Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 25, 2025 Subscribe to the Advocate Online! www.advocatenews.net Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Beware of the Medicare Advantage Trap Dear Savvy Senior, I will be enrolling in Medicare in a few months and would like to know if I initially enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, am I able to switch back to original Medicare and get a supplemental (Medigap) policy and prescription drug plan later with without paying a fine? Almost 65 Dear Almost, You won’t be subject to any fines for switching Medicare plans, but you will be subject to medical underwriting for the supplemental (Medigap) policy. That means the private insurance companies that offer these plans can deny you coverage or charge you a lot more for preexisting conditions. This is known as the Medicare Advantage trap. Here’s what you should know. Understanding MA Plans Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C) are government approved health plans sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare. The vast majority of Advantage plans are managed-care policies such as HMOs or PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors. If you join an Advantage plan, the plan will provide all your Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) coverage like original Medicare does. But many Advantage plans also offer extra health perks like dental, hearing and vision coverage along with gym/ fitness memberships, and most plans include prescription drug coverage too. Medicare Advantage plans are also cheaper than if you got original Medicare, plus a separate Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy. This can be very attractive to new enrollees who are relatively healthy and don’t require much medical care. But the benefits and networks of Advantage plans can change from year to year. And if you get care outside the networks, you’ll usually pay more – sometimes a lot more. Advantage plans are also criticized for pre-authorization requirements which can delay or deny patient access to medical care. The rap on Medicare Advantage has always been that they’re great when you’re healthy and don’t require much health care, but depending on the plan, may not be so great if you get sick. With original Medicare, benefits remain the same and you can use any provider that accepts Medicare (most doctor’s do). But original Medicare has coverage gaps (deductibles, coinsurance and copayments) that can be very expensive, which is why you’ll need a supplemental (Medigap) plan offered by a private insurer. If you opt for original Medicare when you’re first eligible, insurers are required to issue you a Medigap policy and can’t charge you more based on your health status. In most states, Medigap plans are automatically available only in the first six months after an enrollee becomes eligible for Medicare. But if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan when you’re first eligible, you’ll miss the Medigap enrollment window, which means an insurer can refuse to write you a Medigap policy or charge you a lot more for signing up later. And in case you’re wondering, you can’t buy a Medigap policy while you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan. There are, however, four states — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New York — that prohibit insurers from denying a Medigap policy to eligible applicants, including people with pre-existing conditions. For more information on how Medigap works visit Medicare. gov/health-drug-plans/medigap. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. July 25 is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day; fudge originated in what country? 2. In 1826, America’s first railroad was built in Quincy to haul granite for what monument? 3. On July 26, 1990, ADA became law; ADA stands for what? 4. What Civil War general who lived in Rhode Island is the namesake of a hairstyle? 5. Why did locals name Utah sites “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and “Lemonade Springs”? 6. What signer of the Declaration of Independence was Massachusetts’ first governor? 7. July 27 is National Sleepy Head Day in Finland; in olden times, how would a Finland house’s last person sleeping be awakened? 8. In 1928 MIT developed what: computer, radio or television? 9. What game show’s name ends in an exclamation point? 10. On July 28, 1866, who was born who created Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter? 11. During World War II, why was there a North-East Greenland Sledge Patrol (dogsled)? 12. Reportedly, what beverage with peach juice is named after a Venetian painter? 13. On July 29, 1954, what author with three initials before his last name published his first novel in a three-part series? 14. The 1800s newspaper The Liberator of what city had in a ribbon in its masthead design “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself”? 15. In what country did the bánh mì sandwich originate? 16. According to Guinness World Records, why were the slippers in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” ruby red? 17. On July 30, 1419, was the First Defenestration of Prague; which was what? 18. In what profession would you find a slug? 19. When did America’s first subway system open in Boston: 1870, 1898 or 1912? 20. On July 31, 2006, why did Fidel Castro temporarily cede power to his brother Raúl? ANSWERS 1. USA 2. Bunker Hill 3. Americans with Disabilities Act 4. Ambrose Burnside — “sideburns” — he had very fluffy side-whiskers. 5. After the lyrics in the 1928 song “Big Rock Candy Mountain” 6. John Hancock 7. By being thrown into a body of water or having water thrown on them 8. Computer 9. “Jeopardy!” 10. English children’s book author Beatrix Potter 11. To check for German weather stations, which were used to predict Europe’s weather 12. Bellini (Giovanni) 13. J. R. R. Tolkien; “The Fellowship of the Ring” in the “The Lord of the Rings” series 14. Boston 15. Vietnam 16. “The shoes were actually silver in the original 1900 novel, but they were changed to red by filmmakers who wanted to take advantage of the new Technicolor film process…” 17. Some officials were killed by a mob by being thrown out of a window. 18. Slug can mean a line of instructions to a printer or piece of typesetting metal. 19. 1898 20. He had intestinal surgery.
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