Joe Namath was a great quarterback – a Hall of Fame quarterback, in fact, who won a national championship with Alabama and then went on to lead the New York Jets to an upset Super Bowl victory.
Does that make him a qualified expert on Medicare?
Not necessarily, but, judging by the commercials, he’s got the perfect product for anyone who’s over 65 and looking for Medicare answers.
Free Rides to Appointments!
Home Delivered Meals!
Private Home Aides!
All for nothing!
Could there be a catch? Could Joe be steering us wrong?
Let’s explore
Joe touts the Medical Coverage Helpline, which claims to be “Officially Authorized” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to Medicare.gov, it’s considered fraud for a Medicare supplier to claim they represent Medicare or any branch of the federal government. Medicare Coverage Hotline is no more “Officially Authorized” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services than is any insurance agent licensed by an insurance company to sell Medicare Advantage plans, Prescription Drug plans, or Medicare Supplements. The red, white, and blue colors, and the American flag used in the Medicare Coverage Hotline logo are deceptive and may make the company look very official, but they are not a part of CMS. Bottom line: be skeptical of any company that stresses the “official” angle.
Joe says you’re entitled to free rides to appointments, home delivered meals, private home aides, etc. These sound like pretty nice perks, and many viewers will feel enlightened with the knowledge that they exist and can be had, just by signing up. The truth, though, is a little muddy. Joe’s selling Medicare Advantage plans, which are basically Original Medicare plans that are contracted out to private insurance companies. The private insurance companies are paid by CMS to offer the plans, which usually contain some benefits that Original Medicare does not offer, such as routine dental, hearing and vision care and prescription drug coverage. The free rides, etc,, are definitely a part of some plans, but are generally reserved for special-needs plans (such as low income), and they may not be offered in all areas. Every enrollee is not entititled to them. Bottom line: if it sounds too-good-to-be-true, be skeptical.
The Takeaway
The real truth about Medical Coverage Hotline can be found in the hard-to-read disclaimer at the end of the commercial:
“The Medicare Coverage Helpline is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program. The Medicare Coverage Hotline is a private for profit lead generation campaign and does not offer insurance and is not an insurance agency or broker. Your call is sold to a licensed insurance agent to give you information about your Medicare Advantage Plans. Prescription, dental and Vision benefits are not guaranteed, are only available in select plans and are not available in every state or ZIP code.”
The are many private insurance companies marketing many Medicare Advantage plans, and making a decision can be daunting for Medicare enrollees. Truthfully, the plans should probably be standardized a bit so that they are easier to understand. In light of all the choices, why let your choice of healthcare be handled by a high-volume call center such as Medicare Coverage Helpline? Don’t fall for a TV ad where everything sounds to good to be true. Instead, call a trusted local agent who offers many plans and can find the best one suited to your needs.
Joe Namath" by KoryeLogan is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0