# How Medicare Advantage Costs Taxpayers — and Retirees

**URL:** <https://discussion.fool.com/t/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees/123555>\
**Category:** Macro Economic Trends and Risks\
**Created:** [February 27, 2026, 6:58am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees/123555 "2026-02-27T06:58:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![intercst](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/intercst/32/1543_2.png) [@intercst](https://discussion.fool.com/u/intercst)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 6:58am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees/123555/1 "2026-02-27T06:58:49Z")

</div>

… understanding the arithmetic will set you free. They’re keeping you distracted by chasing down a few Somalis in Minnesota, while well-connected crony capitalists are bleeding the Treasury dry.

{{ With private insurers set to receive $1.2 trillion in excess payments by 2036, retirees may soon face a reckoning over costs and coverage. }}

> **[How Medicare Advantage Soaks Taxpayers — and Retirees](https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees)**
>
> With private insurers set to receive $1.2 trillion in excess payments by 2036, retirees may soon face a reckoning over costs and coverage.

intercst

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pauleckler](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/pauleckler/32/2906_2.png) [@pauleckler](https://discussion.fool.com/u/pauleckler)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees/123555/2 "2026-02-27T14:30:02Z")

</div>

Medicare Advantage costs are already up this year. No change in premium but higher copay for specialist visits and deductible added on drugs.

Costs continue to rise. Someone has to pay. Negotiated reductions in drug prices not yet in the Medicare advantage numbers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VeeEnn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/veeenn/32/3379_2.png) [@VeeEnn](https://discussion.fool.com/u/VeeEnn)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees/123555/3 "2026-02-27T18:23:49Z")

</div>

> [@pauleckler](#):
>
> Medicare Advantage costs are already up this year. No change in premium but higher copay for specialist visits and deductible added on drugs.

Probably the least of the problems attached to choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1poorguy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/1poorguy/32/61990_2.png) [@1poorguy](https://discussion.fool.com/u/1poorguy)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/how-medicare-advantage-costs-taxpayers-and-retirees/123555/4 "2026-02-27T18:44:33Z")

</div>

> [@VeeEnn](#):
>
> Probably the least of the problems attached to choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.

John Oliver covered many (most?) of the problems last fall:

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/original/3X/4/7/4754ef82ecf4c950e578343c4765485e1729c5d9.jpeg "Medicare Advantage: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejoi9yfLVCc&t=2s)

It’s kinda sad that we have to rely on comedians to give us accurate information, and do deep dives. The short version is “avoid MA plans”.