Who has the Advantage?

In the hyper-charged health care environment, who knows if the following information will accelerate or derail the locomotive running through Congress. It's worth noting nonetheless. Medicare Advantage premiums are expected to rise 25 percent next year. The reason, reports The Wall Street Journal, is that in response to new federal requirements, insurers are canceling many plans that carry no premiums. Insurers say it's a response to Medicare Advantage cuts planned by Congress.

"Medicare Advantage has become a thorny issue as Congress works on legislation to overhaul the nation's health care system. Democratic lawmakers and President Obama have said the private plans are overpaid and have proposed more than $100 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage to help expand coverage to uninsured Americans. But insurers and Republicans have attacked the proposal, saying it unfairly targets the $10 million seniors in Medicare Advantage plans."