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Dan: Hey there–
One thing we have never ever talked about on this program? Medicare. You understand, that free-health-care thing you might anticipate to get when you turn 65.
It’s been on a list of things where I’ve resembled, “that is TOO huge, and TOO made complex. I can’t get my arms around that recently.”
Specifically since: There’s this thing called Medicare Advantage– a sort of privatized variation, run by insurer? Appears questionable, and REALLY made complex.
I’ve resembled, Maybe at some point.
Which sooner or later? That’s today. Or a minimum of, we begin today. Generally since an associate of mine simply did a BUNCH of work that we get to piggyback off of.
Sarah Jane Tribble: my name is Sarah Jane Tribble and I’m Chief Rural Health Correspondent with KFF Health News.
Dan: And as Sarah Jane reported on Medicare, she was shocked by just how much she didn’t understand. And just how much other folks didn’t understand either.
Sarah Jane Tribble: At Thanksgiving, when I was dealing with a few of these stories, I have good friends who are nearing retirement. They’re not truly close, however they’re close adequate to care and they’re devoted NPR listeners. And they resembled, wait, so what’s the distinction in between Medicare Advantage and Medicare? And I resembled, they ought to understand.
Dan: Who’s going to inform them?
Sarah Jane Tribble:?
Dan: That’s us, I think.
Sarah Jane Tribble: This program will assist inform them.
Dan-in-tape: I hope so. I hope so.
Dan: Because this traditional-Medicare vs Medicare Advantage– it is a high stakes choice, it takes place when you initially register.
And here’s the huge thing that Sarah Jane found out: if you register for Medicare Advantage, at that point, when you initially get on Medicare, you’re basically stayed with it. And some individuals wind up with purchaser’s regret. Huge time.
And really, beyond that option– in between Medicare Advantage and what’s called “standard Medicare”–, there’s actually an entire alphabet soup of other options you’re gon na require to make. Each with a cost, and possibly some huge compromises.
And there’s been a great deal of doubtful details that comes at individuals. Television reveals that older folks view have actually had lots of advertisements with People Who Were Real Famous in the 1970s.
J.J. Walker: Hi, I’m Jimmy JJ Walker.
Joe Namath: Hi, I’m Joe Namath.
William Shatner: William Shatner here with an essential message. I’ve been on Medicare for longer than I’ll confess, and it sure has actually altered.
Dan: Some of these advertisements make claims that noise too great to be real
J.J.