Private Medicare Advantage under fire

Denial of service routine, critics say

By Matt Sedensky

ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:00 a.m. August 30, 2009

MIAMI — Cecile Sangiamo liked her health insurance — until she needed to use it.

Sangiamo, 72, of Clearwater, Fla., had been on the federally subsidized, privately run Medicare Advantage policy through WellCare Inc. for about three years when she started having pain that made it hard to walk.

Her doctor's referral to an orthopedic specialist was denied by the insurer. Her out-of-pocket costs were higher than she was initially told. And when Sangiamo needed surgery, she said, WellCare offered some unexpected medical advice.

[b]“Take pills and use a walker,â€