Battle Lines Are Drawn on 'Medicare Advantage'

It will be cut.

What a shocker - insurance companies are going to oppose Obama cutting into their gravy train. Is anyone surprised?

Another example of PEBO not knowing what he is talking about. It is not a subside if an individual is taking off the medicare rolls and handled in the private sector. What is the average amount spent a on medicare participate? When you jump into an issue without really understanding it you through a number of people into a panic.

In many cases it is just another insurance company rip-off. Not sure how anyone can tell if the "advantage" program is really needed in any case. I know of many refusal payments by these companies and would never use one myself, but I need no extra coverage so far since I am rarely ill at all.

"Medicare Advantage" is the ultimate in oxymorons:

1. They cost the government more to administer than Medicare.
2. There is ZERO evidence that they provide better care for patients.
3. They sucker patients into thinking they are paying less than Medicare but most seniors end up paying more.
4. They reimburse physicians less than Medicare (which already is a joke), delay payments to physicians by 30 days or more, and increase administrative costs to physician practices.

So, let's add the above up: Government pays more, patients pay more, physicians pay more. Well then who gets all the money? Seems like it all goes down the insurance companies greedy throats...

The very first thing that Congress should do on the healthcare front is eliminate these programs. No need to incorporate it into a larger bill where the lobbyists might save them. This is a glaring example of wasteful spending.

Spreading the wealth!!!!!!!!!!! What many don't realize is that Americans on Medicare who have worked have paid Insurance Premiums for Medicare. Unlike the Medicaid program which is a free handout for those who refuse to work!!!! More money could be saved by making congress pay for their free medical and retirement system

Go ahead and revoke the Medicare Advantage Plan and let millions of seniors experiance our wonderful Democrats at work. What is their solution? I still have not heard anything but "change". Unfortunately the ones who will get hurt are the fixed income seniors barely above the poverty line that would reverted back to Original Medicare with higher out of pocket costs and less benefits. Sometimes you get what you vote for America.

As somebody who works for a small MA owned by a doctors group, we've expected the cuts. And, I think it should be. But, most seniors love our plan. It's a hell of a lot better than Medicare.
I hope Obama isn't using this economic crisis as an excuse for government control of vast chucks of the U.S. economy. I'm "fearing" "change" from the Chicago street thug.

Yes, he needs to cut Medicare Advantage. It is nothing more than another for-profit insurance rip off of the consumer. Not only are we subsidizing these ghouls enormous amounts of money, their clients are also required to pay big time, in addition to part B. Looking over the plans, I note that all my medications will be more difficult to obtain and cost twice as much as they do now.

The problem of course, is doctors and clinics will turn you away once you reach 65 if you do not subscribe to one of THEIR accepted Medicare Advantage programs.

Obama is right. This is a rip off that needs to end. Increase payments directly to doctors and hospitals and stop feeding the middleman ghouls!