The Hidden Incentives Behind Medicare Advantage Recommendations
In some cases, doctors are paid bonuses by Medicare Advantage plans for meeting certain performance or cost-saving goals. These bonuses don’t have to be disclosed to you, which means you may not know about the financial factors influencing recommendations.
Why Some Agents Push Medicare Advantage Plans
Insurance agents often receive much higher commissions for selling Medicare Advantage plans compared to Medicare Supplement plans. Unfortunately, this can lead some agents to steer clients toward Advantage plans — sometimes using misleading tactics — simply for the higher payout.
Choose the Plan You’ll Want When You’re Sick
My philosophy is simple: pick the plan you’ll want when you’re sick or injured, not just the one that looks appealing today.
Buying a plan “temporarily” with the intention of switching later can backfire. Changes in your health or Medicare rules may make it difficult — or impossible — to change plans in the future without medical underwriting or losing certain benefits.
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