60. Medicare Advantage (s) Dream

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091002/ap_on_re_us/us_medicare_seniors explains some of the debate over how the new Health Care legislation might impact seniors. Let me net it out with accompanying opinions:
1. Those on Medicare Advantage, i.e., private plans subsidized by government to provide at a minimum the equivalent of Medicare, will lose subsidies. Those on Advantage usually get added benefits that I personally would love, such as, Health Care memberships, dental, hearing aids, etc. So, bottom line, if the subsidies cease, so will the benefits or the premiums will rise or both. NOT GOOD for my future plans.
2. The article suggests that the following are benefits (but they are NOT) of the "new" Medicare:

• Free preventive services, e.g., 100% coverage of certain exams like mammograms and annual wellness exam. Today these will cost you 20% unless you have a Medigap policy which I sure will have. With a Medigap policy, it will cost me nothing. Thus, NOT A BENEFIT.
• They want to delay scheduled decreases in doctor fees and provide them bonuses also. WHY are doctor fees even scheduled to decrease? I read about the bonuses elsewhere. Essentially, they will pay the doctor to use cheaper procedures than available. Thus, they might decide to look an a XRAY and venture a guess rather than ordering an MRI. NOT A BENEFIT.
• They want to penalize hospitals when a patient is readmitted for same problem. Like they have a call in whether a patient gets readmitted. NOT A BENEFIT.
• Better coordinate all the doctors on your case. I have not seen this as a problem at all and have managed the health of Medicate patients in the past.NOT A BENEFIT.
• Fill the prescription drug gap by providing a 50% discounts within the gap. Go to Walmart and use generic drugs and AVOID the gap entirely! NOT A BENEFIT.

The Dems claim that the Advantage plan is costing the government 14% more per patient than under Medicare. I would venture to guess that they are using the billions of fraud dollars in their calculation. How about eliminating the fraud and reducing everybody's premiums?

What lame arguments this article has in convincing the seniors that the $500 billion the government wants to take out of Medicare will provide them with something better. DREAM ON!