Anyone else SICK TO DEATH of Medicare advertisements?!?

[jymbee]

As if the political ads weren't bad enough. Fortunately we don't live in a "swing state" so I guess it could have been a lot worse. But, the sheer volume of television commercials and mailings pushing one Medicare plan or the other is unrelenting. 

[HueyPilotVN]

Actually, there is a good thing about being bombarded with the commercials.

When I first began to receive social security I was automatically enrolled in Medicare at about $140 a month.

I have never used it or even showed my card.

I have full coverage from the VA with a 100% service connected disability.

The commercials remind me that I should call about removing the premium and getting additional money each month.

However, the way things get screwed up they would probably just take all the social security benefit away and where would I get my Beer money.

Another thing that I get is two or three mailings a day to refinance my VA home loan, but that is an entirely different subject.

[NY_Dutch]

At least the 54 day Medicare open enrollment period is much shorter than the political campaigns.

[Utclmjmpr]

 Sure getting tired of Joe Montana and his hands flopping around..>>>Dan

[jymbee]

Sure getting tired of Joe Montana and his hands flopping around..>>>Dan

By any chance to you mean Joe Namath? Personally I wouldn't buy dog food from that Joe! No idea why they figure he's such a desirable spokesman. 

[Oldgator73]

We mostly watch Netflix, Amazon, HBO and Hulu so don’t see commercials.

[camperAL]

Good Topic,

I'm more than sick of those commercials. I do a lot of muting on commercials, especially the stupid ones. Joe has two, one where he doesn't come on at first and then there is one where he is on right away. People get numb to and tend to ignore them or perhaps do as I do. I've got a mute button and I ain't afraid to use it!

[Gizmo100]

We mostly watch Netflix, Amazon, HBO and Hulu so don’t see commercials.

Something we can agree on....I can't stand to watch TV. Between a lack of quality shows to watch and annoying commercials, it's just a waste of time.

[Arch Hoagland]

I watch two TV shows. Period. Nothing else....Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, those ads haven't appeared on them yet.

I absolutely hate commercials and canned laughter. 

Don't even have a TV in our coach, took it out and use the space for storage.   

[TheBar]

Even worse than stuffing our snailmailbox every day, for the past 6 months insurance agents have been calling 8-12 times a day to sign my wife up for Medicare. She won't be old enough to get Medicare for another 2 years and they call my phone not her phone. Congress was talking about making unsolicited phone calls illegal. What ever happened to that?

What is even sadder is they make applying for Medicare so complex and with lifetime penalties for applying late so people have to rely on insurance agents to help them. My ex almost got ripped off by a legitimate licensed agent holding a "Free Medicare School to help the seniors in our community". He would have doubled her premiums by selling her separate policies for every feature included in one of the many Medicare Advantage plans. Even though we've been divorced for 28 years I had to help her because our 3 adult children couldn't figure out what Medicare plan she needed and they were running out of time.

Not only Medicare but her local Social Security office told her she didn't meet the requirements to receive half the amount of my Social Security which was almost double her own benefit. I called their office manager then had to send him a link to their national SS website which explained the requirements. He apologized and she is receiving that benefit. That makes me wonder how many other single women are missing out on their money.

[phil-t]

Luckily, my trash can is on the way into the house from the mailbox. I enjoy throwing all that $$ away.    I treat it just like all the email spam I get.  And, I seldom answer the house phone.  Very few messages left there by spammers.

[Rene T]

Sure getting tired of Joe Montana and his hands flopping around..>>>Dan

I’ve always wondered how many people get sucked into buying those plans. If you read the fine print it says you’ll be contacted by a licensed insurance agent and they are not affiliated with the government. Then they say you have to do it during the enrollment period. How do they get away with posing to be part of the Medicare program. I guess they are covered because they spell it out in the very small fine print.

[John From Detroit]

What is more even with a national health care system Canadians are being hammered with much the same type of ads... You can't even escape them by crossing the border. (The language is a bit different (name of plan) but the adds are much the same.. I mostly ignore them)

[Utclmjmpr]

 As a licenced General Contractor in Utah, I can not advertise or put my self out there as a contractor unless my licence is active and in good standing.. Yet these clowns can act as third party reps and gouge a commission out of unsuspecting folks that are not informed ,, it must be a lucrative practice as they buy up  huge advertising time..>>>Dan   ( My apologies to Joe Montana )

[Tom55555]

Right up there with "My Pillow." Good reasons for DVR.

[Rene T]

Right up there with "My Pillow." Good reasons for DVR.

I was just going to say the pillow guy and what about Liberty Mutual with that stupid bird/emu. They must be spending millions on advertisements.

