New name for Medicare Advantage?

Nearly half of the 65 million seniors on Medicare choose private plans known as Medicare Advantage. Great marketing name. You get an advantage over Medicare at a lower cost.

There’s a catch. Under Medicare, it’s the health care providers that decide when the patient is capable of leaving the facility. With Medicare Advantage it’s the private insurer.

The result? Most such plans send the patient home sooner than the doctors advise. That gives the patient 3 choices: Pay thousands more to stay; appeal the decision; go home.

A Medicare spokesperson advised that the plans have metrics designed to allow the patient “the opportunity to enjoy more time at home.” She omitted the last line…”and to allow the plan the opportunity to enjoy more profits.”

How bout a little truth in advertising?. Time for a new moniker... “Medicare Disadvantage.”