In September 19 Government PR about Medicare Advantage, "Average" Is the Key Word

• Glass-half-full guy: 4%-5% is better than 9%-10%.
• Glass-half-empty guy: "Average" is the key word.

I stress "average" because last year, when standalone prescription drug plans did not go up at all across the United States ON AVERAGE, the most popular plans here in Worcester County went up 20% or more. That was not the case just here in Milford as the popular national website, WebMD, reported at the time. We will know in a few days (no later than October 1) whether the same will happen here this year -- both for standalone drug plans and for public Part C Medicare Advantage health plans. This wordsmithing simply highlights why it is so important not to just automatically sign up for the same plan(s) for 2014 as you are using now. Until you're sure, don't spend the money on something fun.

The news was expected because back in February and March we seniors sent a couple of million letters to our Congresspeople concerning how Part C Medicare Advantage health plan prices are set. Our Congresspeople in turn sent a letter to CMS urging CMS to change the 2014 Part C competitive bidding rules.

NOTE: The game insurers play is to announce new low-cost plans that no one would possibly want (because the benefits are lousy or because they cover only a few drugs or because the deductibles are high) and then average them with the higher-priced popular plans. That lets them say prices are flat or prices only went up a few percent ON AVERAGE.