Sunday, October 23, 2016

Without Medicare Advantage Lakeland Residents May Not Be Able To Afford Medical Care

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 vital that members of Part C plans know and understand the rules of that particular plan. Some plans exclude treatment for certain conditions. Others require members to obtain permission before consulting a specialist. Yet others requires that prescription drugs be obtained from specified suppliers. Failure to adhere to the rules of the plan can cause the member to be solely responsible for the cost of treatment.

Despite the restrictions, Part C plans offer many benefits. They are generally affordable and they may not charge treatment fees that exceed those of the original plan. Another great benefit is that the yearly out of pocket expenses of the member is limited. Once he reaches that limit all further treatment is free of charge. This limit varies from plan to plan and should be an important consideration when choosing a plan.

Critics say that Part C plans have severe limitations. Members may not see practitioners of their choice, but must choose from the list of approved professionals. In some practices, members may not even see the same doctor at each visit. This creates a danger that their medical histories will not always be up to date and this, in turn, can be a big problem during medical emergencies.

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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