To the Editor:
Most Villagers are of an age that Medicare has kicked in. Those of us still on regular Medicare also carry a supplement policy which covers the 20 percent not covered by Medicare. Whether you pay for these or not depends on other income. They deduct about $190 a month from my Social Security check for basic Medicare and I have United Healthcare supplement for another $200 a month – total about $390 a month. They advertise the heck out of Medicare “Advantage” Plans, offering compensation for eye glasses, hearing aides, meal delivery and rides to medical visits. However, those are restricted and only the cheapest glasses, partial payment for hearing aides, anyone can get meal delivery (Meals on Wheels) if qualified and disabled people get rides to healthcare; without any plan. You have to be suspect when something is so heavily advertised; yet, it has captured about 30 percent of Medicare recipients who are now on so called “Advantage” plans. These are an attempt to privatize Medicare. I fear when they get to 70 percent or more they will require all of us to switch and do away with regular Medicare and that would be a travesty. Talk to your doctor.
If you sign up for an “advantage” plan, you will be in a PPO – which means you can only select a doctor within their system. Your doctor may choose to leave that system (they frequently lower reimbursement once a doctor is in the system) or they may kick your doctor out of the system – you have no control over that. Also, you are not covered outside their system, if you travel, or if you need care they do not have a specialist in their system to perform that care. And, they require your doctor to get their approval for “everything” according to my Internist. They tightly control access to specialty care. Think long and hard before you fall for the advertising by Joe Namath and others who keep touting this change.
I am a retired physician and I would not switch out of my regular Medicare and supplement. I go to any doctor I like; I can go to a specialist without referral; I am covered when I travel; and my doctor does not have to get permission to send me to a specialist. And, they even covered care I got on a cruise ship. Be careful; they also make it very difficult to get back on regular Medicare if you switch out.
Samuel Sorenson
Village of Sunbury of Glenbrook