I've had Bravo Premier, a Medicare Advantage plan, for the last year and I have been satisfied, until I got the brochure with information about the changes for 2010: They almost double the rate, increased many co-pays by 25% (and some by 100%) and most significantly, they 'forgot' to include in the brochure the minor fact that they have eliminated the $4,000 limit on out-of-pocket expenses, which functioned as catastrophic insurance. I have been shopping for alternatives for a while but I don't seem to find anything better at an affordable price. And I am not allowed to sign up for two plans, one that covers regular medical expenses and a second one with a very large deductible and low premium that would cover all expenses after I reach a predetermined out-of-pocket expense level. Not surprising, considering that the insurance companies wrote the Medicare bill and Congress just rubber stamped it.
Gerardo Razumney On Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM, missthin <misst...@gmail.com> wrote: > Al > > I saw that and was like, hmm, interesting. Could be where I end up as I > know at some point my wonderful GP will be retiring (he's older himself)! > In theory it sounds like a good idea. The ifs for me would be: would I have > the same doctor (GP?) all the time or would I have to see whoever was > available and hope they've read my med recs and are up to date on what my > issues are; what exactly will this Center offer as far as testing, test > results, turnaround time, etc. All those pesky little things that when > you're sick or injured you need and have a right to know asap. > > Found these links: > > > https://bravo.destinationrx.com/plancompare/consumer/type1/2010/home/home.aspx > http://www.mybravohealth.com/PDP/ > http://www.bravohealth.com/ > > In the last link, there is talk of a Bravo Health Advanced Care Center: > > "Opening in early 2010, the Bravo Health Advanced Care Center will offer > patients enhanced health care services in one convenient and comfortable > location. Serving Bravo Health members exclusively in North Philadelphia, > the Center will be an innovative, free-standing outpatient facility equipped > to deliver extended treatment services. > > Featuring in-suite radiology, laboratory, observation, and monitoring, the > Center will be staffed by physicians who are Board Certified in Internal > Medicine, with significant experience in the management of chronic > conditions in the Medicare population, as well as Board Certified physicians > skilled in tertiary care." > > There's nothing about the Center that's supposed to be opening on Walnut > St. near us. so this may be something that is going to take some time to get > underway and sounds like it'll have to wait until the North Philly Center is > up and running. > > Then I found this link! http://www.mybravohealth.com/ProviderDirectory/ > Cound not find my current GP which is weird because I swear the man accepts > every insurance under the sun. > > This company looks to be pretty much medicare-based supplemental insurance, > prescription only and HMOs with and without prescription coverage. The > last link, the Provider Directory search? asks for either PPO or HMO, but I > haven't found anything else Bravo with PPO info. Would just be curious what > theirs is about, if it's medicare-based only, costs, etc. > > Cost-wise, not bad at all for the HMO - it seems at least. Now what > doctors will accept this, what all the co-pays are, if you have to use these > "Care Centers" I don't know. Either I'm really brain dead today or the > information is kind of lacking. So I read what I could with mixed feelings. > > Wendy > > > > > On Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 10:21 AM, Glenn moyer <glen...@earthlink.net>wrote: > >> "I don't know much about Bravo, but I understand they are going to put a >> walk-in clinic in for former Rite-Aid store at 43rd & Walnut. This sounds >> like something more than a primary care physician's office but less than a >> hospital -- for routine tests." >> >> Al, >> >> I also know nothing about Bravo. But this model for delivery of care is >> something that deserves a serious look if America ever moves beyond the >> disaster we have now. There is a huge hole in the broken delivery system. >> People with expensive insurance still can't find open appointments at >> primary care clinics. If you have a sinus infection and call random doctors, >> you will be told that you have to wait at least a month before an intake >> physical. A vast majority of minor health needs go untreated when people >> need a place to walk into and get a simple, easily diagnosed, treatment. >> It's cost efficient, reduces unnecessary suffering, and is a benefit for a >> productive society. >> >> Since managed care was introduced in the 1990's, our broken health care >> system turned to a disaster. We have a tremendous shortage of primary care >> medical professionals, because specialists make more than twice the money as >> primary care professionals. >> >> We need stimulus spending that helps society, like scholarships for all >> qualified candidates to go to expanded medical schools for primary care. >> The great medical successes in the very poor country, Cuba, should be >> studied. >> >> Thanks for the tip, >> Glenn >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: krf...@aol.com >> Sent: Dec 23, 2009 9:36 AM >> To: UnivCity@list.purple.com >> Subject: [UC] Bravo health care >> >> Someone mentioned Bravo health care to me in a private response to my >> giving my expecience changing from Keystone 65 to Aetna for Medicare >> Advantage. >> >> I don't know much about Bravo, but I understand they are going to put a >> walk-in clinic in for former Rite-Aid store at 43rd & Walnut. This sounds >> like something more than a primary care physician's office but less than a >> hospital -- for routine tests. >> >> Considering the location (and the parking lot!), it might be worth >> checking. >> >> If anybody does, please report back to the rest of us. >> >> Alan Krigman >> KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc >> 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 >> 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 >> krf...@aol.com or al.krig...@krf.icodat.com >> >> ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named >> "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see . > > >
