Holy shit. Be prepared for the consumer to get screwed on your healthcare advantage programs.

[Jirel]

180. Medicare DISadvantage has always been trash.

I am a disability attorney. I routinely advise my winning clients to only buy into traditional Medicare. Why?

* DISadvantage plans are almost all the worst sort of HMOs (except in a handful of places where other types of plans are required or HMOs are banned, like SD) that exist to deny care or put up barriers for the sake of profit$.

* They are actively marketed to the youngest and healthiest seniors who barely use their medical benefits.

* Because they are crappy HMOs, good docs don’t join their networks. In general that means fewer docs with a larger patient load, and longer waits for an appointment, and crappier care including the heavy use of nurses and PAs.

* This particularly creates a problem for people in more rural and poorer areas, where the networks are slim indeed. Often, patients may wait a year or more for a specialist, and may have to drive 50+ miles.

* DISadvantage plans also are famous for removing fairly common, much needed meds from their formularies, leaving patients without any recourse except to pay out of pocket or go without.

At no time have DISadvantage plans been a good choice, ever.