This coverage is not a supplement. It is an alternative that is approved by Medicare and under the basic plan, there is no premium beyond the $50 Medicare A&B premium charged by the government and passed on to United. They offer plus programs for additional premiums ranging from $60 per month up but the basic plan is an alternative to Medicare. It is available to any Medicare A&B recipient regardless of income. What you are saying may be true for Medicare A only recipients I think there is no charge for A and B is what costs the $50.

The difference in this coverage and Medicare is that instead of paying 10% for any doctor visit you pay a $10 copay for your PCP and $25 for any specialist that he refers. You are required to use physicians that are enrolled with the plan but there is no shortage of qualified Doctors in all specialties. The hospital care is on a copay basis and would probably wind up costing you as much as Medicare in many circumstances but it is arranged a bit differently to afford some savings and there is a stop loss.

This program is not available everywhere. For instance it is not available in Alabama rural counties. I suppose that there could be a shortage of plan approved physicians in low population areas. I know some people that are on this program and their only complaint is since this and the plain Medicare is the only options, United Healthcare cuts the benefits on the "free option" a little bit every year

medicare complete"