dollars in bills if he becomes seriously ill - money he does not have.

[area51]

4. k&r n/t

[Goonch]

5. What Is Hospital Financial Assistance?

https://dollarfor.org/what-is-hospital-financial-assistance/

[DET]

6. If I understand correctly...

If a Medicare Advantage plan terminates coverage, the enrollee qualifies for a ‘special enrollment period’ to switch to a different plan without underwriting. It would, of course, be a pain and there is no guarantee that you would pay the same premium, but there is no reason this guy should be without coverage. People in this kind of situation should really talk to someone in a nearby Office of Aging to determine their options.

[MichMan]

8. If you read the link, most had an option to pick another MA plan, but some didn't have that choice

Petchkis was one of about 77,000 in New Hampshire forced off Medicare Advantage and among a subset who had no viable alternatives. He was forced to enroll in traditional Medicare, which only covers 80 percent of doctor and outpatient services. Because he said he can’t afford a supplemental “medigap” insurance plan to make up the other 20 percent, which would have cost about $200 a month, he worries he will face thousands of dollars in bills if he becomes seriously ill - money he does not have.

[tritsofme]

9. But if he wanted to switch to traditional Medicare, supplemental policies would be subject to underwriting.

[moonscape]

11. I'm not sure that's true if he

was forced off a plan and no other Advantage was available.
He had continuous coverage and in his case I believe no underwriting.

[karynnj]

10. He could have traditional Medicare which is Not no insurance

He likely could get a medigap plan, but it would cost more than his Medicare advantage. There are some high deductible options that are less than $100 a month. The down side is that they don't pay until you hit the deductable. However they do cap how much you could pay in a year.