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Just today (July 25, 2007) the Wall Street Journal published an article about the benefits of Medicare Advantage plans f or many patients. Medicare Advantage plans have come under attack lately, making them look like profit schemes by private insurance companies. Certainly private insurance companies are in the game as a business, but Medicare Advantage plans provide a very real benefit to the people who enroll.
The article was written by Leslie Norwalk, a former director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). CMS is the federal government agency which oversees Medicare, and also approves and regulates Medicare Advantage plans.
A combination of competition and federal incentives allow these programs to provide care at a lower cost to patients, and in order for a program to be approved by CMS (Center for Medicare and Medcaid) they must provide benefits that are equal to, or better than, original Medicare.
From the Wall Street Journal Article about Medicare Advantage Benefits:

A higher proportion of Medicare Advantage enrollees (57%) are low-income (between $10,000 and $30,000 a year) than those who are in the traditional program. A higher percentage of Medicare Advantage participants are minorities (27%) than those in the Medicare (20%). And the average beneficiary in a Medicare Advantage plan gets additional benefits of $86 per month, including lower cost-sharing on hospital stays and physician visits, lower Part D premiums (prescription drug), coverage for vision, dental and hearing services, and care management services such as 24-hour nurse advice lines.
Medicare Advantage plans have also taken a lead in developing case management programs for chronic diseases and integrating them into their overall approach to care. In contrast, basic Medicare does not give health-care providers an incentive to coordinate patient care after a specific treatment has run its course.
So it’s no surprise that 95% of people with a Medicare Advantage plan report “no problem” or “a small problem” getting the care they need. They are more likely to get preventive care — immunizations, cancer screening and diabetes management.
The vast majority of Medicare Advantage patients — 80% — are enrolled in coordinated-care plans, such as Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). There’s no better way to coordinate care for chronically-ill Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare spends over two-thirds of its budget on less than one-fourth of beneficiaries who have five or more chronic conditions. They have an average of 13 physician visits and fill 50 prescriptions a year. Medicare Advantage helps manage these costs.
The article continues by reporting that Medicare Advantage plans are often a better alternative for those who have moderate incomes, and cannot really afford a comprehensive Medicare Supplement. They are also often better alternatives for those who must manage specialized health care issues as a variety of Medicare Advantage health plans exist to manage chronic disease or other special situations.

If you are enrolled in Medicare, or if you help care for a senior citizen or disabled person on Medicare, and want to make the best use of your Medicare benefits while saving money, you should consider your own individual situation to determine if Medicare alone, Medicare with a Med Sup, or a Medicare Advantage plan is right for you.
If you aren’t really sure what plans are available in your area, contact the Medicare Benefit Experts at Trusted Senior Specialists. One short, no-obligation form will allow you to learn about the alternatives available for you, and your own particular situations.
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