Expanded medicare assistance available; gaps remain

Healthcare experts are expecting a surge in applications for state-run Medicare subsidy programs.

County residents on Medicare Advantage individual plans will all lose their current health insurance for 2026, unless they act soon.

The majority of the 51,600 people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in the state are served by two insurers, UnitedHealthcare and Vermont Blue Advantage. Both are leaving the market for individual purchasers next year.

If you are eligible for Medicare, I recommend you do not sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. Look at what happened to UVM Health Advantage, a MVP plan offered in partnership with the University of Vermont Health Network.

Thank you, legislators, for listening to Vermonters’ voices and improving Medicare affordability.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period ends on December 7, and I wish I had had the knowledge when I signed up that I now have about MA. “Medicare Advantage” (MA) is not an advantage for seniors and people with disabilities.

Vermonters on Medicare are struggling with high costs. A bill before the legislature would help.

Since Open Enrollment for medical plans runs until Dec. 7, our experience with changing from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare is relevant.

We’re being overwhelmed with advertising for Medicare Advantage plans, but there are no ads for traditional Medicare. The reason for the MA ads is that the Medicare Advantage corporations are making huge profits.

The Shoreham Congregational Church will host a free presentation on Medicare fraud called “Prevent, Detect, Report,” on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. 

I’ve spent my professional life as a primary care pediatrician, mostly in Vermont. Now I’m retired and the beneficiary of Medicare. 

I appreciate the articles written by Dr. G. Fjeld and Mr. Richard Hopkins in a recent Addison Independent.

We need to pass Universal Healthcare ASAP!

If you want to change your Medicare enrollment for the coming year you need to make that change by next Wednesday, Dec. 7 — did you know that?

The Advantage Plan hucksters are emerging out of their almost yearlong hibernation.