It is very possible I was not clear in my post.

Medicare is a federal program run by the government. The government is the plan's administrator, but not the insurance carrier. The Feds negotiate with private insurance carriers for the terms of coverage offered which is then offered by Medicare. Private insurance carriers offer additional plans of their own that provides for added coverage. It can get confusing and its all very expensive. I am not sure I am explaining it well. There are still co-pays for some plans and for many plans, out of pocket costs. To add on top of that, many things are simply not covered. And coverage keeps changing.

Advantage Plans (gotta love that name . . . geeez!) can be thought of as a Medicare plan that has additional coverage which is provided by a private insurance carrier. Advantage plans are not suppose to refuse to cover what Medicare does. We use CDPHP - the best pick out of a bad lot.

When I present my insurance card, I present my CDPHP issued card provided by the private insurer. If I present my red, white and blue Medicare card, I will only get the insurance coverage offered by Medicare without the additional coverage CDPHP offers.

And then I have a dental insurance card (Delta), vision cards, I use to have a separate drug card but that is now part of my CDPHP card . . . . its all very ridiculous.

I navigated all of this crap with my Mom during her declining years - my parents lived with us (Mom died at home in her own bed). My Dad, even in his declining years, was pretty savvy even close to the end of his life. I was pretty much spared fighting with the insurance companies on his behalf (he loved a good fight!).

As to the proselytizing thread. . . I use to try to approach every one with civility, even if I felt they didn't deserve it. I wanted to be able to look at myself in the mirror, and not be disappointed in the person that looked back. Some felt I was being too tolerant and tolerating disrespect.

After reading that proselytizing thread, I've had second thoughts. There is a certain value to fighting fire with fire. If the attitude taken here (by some) continues along the path it does, I don't see why I should have to be the 'adult' and civil while some others can say anything they want and treat other posters as they want without thought or consideration to the fact that that is a feeling human being they are insulting and not just words on a page they are responding to.

I don't see why I must be held to a standard that some others here feel they are free of. IOW. . . .

Screw it!