Letter: Response to ‘Medicare’

Published: 10-16-2024 3:45 PM

I applaud David Brook’s article “Thousands scramble for health coverage as Medicare Advantage firms leave NH” highlighting the departure of several Medicare Advantage products from the NH market as it forces people to find new insurance for the coming year. Unfortunately, he perpetuated a common myth: Medicare Advantage products provide better coverage than traditional Medicare. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Concord

Monitor has run columns, many by healthcare professionals, detailing issues associated with Medicare Advantage products such as unexpected costs, lack of access to services, just to name a few. Promoting the myth that Medicare Advantage is better than traditional Medicare leads to continued confusion and promotes a system that frustrates and, at times, underinsures consumers.

While there are certain perks and possible cost savings with some Medicare Advantage products, the lack of information on what Medicare Advantage products do and don’t cover creates confusion detrimental to consumers. Further, Medicare Advantage plans operate as a zero-sum game. If they are offering perks above and beyond what traditional Medicare provides, they are reducing a benefit elsewhere to offset that loss. Companies that provide Medicare Advantage products are there to make money, so they won’t be giving away benefits for free. As proof, United Healthcare, the largest provider of Medicare Advantage in the US made $22 billion in profit last year. Medicare consumers have an important choice to make. Incorrect information about the options available simply confuses the process further. For many consumers, traditional Medicare is a better option.

Jim Culhane

New London

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