As we emerge from this government shutdown, I, as a medical doctor and humanitarian, don’t care whether you’re on the political left or right — your health care premiums are going up.
I’ve been on original Medicare for a decade, and television ads target me to switch to their “advantage” plan because of potential savings that might benefit me and save money.
As a doctor, I know these for-profit advantage plans can sometimes be a “disadvantage,” so I remind readers to carefully review the fine print. Their advertisements are designed to lure you in, and then — especially when you’re truly ill — to “deny” you these benefits because it cuts into their profits.
“But Dr. Dorio, when I was sick, they took care of me,” is a common rebuttal. However, being inside the medical system, I know their bottom line is put before your health care. They are quick to put you or your loved one on hospice so they can financially wash their hands of your care. And if you are traveling out of state or being treated in an emergency room, you risk being denied care and facing out-of-pocket expenses.
Please don’t mention the “Hippocratic oath” when talking about their profit margins, since it doesn’t exist. I’ve never seen doctors in advantage care fight for patient rights because their jobs are at risk if they speak out.
For those of you who don’t know, I have had several proposals that turned into state bills in the California Legislature, and since those bills supported patient rights, you can guess which medical organizations and insurance companies became opponents.
As an older adult, I worry about scams and try to warn my senior community to avoid being duped. All you have to do is turn on your TV, and you’ll see the advantage plan con game coming at you every day.
Dr. Gene Dorio
Saugus
