Monday, October 24, 2016

When Backed By Medicare Advantage Lakeland Members Can Relax About High Medical Costs

By Joyce Davis


Many millions of people aged sixty five and older have received medical care in terms of the national health insurance program that was introduced to the United States in 1966. Many younger people with disabilities have also benefited. Medical care in terms of this program is not for everybody older than sixty five, however. Members need to have worked and contributed towards the program through taxes. The benefits offered by the program are restricted but today, with Medicare Advantage Lakeland members enjoy many additional benefits.

The program does not offer free medical treatment. It pays approximately half of the cost of treatment and the member is responsible for paying the remainder. Members have to make use of medical practitioners that are approved and registered by the program. In addition, the program will only pay for the treatment of a limited list of conditions and only approved drugs may be supplied.

Basic membership allows members access to the services of Part A and B of the program. Part A is a hospital plan, Part B consists of medical insurance and Part D covers a variety of prescription drugs not available to ordinary members. The Advantage plans are all about access to Part C of the program. This part allows members access to Part D and other and other treatment options that exceed those covered by basic program membership.

Most of the medical insurance companies offer a variety of Part C plans. It is not always easy to compare them objectively with each other. The best course of action is to consult with a medical insurance broker that acts independently and that can provide objective advice based upon the needs and circumstances of the client. These brokers are not paid to sell the plans of a specific company.

It is important to study the rules of the chose Part C plan and to get clarity on issues that are not clear. If the patient is required to obtain prior authorization for seeing a specials, for example, and fails to do so, he may be liable for all the cost. Some plans require members to see only practitioners that are approved by them.

There can be no doubt, however, that Part C plans offer many excellent benefits. For example, by law they have to limit the amount that has to be paid for treatment by the member himself each year. Once that limit is reached the member does not pay a portion of any further treatment. Members receive world class benefits at a very reasonable premium. The fees that may be charged for services rendered are also regulated.

Part C plans have their critics too. They complain that patients do not have a choice regarding the medical practitioner they may consult. They may only use practitioners on the approved list and in many cases they see a different practitioner every time they visit the surgery. This, critics say, leads to incomplete medical histories that may prove to be catastrophic in emergency situations.

The fact remains that quality medical treatment is out of reach for ordinary people and that millions depend upon Part C plans. These plans may not be perfect and they may not cover all medical conditions, but they provide quality care that would otherwise not be affordable. Only the wealthy van afford comprehensive medical insurance that makes provision for every possible condition.




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