Here is a link to a Substack article by Mark Miller a leading expert on Medicare, and my go to source. He writes an excellent synopsis of changes this year:
David, I enjoyed the Miller article. I’m thankful we’re among the lucky ones whose Wellcare Value Script Part D plan held steady at a zero premium for another year.
I also enjoyed the article he linked at the end about “buying stocks till you die” (or not).
We have a $0 Wellcare Value Script Part D plan as well this year. Have not bothered to check plans for ‘26 yet until my wife has her annual Medicare visit later this week to see if her MD changes any of her Rxs. As I’m sure you are aware Andrew the common advice is for traditional Medicare participants to still annually use the Medicare.gov website and update their medications then look to see their overall costs including deductibles and copays, not just the premiums. A plan with a small premium may actually be the lowest overall cost. That being said if the difference is minimal I love not being bothered with having to pay a small monthly premium.
The article states in part: “Neo-liberal supporters of this marketplace-based approach argue that competition holds down costs, but this is demonstrably false – especially in the case of the Medicare Advantage industry, which is overpaid by the government and taxpayers and maximizes profit through denial of care and fake “upcoding” of patient illnesses.”
Competition in healthcare does not hold down costs in health care and in some ways does the opposite. MA is overpaid and does manipulate patient illness severity to get higher Medicare payments. However, to say they or any insurance intentionally deny needed, medically necessary and covered care to maximize profits is irresponsible. Actually, if you think about it, it is not even logical to do so.
Going back to the early 1980s HMOs were accused of the same thing.
David, I enjoyed the Miller article. I’m thankful we’re among the lucky ones whose Wellcare Value Script Part D plan held steady at a zero premium for another year.
I also enjoyed the article he linked at the end about “buying stocks till you die” (or not).
And John Oliver’s piece on MA is a real treat!
We have a $0 Wellcare Value Script Part D plan as well this year. Have not bothered to check plans for ‘26 yet until my wife has her annual Medicare visit later this week to see if her MD changes any of her Rxs.
As I’m sure you are aware Andrew the common advice is for traditional Medicare participants to still annually use the Medicare.gov website and update their medications then look to see their overall costs including deductibles and copays, not just the premiums. A plan with a small premium may actually be the lowest overall cost. That being said if the difference is minimal I love not being bothered with having to pay a small monthly premium.
The article states in part: “Neo-liberal supporters of this marketplace-based approach argue that competition holds down costs, but this is demonstrably false – especially in the case of the Medicare Advantage industry, which is overpaid by the government and taxpayers and maximizes profit through denial of care and fake “upcoding” of patient illnesses.”
Competition in healthcare does not hold down costs in health care and in some ways does the opposite. MA is overpaid and does manipulate patient illness severity to get higher Medicare payments. However, to say they or any insurance intentionally deny needed, medically necessary and covered care to maximize profits is irresponsible. Actually, if you think about it, it is not even logical to do so.
Going back to the early 1980s HMOs were accused of the same thing.