Medicare ???

Beware: Tv ads for Medicare ALTERNATIVE medical coverage. First: They are NOT government Medicare, they are individual private companies... Not associated with any government agency. In the commercial, they make it sound like they are Medicare. They offer extra coverages, plus the benefit of not having to pay the $144 monthly copay for Government Medicare. Get more plus pay less. They are in the business of making money.  You are not going to get something for nothing, not forever ... There are going to be limitations,  like networks and doctors.  I've read that the biggest issue for all these companies is the initial enrollment period . After the 6 or 12 month period, it is impossible to switch companies due to the pre-existing health restrictions not being covered by the company you switch to.  So in effect, the first company has got you... Forever.  Particularly when all these added free benefits start to disappear and the monthly copays return, and network restrictions increase. This may work out great for some people in certain areas...BUT BEWARE OF CHOOSING THEM. CHECK OUT THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD AND THE PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS ISSUES IF YOU DECIDE TO SWITCH LATER.