[UTTransplant]

Kevin generally picks up the mail, and he walks past the recycling bin on the way. We get pounds of advertisements in the snail mail. Luckily when we were each eligible for Medicare our previous companies had contracts with a third party advisor that was very helpful. While we each went through different companies, the results were similar - solid, non-biased information. We were lucky.

[Larry N.]

Luckily, my trash can is on the way into the house from the mailbox. I enjoy throwing all that $$ away.    I treat it just like all the email spam I get.  And, I seldom answer the house phone.  Very few messages left there by spammers.

Most of those we put in recycling, rather than the garbage. It almost makes them useful (except that they shouldn't have done it in the first place, of course).

[Larry N.]

Luckily when we were each eligible for Medicare our previous companies had contracts with a third party advisor that was very helpful.

AT&T did (and does) something similar. We've found that AON gives excellent advice, including making certain that the plans we choose from are valid in our county.

[Oldgator73]

Think of all the folks employed because of junk mail. The UPS gets probably billions of dollars in revenue from circulars and other junk mail. The companies that print the junk mail are making money and employing people. The recycling company is making money and hiring folks. It’s a win win. And all we have to do is walk to the mailbox and on the way back took the junk in recycling. The ads on TV are easy, just mute them.

[Gary RV_Wizard]

The companies wouldn't be spending megabucks on that stuff if they didn't have good reason to believe it works. And THAT is the part that is scary to me; people are actually swayed by some of that drivel.
Living in Florida where there is a large senior population and healthcare & insurance a major industry, we get lots of Medicare advertising during the Open Enrollment season.  Even during Jeopardy!

[lynnmor]

The companies wouldn't be spending megabucks on that stuff if they didn't have good reason to believe it works. And THAT is the part that is scary to me; people are actually swayed by some of that drivel.

I agree.  The information you need to purchase Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage is free on the Medicare.gov website, just plug in your information and see what is available to you and at what cost.  These scammers are there to sell you higher cost plans and stuff their pockets.  People should know that only the price differs between plans of the same categories.

[TheBar]

People should know that only the price differs between plans of the same categories.

I'm not an agent and not trying to sell them but you should check out Medicare Advantage plans (which vary by state). There are many false rumors and misconceptions about Medicare Advantage plans which may have been true years ago but is not true today. If you compare you can get more coverage for half the "overall" cost. There is even a zero cost plan with low copays, deductible, and out of pocket although it excludes drug coverage.

We have a Humana mid range plan which covers everything for one premium of $87/month where we live. In January 2019 my wife had surgery with a 3 day hospital stay. Our total payment was $450 which I couldn't believe because we have never had to pay a deductible. Humana has always paid all their portion within 3 weeks not strung out over several months like Blue Cross always did before I retired.

[UTTransplant]

Advantage plans are basically HMOs. They are great if you like the providers and stay in one area most of the time. While I have heard rumors of regional Advantage plans, but there weren’t any in my area. Since we travel to 15 or more states a year, sometimes more, a restricted location plan doesn’t work for us. It is something to think about if you travel widely.

[Pugapooh]

Yes.

Also,Liberty Mutual Insurance.

[Tom]

The first year Chris was eligible for Medicare, I 'naively' signed her up for a Humana Advantage plan. All was well until she broke her leg while we were in Ohio and, subsequent to ER, needed Orthodpaedic help in Ohio and Wyoming. It was all paid out of pocket. I couldn't understand why our primary care physician in California kept saying he couldn't give her a referral.

The next year, I signed Chris up for a Humana Supplemental plan, and all has been well (no pun) since.

[LarsMac]

As if the political ads weren't bad enough. Fortunately we don't live in a "swing state" so I guess it could have been a lot worse. But, the sheer volume of television commercials and mailings pushing one Medicare plan or the other is unrelenting.

They always show up this time of year, due to the coming deadline for picking your Medicare plan for the next year.

Besides, Broadway Joe still has to make a living, ya know.

[Lynx0849]

I am always sick of commercials.
I really hate the drug ones for problems I don’t have that show happy carefree people with a voiceover of how sick you could get by using their product.

[John From Detroit]

Right up there with "My Pillow." Good reasons for DVR.

I wish I could post my opinion of the Crack Head who runs My Pillow (He admits it) but alas your monitors would MELT.  So I'll not say more  (you don't think he admits it read the title of his book, DO NOT BUY IT, just read the front cover).

[Robert K]

I wish I could post my opinion of the Crack Head who runs My Pillow (He admits it) but alas your monitors would MELT.  So I'll not say more  (you don't think he admits it read the title of his book, DO NOT BUY IT, just read the front cover).

 such a forgiving person