Medicare: Advantage Versus Supplement – Doing Your Homework – 11/08/2025
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Host John Berkley and Medicare Specialist Dave Bomkamp stress that individuals must “do your homework” to navigate the complex choices during open enrollment. Medicare Part A covers hospital stays (“beds”), and Part B covers medical services like doctors and surgeries. Part B is generally the largest expense, and delaying enrollment incurs a 10% per month penalty.
The episode compares Supplemental (Medigap) plans, which offer freedom and no networks, but usually have higher premiums, against Medicare Advantage plans (Part C). Advantage plans are privately run, use networks (HMO/PPO), and have a significant 20% denial rate for services Medicare would cover. A key warning is that moving from an Advantage plan back to a Supplement typically requires medical underwriting, making the initial choice potentially irreversible if health declines. Furthermore, failure to secure Part D (drug) coverage incurs a lifelong 1% monthly penalty, which can be avoided in Wisconsin using the $30/year Senior Care plan for credible coverage.
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