1.   Among the concerns without supplemental plans, more than half said they were considering them.

2.   But they also note that some people might benefit from well-chosen supplemental plans.

3.   Getting dropped from the plan gives members some guaranteed rights to be accepted by another HMO or supplemental plan.

4.   Last December, Pines opposed a Blue Cross reorganization that would have cut loose its Medicare supplemental insurance plan, with possibly devastating consequences for the elderly.

5.   The loss of benefits is fueling the growth of supplemental plans.