[Animats]

Yes.

"Medicare Advantage" = HMO. All the usual HMO problems.

The best Medigap plan is Plan F, which is no longer available to new subscribers. "Discontinuation of Medicare Plan F was a strategic decision aimed at promoting responsible healthcare spending and ensuring the financial sustainability of the Medicare program." It covers just about everything Medicare doesn't pay, including the various deductibles Medicare has. If Medicare covered Medicare's part, the Plan F provider has to pay their part. They don't get to question it. I don't even see hospital bills, just statements that it's been paid for.

Plan G is one step down from that.

[js2]

MA is not necessarily an HMO. It's up to the operator. Some are HMOs, some are PPOs, some are neither.

[BeetleB]

> "Medicare Advantage" = HMO. All the usual HMO problems.

Not on Medicare, but I switched to an HMO over 10 years ago at work, and have never been happier.

There are fantastic and crappy PPOs, and fantastic and crappy HMOs.