Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare

The Journal.

Medicare Advantage was designed to save the government money. But a Wall Street Journal investigation found that private insurers used the program to generate extra payments through questionable diagnoses. The investigation uncovered instances of potentially deadly illnesses like AIDS, where patients received no follow-up care, as well as diagnoses that were medically impossible. This happened in part when insurers sent nurse practitioners into Medicare Advantage recipients’ homes. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigation with WSJ’s Christopher Weaver as well as a nurse who participated in the program. 


Further Listening:

-A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial 

-Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance 


Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Medicare Advantage was designed to save the government money. But a Wall Street Journal investigation found that private insurers used the program to generate extra payments through questionable diagnoses. The investigation uncovered instances of potentially deadly illnesses like AIDS, where patients received no follow-up care, as well as diagnoses that were medically impossible. This happened in part when insurers sent nurse practitioners into Medicare Advantage recipients’ homes. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigation with WSJ’s Christopher Weaver as well as a nurse who participated in the program. 


Further Listening:

-A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial 

-Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance 


Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-06-06 24 min
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