Nebraska hospitals warn seniors that Medicare Advantage isn’t for everyone

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Medicare’s annual open enrollment started this week, and hospitals across Nebraska want seniors to be informed before choosing a program.

They want patients to understand the difference between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. It said the right choice varies by patient.

Medicare Advantage might work for relatively healthy patients, officials said, but not for people with chronic conditions.

The traditional option is government-run, but Medicare Advantage is sold by private companies.

The Nebraska Hospital Association said Medicare Advantage plans often promote themselves as offering more benefits.

But President Jeremy Nordquist said the Advantage program requires unreasonable levels of documentation and often denies care coverage.

“For many seniors, it leaves holes in their health care system that will mean extensive out-of-pocket costs that seniors didn’t have to incur when they had traditional Medicare with a supplemental plan,” he said. 

The association also said Medicare Advantage is jeopardizing the state’s hospitals. 

“Ninety-five percent of our hospitals say that the shift toward Advantage away from traditional Medicare has negatively impacted their financial bottom line,” Nordquist said.

Michael Dewerff, chief financial officer of Bryan Health, said the Advantage program is adding financial burden to hospitals. 

He said even though it is supposed to pay them more than traditional Medicare, they’re actually being paid less.

Officials said 10% of hospitals in Nebraska do not contract with Medicare Advantage because of that.

Here is a link where you can compare the benefits of both Medicare programs.