The Medicare Advantage market has come under attack for excessive payments from the government and deservedly so. But these plans do a far better job of taking care of patients than occurs in fee-for-service Medicare. In fact, I think Medicare should just be turned into Medicare Advantage. It would save money and patients would be better cared for. The latest example of this is found in a JAMA study. The authors looked at cancer care in fee-for-service and MA, comparing tens of thousands of patients. Care was just as timely in MA plans, care guidelines were followed just as frequently and the costs were lower by 25%. Just one more example among many that MA plans are better for patients and much better for controlling health spending. (JAMA Article)
Dear Friend, I will have to take a different opinion on Medicare Advantage. My wife in 2019 was diagnosed with HERS2 Breast Cancer at the hospital that I worked at. Her mammogram was ordered by an outside OBGYN clinic. Fortunately, my medical insurance was tiered to allow us to “go-out-of-network” and be cared for at MD Anderson. If I had Medicare Advantage today and she was diagnosed, she would be in the same network that she had been in 2019 but without the option of going to MD Anderson, having nipple sparing bilateral mastectomies. Of note, the OBGYN Clinic didn’t get her “network” mammogram results until after we had completed surgery-they called to state that she needed to come in due to a very suspicious lesion. Essentially, she was diagnosed and had surgery and returned home in less than a month at MD Anderson and started a year’s worth of chemotherapy in less than 50 or so days which has been shown to be clinically important in breast cancer. Also, her cancer went from 0.8 to 1.2cm in approximately 2 weeks. So, I believe that depending on your network area, it makes a a huge difference in the care you receive. My wife & I will continue with traditional Medicare. Last, I believe competition plays a key role-we have none. Take care & continue to write! Rvl