What's the most misleading Medicare Advantage ad you've seen, and how do you explain the reality to clients?
Answered by 10 licensed agents
An agency out of state sent a Medicare Advantage plan ad/mailer to my husband. The plan they were advertising was a plan not in our zip code or county. I called the agency and it took a bit of time for him to tell me that United HealthCare plan is not available where we live. I contacted United HealthCare about this ad. Hopefully they contacted the agency. When shopping around for a Medicare plan, please contact a local agent who will care if you happy with your plan and will try to keep you happy to keep your business.
Beware1 There are a lot of scams out there! Ads will offer you money or Flex cards. But when you click on the link they offer, you are asked for your zip code to see if you qualify. Guess what? Surprise! Your zip code does not qualify. But, since you`re here, why not enroll in my health plan? Beware!
The ones that advertise free dental, OTC cards, and tons of extra benefits — but don’t mention those are usually for people on Medicaid. Most folks don’t qualify for those extras, so it’s very misleading. I always explain what you actually qualify for, not what’s in the fine print.
Some ads say ‘Grocery Benefit’ and ‘Get what you deserve’. Those extra benefits are typically for people who have Enhanced Medicaid. (If you don’t have Medicaid then you won’t qualify for those benefits, but it gets the phone ringing!) Once you call the number on the advertisement, your information is sold to many different Agents and your phone never stops ringing. I show beneficiaries the various plans available to them, go over the differences in all of the companies and plans, and see if they qualify for Medicaid. Based on their qualifications, health needs, finances and other things, I am able to make realistic plan recommendations.
Easy. A few years ago, Joe Namath, Jimmie Walker and actor Wm. Devane hosted a TV ad that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) forced them to do over. It explained some Medicare benefits in a roundabout way. It turned out that those folks who called the toll-free # on the screen already had those perks in place but did not know it. This was just an enticement to try to convince you to switch to their plan. Once the uproar began, a number of months later, this practice came to a halt and to a certain extent, besmirched their “careers”.
I feel they are ALL MISLEADING!! The push is to hear the words "Free" or "No Charge". They sell the benefits they give, but not what is NOT COVERED. And the benefits they list aren't as fluid, as it would seem, to use. The failure to discuss how the plan is not portable on trips, how much Co-Pay or deductible, or Max out of pocket the end user is responsible for, is very misleading. They talk about In Network so sweetly, but don't tell you the best health practices won't accept it! So, be careful when you listen for what they AREN'T TELLING YOU, more than what they ARE telling you!
I absolutely hate the ad from Joe Namath saying that you can get money back for moving to Medicare advantage. While it is technically true, it is so misleading. You might be able to get money back in your Social Security check because the Medicare advantage plan pays a portion of your part B premium, but you need to know what Risk you are taking on to get that small amount back. There is nothing wrong with using a Medicare advantage plan, but you need to understand exactly how it works and what the requirements are before you make that decision. You should talk to an experienced agent to find out how the plan will work for you.
Most of the misleading ads for Medicare Advantage have to do with costs. The important thing to remember is that Medicare Advantage plan costs are tied to copays, NOT monthly premiums. For example, if you are relatively healthy and don't go to doctors/providers very often, Medicare Advantage is a very low-cost option.
