Beyond the Hype: The Truth About Medicare (Dis)Advantage

By Mindy Salango, WV CAG Healthcare Organizer

September was a busy month for our healthcare team! We hosted several events to help demystify Medicare (dis) Advantage plans. Online and in-person events have allowed us to educate those transitioning to Medicare during open enrollment. A recording of the presentation is available here. A very special “thank you” to Dr. Dan Doyle from Physicians for a National Health Program WV for being our guest speaker at these events!  

Speaking of our friends at PNHP, we rallied with them in front of Peak Health on September 30, 2024, as part of a national day of action to educate folks on the dangers of these privatized Medicare plans. Click here to watch some great coverage of this action.

We have been working hard to ensure folks know where to go to get accurate information regarding Medicare (dis) Advantage plans during the open enrollment period. Many of you will be inundated with ads, phone calls, and solicitations trying to lure you into one of these plans. Break free from all the noise and discover what is truly right for you! We want to be your source for facts, not “fringe benefits”!

Open enrollment begins October 15th and runs through December 7th.  

We are scheduling more in-person community events that will give you information on these plans and where to go for unbiased information and advice. Details will be coming soon, so please check our social media channels and wvcag.org for more information. 

Would your group be interested in hosting one of these events? We would love to come and speak to your community or group!  Please contact me at mindy@wvcag.org to schedule.

Have you had a claim for medication, or a procedure denied by a Medicare (dis) Advantage plan?  We need to hear from you! Personal stories make a tremendous impact when educating folks about these programs. If you are willing to share your denial story, you can click here or email me at mindy@wvcag.org.

Updated: October 18, 2024 — 2:19 pm

2 Comments

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  1. I listened to the video. 1) When Dr. Doyle names several health insurance companies, he doesn’t mention Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is a nonprofit. I’m curious whether he considers them to be as “bad” as the others. 2) My BCBS MA plan, while imperfect, has saved me thousands: a) There is no monthly premium above my Part B premium. b) I pay nothing for Part D under this plan. c) Since going on Medicare three years ago, I’ve had thousands of dollars in dental expenses, and the only time I’ve had to pay anything out of pocket was when my expenses exceeded the yearly max. d) You get some reimbursement for eyewear, currently $250/year. And e) This plan is accepted all over the U.S., I’m not restricted to a small geographical area. So yes I am opposed to privatization of Medicare; but while lobbying against it, I would argue we should simultaneously be arguing for the *improvement* of traditional Medicare, to cover more than 80%, to cover dental and vision, etc. thus eliminating the *need* for those supplement plans!

    1. We should absolutely be lobbying for improved and expanded traditional Medicare! Having that would eliminate the need and abuse of these private plans.

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