Compare Medicare plans to save cash

Article by: WARREN WOLFE , Star Tribune
Updated: October 15, 2012 - 4:49 PM

Experts say recipients should make use of open enrollment periods to find cheaper plans with better coverage.

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ralphyehleOct. 16, 12 8:15 AM

UnitedHealth's profits jump 23% in the third-quarter, how ironic. This article suggests seniors could save $300 million in Minnesota if they switched Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans. Simply put, seniors are not doing their homework. With almost 60 different plans to pick from one might guess the free-market healthcare system was working, except for the fact that seniors don't seem to like it. Even with all the resources available to help us, including Medicare.gov "with lots of details." That is exactly part of the issue; we don't want to sort through countless possible plans. And furthermore if we are being compassionate about wanting to save seniors money that many don’t have in the first place, what about the workers at these health plans? Is the cheapest of them also offering the lowest paid wages and benefits to their workers? Do they save on administrative costs by outsourcing to who knows where, providing cut-rate service or heaven forbid, cutting profits? My wife and I are both on Medicare and would prefer a national single- payer plan like Canada that simply covers everyone and doesn’t require us to participate in these annual hunts for a best deal, our health is not to be trivialized by free-market “caveat emptor” – let the buyer beware.