To the Journal editor:

A recent letter was published in regards to supporting “Medicare Advantage.”

However, Medicare Advantage plans are not actually “Medicare.” They are private insurance plans, which are skimming billions of dollars from the government and from the people who enroll in them.

That is the goal of these insurance companies: to make money! These Advantage plans may seem cheap right now with all their supposed benefits, but just wait until there is a need for an expensive, life-saving procedure or medication — something almost all of us will require at some point in our lives.

Then, these insurance companies may, as they often do, capriciously and arbitrarily decide against providing coverage. At that point, it will be next to impossible to switch back to original Medicare.

Advantage plans also require seeing “in-network” healthcare providers, whereas original Medicare provides coverage anywhere in the country.

Increasingly, medical groups are choosing not to accept patients covered by an advantage plan, but they will take original Medicare.

Physicians really despise dealing with insurance companies and that includes those involved with “Advantage” plans. They despise the required prior authorizations and the denial of coverage for even basic procedures and/or essential medications.

They despise being told how to provide medical care to their patients by persons, or even by AI, who often literally know nothing about the patient or about medicine in general.

It is original Medicare that people should be touting ….

Our health care system is in distress currently and it has become extremely expensive. These advantage insurance plans are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Support original Medicare!

Sincerely,