If someone was denied coverage under Medicare Advantage, for an illness that is covered by Medicare, then they should have appealed the decision, as Medicare Advantage must provide the same services that Medicare would provide, plus it must provide additional benefits. This leads me to wonder what were the rest of the facts around this denial, like requiring the treatment at an approved (in-network) facility, maybe?

With that said, Medicare Advantage has had significant cost savings for my mother as well as many other seniors, compared to having to purchase a Medigap insurance policy.  It reduced my mothers insurance premiums by over $2,400 per year and provided her with prescription drug coverage.

The reality is that basic Traditional Medicare alone, does not provide catostraphic illness coverage. If you are in the hospital over 60 days without a medigap policy, you will pay $267 per day, and if over 90 days, it will be over $534 per day, with no annual cap on out of pocket expenditures.  And Medicare DOES deny coverage, my mother has been denied treatment several times with basic Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans help to cover these costs that Medicare alone would not cover.  If Medicare Advantage is cut, seniors will have no choice but to go back to the expensive Medigap plans….That’s probably why AARP is on board with supporting this healthcare plan.