If they are looking for complete coverage to the extent possible then why shouldn't their MA be comparable to OM+supp and D? I don't know what you do but I talk about costs up front vs as they need care (including MOOP's if they were to need care or what the supp and D have as MOOP), networks, GI issues later if the healthy ones get sick and give them some idea what is a deal breaker for passing medical underwriting and do they have a family history of that stuff, etc.It's sort of misleading them though to present it that way. A lot of people think that their MAPD coverage has to be equal or greater to the Medicare with the sup when you explain it that way. It's just equal or greater than A&B. When you add in the sup, that's obviously much higher level of coverage.
Like a client called me this morning that was very upset because she recently found out she has breast cancer and her oncologist told her that she better check with her insurance agent what she's gonna be running into as the treatments are very expensive and she has to come in weekly. She was on a supplement so that was great news. She won't owe anything. If she was on an advantage plan, she would owe 20% of the cost of the treatments until she reaches her max out-of-pocket. Plus, of course we would need to verify the network.
Again how is this misleading them? MA's cover more than A&B and most people have a supp and D to make up, or mostly make up, for that. Only around 5% (if the bot is to be believed) have A&B only. So if you want to compare coverage in a more apples to apples way, including coverage, over all costs when filling the gaps A&B alone create, MOOP, etc. you compare the various C's out there with A and B along with the various D and supps out there. C will have more than most supps with vision, dental, hearing, etc. and if income wise they qualify for a cash card then that too.
The people I talk with either are dual eligible and healthy (and have no idea how they will pay the copays but decide not to worry about it since they are healthy "now" or use the one system here that won't sue and fire you if you don't pay) so look at the cash cards, etc. that the MA's offer or have enough money that paying the premiums for supps and D's is at least marginally affordable. Locally the network issue isn't all that relevant as the 4 systems accept just about anything. The issue, for some, is the overall poor health care here and they want to be able to go out of state if need be. Those folks mostly opt for a OM and supp and D although sometimes an MA PPO or HMO works for them (at least when they sign up) depending on where they want to go.
If you neglect to inform them about OM plus Supp and D (if they don't already know about that) then of course a MA will sound better to most. If you educate them about the kinds of choices first before asking them what they are more likely interested in based on their needs I don't think that is even remotely misleading.
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