Medicare Advantage Takes Center Stage on John Oliver HBO Show

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With Medicare Open Enrollment under way, HBO's John Oliver takes aim at Medicare Advantage plans, pulling no punches in his analysis of how plans do and don't work for taxpayers and beneficiaries

On the October 26 "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" program on HBO, the host spotlighted the lack of advantages for Medicare Advantage plans breaking down the choices that Medicare beneficiaries are making right now between traditional Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Advantage.

The 30-minute comedy program seriously and simply explained Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D and the misleading nature of current MA TV ads. The show didn't shy away from complicated issues like the fact that MA plans are overpaid and many under-deliver services to those who enroll.

John Oliver heard from doctors about the convoluted MA prior authorization processes that require providers to call the plan to get permission to fax the plan a prior authorization request that they then have to call back and explain. Families talked about how that same process wore them down and poorly served their husband and father.

He heard from hospitals that have closed due to the inadequate payments from these plans that LeadingAge members know all to well. MA enrollees spoke of the inaccuracy and inadequacy of plan networks of providers. He also highlighted how individuals get into these plans when they are healthy because they are cheap and have extra benefits, only to realize later that the same plan isn't there for them when they are ill and yet, they financially can't afford to return to traditional Medicare.

With all the good information imparted, it was disappointing that the segment started with an ageist premise suggesting that all those over 65 years old are easily confused by other simple tasks and therefore are ill-equipped to evaluate their Medicare options. In reality, figuring out health insurance is difficult for everyone. Therefore, it is perhaps not age, but the complexity and fragmentation of Medicare Parts A, B, C, D and Medigap that is the problem.

You can watch the full show here on YouTube but we want to warn you that the show is for mature audiences only.

Again, LeadingAge reminds members that we can play a critical role in educating those we serve and their families about their Medicare choices and share which MA plans we work with and which ones we don't and why. To support members in this effort, check out our Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Need to Know for 2026, which outlines questions beneficiaries should ask about prospective MA plans and offers resources for unbiased information to help them make their decisions.