The Truth About Medicare Commercials

We are all a little bit skeptical when we see ads on television offering free this or that or making promises that sound too good to be true. So, let’s break down the truth about Medicare commercials. 

When it comes to Medicare, though, sometimes we are tempted to think that the commercials must be honest. This is especially tricky because Medicare is run by the government and the celebrities in the commercials are pretty trustworthy people. 

The first thing to know is that these commercials are only advertising Medicare Advantage plans. So what should we believe, are the Medicare Advantage commercials true?

Are Medicare Advantage Commercials Telling the Truth?

The answer is that the Medicare advantage commercials are true, sort of. They only tell you part of the story. 

Just like when you buy a new car, the salesman shows you all of the bells and whistles but leaves out the information about the poor gas mileage. These commercials do the same thing! 

Medicare Advantage Plans do offer some very nice benefits and they often do not have premiums and copays. This is because they do have a network. 

The truth is that nothing is ever free, things are just charged in a different way and sometimes called different words. Here is a look at some of the Medicare commercial claims about Medicare Advantage Plans and what they really mean:

• You Get Additional Benefits: The specific benefits of each plan are different and may or may not be better than the plan you currently have. This blanket statement doesn’t apply to everyone and you should check to see which benefits are actually offered by any plan that you are considering. You may already have some of these benefits and not be aware of it. Check your summary of benefits to confirm your coverages. 

• There Is No Copay: Only some Medicare Advantage Plans don’t have a copay. Generally they are referencing a Primary care doctor visit copay. Again this depends on the specific plan. You will generally have copays for other services, like hospital visits, surgeries, specialist visits, ect. 

• Coverage for No Additional Cost: By no additional cost, the commercials are referring to the fact that there is  often no premium for some Medicare Advantage Plans. This does not mean that there is no cost or that they are free. The fact is that some Medicare Advantage Plans do have monthly premiums and copays associated with them.

• More Money in Your Social Security Check: Some Medicare Advantage Plans come with a give-back or premium-reduction benefit. This is not standard to all Medicare Advantage Plans and is not even available in all counties. Be careful buying into this benefit. Make sure this actually is available before you consider changing plans. We often see people get a bait and switch with this, where they assume they are getting a plan that gives money back on their social security checks, but instead the plan isn’t available and they are enrolled into something else. 

The Fine Print with Medicare Advantage

The main difference is that Medicare Advantage is a whole different thing than the original Medicare that you might be more familiar with. Medicare Advantage is a system where all of your medical coverage goes through your Medicare Advantage Plan. 

These plans are also often an HMO. This means that you will have a network of doctors that you have to stay within to have coverage. You will need referrals to see a specialist from your primary. We find that these plans need to be set up correctly with the correct medical group, so that you keep all of your specialists and services. 

When done right these plans can be great. You often pay nothing a month for them, you get extra benefits, and your out-of-pocket copays are much lower than original Medicare. The problem is that many of these call centers are on a timer and don’t know your local networks and doctors. A local Medicare agent can help you understand all of the differences and ensure you keep all of your doctors and services.

If you feel overwhelmed or confused by all of the hype and advertising around Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Advantage, or you still find yourself asking, “What is the truth in these Medicare commercials?” – don’t be afraid to reach out for help.