Commentary by Bob Adams

The thorn in my flesh is Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, I am fortunate to have a fabulous RA doctor, and there are medicines available now to control the RA pain. My grandmother didn’t have any of these advantages, and I still recall seeing how difficult life was for her.

Regarding Medicare Advantage or MA programs, my RA doctor calls them Medicare disadvantage. She has a number of patients who have had bad experiences with their MA programs.

Does this mean she made a mistake? Absolutely not! She is a brilliant doctor, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. When she asked me about Medicare Advantage programs, I reminded her plans are required to cover everything original Medicare covers and typically more.

So where did her patients’ plans go wrong? My guess is the plans these folks opted into were not researched. They may have picked a plan simply because it had a low premium. MA plans are not created equal. Most in our area include prescriptions drugs, but they don’t all cover the same drugs in the same way. You should work with someone who can research this for you, whatever combination of drugs you are taking. You will have a co-pay. In addition, watch your network to be sure the doctor you want to see is in the plan’s network, particularly if it’s an HMO. If my RA or family doctor is not in the MA plan network, I won’t do that plan, period.

Medicare’s budget has been cut by 14 percent in the past two years, and these plans are striving to make adjustments in their benefits and premiums to pick up the short fall, meaning the costs and benefits of MA plans are being hit hard.

Is Medicare Advantage a good choice? Talk to an independent agent who is concerned with your needs, not a salesman of one company. Then you can determine if Medicare Advantage is an advantage for you.

Bob Adams is the owner of Robert Adams Insurance in Noblesville. For more information, visit www.robertadamsinsurance.com or call 402-3171.