Medicare vs. Advantage plans
Hi Terry,
Last year we switched my mother to a Medicare advantage plan. She previously had A & B and drug coverage, but no supplement or dental. She is now receiving cancer treatments and her max yearly out of pocket is $6700, which of course starts over at the beginning of the year. She is 82 years old with other health conditions and now has a cancer diagnosis. If we wanted to switch her back, would it be impossible to find supplemental coverage?
Thank you,
Terry Says
That’s the tough part of Advantage plans. They work if you are well. But if you have a serious illness the max out of pocket is huge — offsetting the lower or zero Advantage monthly premiums. AND, you are limited to the hospitals and physicians in their network.
She could switch back to traditional Medicare before Dec 7th — BUT the 20% copay on her treatments would likely to cost more than the Advantage out of pocket limit. And she could only get the least coverage in a supplement, if that — which would give her a choice of doctors.
Basically, the practical answer to your question is NO.
