Why do people think Medicare is free to the subscribers?

Question

People who have medicare pay over $100 per month for the premium. Since not very much is covered, they often get a 'supplemental' insurance program. ANOTHER $100. Medicare doesn't cover ANY dental ( even dentures! ) care. Medicare doesn't cover prescriptions or very much medical equipment. (Part D is a crock - you pay another premium for that, and then it still doesn't cover all your meds - and then you LOSE your coverage for a period of time). and even after all that, you still have to pay your 20% because it's a PPO 80/20 at best.

So people who think just cover everyone by extending the Medicare program are thinking out their arses.

People who could NOW be spending $300 + per month on private insurance premiums (which often isn't less than insurance thru employers) would rather spend that money on fancy shoes/latest clothes ($100+), cel phones ($100+), cable tv ($75.+), cds ($???), video games ($????), eating at fast food etc ($200+ per mo easy), etc etc that they now consider a NECESSARY part of life, like electricity, food and rent.

The myth of unaffordable health insurance is just that - a myth. It is, rather, a question of skewed priorities.

The myth of 47 million w/o health insurance is a myth. Illegal aliens are included in that number.

Answer 1

You're right - Medicare is not free. Then again, nothing in life is free. Part A is "free" if you or a spouse has worked at least 40 quarters. Otherwise it can cost up to $423 per month. Part B does have a premium of $96.40 for most people. Depending on your income the premium could be higher or lower.

Medicare Part A and B both have deductibles and Part B also has co-insurance. Because of the deductibles and co-insurance Medicare pays 57% of the average seniors' health care costs which is why people get a Medicare Supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan. Supplements do cost over $100 but Medicare Advantage plans have a low or even a $0 premium in many places.

Medicare Supplements do not have Part D so you have to get a stand-alone Part D plan from a private insurance company for an additional premium. Each company has a different formulary so if you are taking medications that are not covered with the plan you are on you'll need to check other plans to see who will cover your meds. Less than 10% actually reach the coverage gap, or donut hole, where you "lose" your coverage. If you do reach the donut hole you still get the negotiated rate that the insurance company has with the pharmaceutical companies so your cost is lower than if you didn't have coverage. This rate will also vary with different companies so you'll need to find out which company has the best rate for your particular medication. After you go through the donut hole you go into catastrophic coverage where you pay about 5% of the costs. These plans are not PPO 80/20 plans.

Most Medicare Advantage plans, even those with a $0 premium, also cover Part D medications. Usually your cost for drugs is less with a Medicare Advantage plan than with a stand-alone Part D plan.

Many Medicare Advantage plans have some dental coverage either included or as an option.

Yes, it is skewed priorities; there is coverage for the truely needy through Medicaid.

Nearly 20 million of the 47 million are illegal aliens. People that have temporarily lost their coverage because of a job change are also included, even if they were without insurance for 1 day. There are less than 10 million Americans that are without insurance. Many of those do not want coverage because they are healthy and don't think they need coverage. Many of those also would qualify for Medicaid but they don't apply for whatever reason. The lack of health insurance is a made up crisis to give the politicians something to campaign about.

Answer 2

Thanks  for the  info,  I  become  eligble couple  months and  have  no  idea  what will be. I  wanted  to  answer so  I  could  come  back to it later.  

Answer 3

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