Letter to the editor: ‘Advantage’ plans are a rip-off

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.

The mail coming to me every day from for-profit private health insurance plans advertising an alternative to traditional Medicare, is overwhelming.

Remember that you are giving an insurance company control over your Medicare dollars and they are making a profit.

It takes both good luck and good care to survive cancer. After my breast cancer diagnosis in 1999 I had both. 

A recent conversation with my aunt brought to light a possible flaw with some of the Democratic candidates’ “Medicare for All” pitch. Medicare is beloved, true, and folks look forward to reaching eligibility age for it, also true. They can get excellent c … (read more)