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Medicare Supplement
Posted: Sep 19, 2015
First year on Medicare and realize it sucks. Will pay for this, won't pay for that. Looking into a supplement, but there are so many. I know that the reps from the companies are paid commission, and I honestly don't trust them. Wondering if any of you "oldsters" can give me any advice. I know it varies from state to state - just looking for suggestions.
;
Medicare supplement - suki
[ In Reply To ..]I found mine doing it all online. First I found the plans that were available in my area. Of those, I excluded those that didn't have good ratings. Then I checked whether my doc and preferred hospital were in their plan, and finally I looked for benefits that really added value (for me that was Silver Sneakers). I'm very happy with what I found. It's costing me less than insurance did previously and also providing better coverage.
In addition to suki's good advice - xx
[ In Reply To ..]check into the Kaiser Permanente plan if it is available in your area. My friends have it and like it very much as they apparently have a very comprehensive plan designed to mesh with Medicare. Unfortunately, the Kaiser facility is not conveniently located for me, so I have BCBS (through my former employer), which is not too pricey and also covers all Medicare deductibles and copays.
There are several excellent plans that are surprisingly affordable, so you might be pleasantly surprised once you sort out all the options.
Medicare Advantage Plans - Retiree
[ In Reply To ..]Open enrollment starts around 10/07 until 12/07 (approx.) If available in your state, look into a Medicare Advantage Plan (aka Part C). In FL we have several. I've been in them for 5 years now. They provide excellent coverage, some with no referrals necessary for specialists. Before Obamacare they used to rebate the whole Part B Medicare premium back to us. That has changed, but you can still get a decent plan for no additional funds above and beyond the Part B Medicare premium. If available in your state, check out AARP Medicare COmplete United Healthcare or Aetna Medicare. It's really quite a savings over what I would pay for a Medicare supplement. Hope this all makes sense to you. Good luck and LOL!
THANKS EVERYONE - oldster
[ In Reply To ..]Thanks everyone, appreciate the suggestions.
Not so great for me - live in northeast
[ In Reply To ..]I have a Medicare advantage plan with Health America, an Aetna company. I need physical therapy now, but can't even afford to go for my back. They require a $35.00 copay for each visit. That may not sound like much, but if you go 3 times per week that's over $100.00 per week. For radation therapy it's a $60.00 copay each treatment. When you hear the commercials on TV it sounds great; like you won't pay much of anything, but not so. I have the plan with a premium of $49.00 a month. At least my plan has no deductible, but if I need an MRI I put out $295.00. For retired people it adds up and is not easy. This is the best plan I can afford at this point.
Lives in northeast - BTDT
[ In Reply To ..]I live in the southwest and when I came of age to get a plan, my agent said whatever you do, don't go with Advantage. So I took out the BC/BS bridge plan F. I have physical therapy frequently, have doctor visits a couple of times a month, etc. and have never yet had to pay one cent.
May I ask what your monthly premium is? - Thanks In Advance
[ In Reply To ..]I know some supplemental plans carry a high deductible, and some high monthly premiums, which I cannot pay.
Yes, Advantage plans are less money - BTDT
[ In Reply To ..]but they do not cover nearly as much (and with no co-pays) as a "Cadillac" plan such as BC/BS plan F. I work 2 jobs to keep my BC/BS because it pays for everything. A friend of mind died a couple of years ago of ovarian cancer. She had the same plan that I am on and she had a big heroic surgery, lots of chemo and radiation. In all the nearly three years this lasted (God rest her soul) she did not pay a dime. Everyone's situation is different, but please remember--you get what you pay for!
Oldster - Old Pro
[ In Reply To ..]I have the best BC/BS plan offered (NOT Advantage!) and have been very satisfied with it. I do not need referrals to see specialists, I have no copays, etc. Yes, it is expensive, but I know what my costs are. I would rather know that than have an Advantage plan and get some horrible illness and have thousands more added as copays.
Never wanted Medicare and hope never to - use
[ In Reply To ..]You have to take part B, think that is right, no cost to me from Medicare and that pays for hospitalizations over what regular insurance does not cover. So thankful my husband's job provides us with BC/BS at no cost to us and it is a PPO which means no referrals necessary but we do have a $20.00 copay. When going for SS asked was told if husband died and I lost his job insurance could immediately transfer onto Medicare but hope that never to be the case. I hear Medicare is confusing sometimes as far as filling out forms, etc.
What I learned the hard way was that if you - dont sign up for Medicare during - sm
[ In Reply To ..]that 7-month window surrounding your 65th birthday, you'll have to pay TEN PERCENT MORE for your Part-B insurance when you finally do sign up.
I knew nothing of that, only that you're ELIGIBLE when you're 65. I had lots of family issues going on during the time I turned 65, and was focused on that rather than anything else. Plus I already had Medi-Cal coverage because was unemployed.
Then the Medi-Cal was cut off in August this year, due to some kind of a glitch, or at least that's what they told me. Realizing that finding another job was going to be impossible, I went to the SS office and signed up for Social Security. That automatically signed me up for Medicare, but they said I can't sign up for Part-B until next January, and that the coverage won't even start until next JULY.
That's okay - I'm an unusually healthy and vigorous person for my age of 66. The hard part is going to be refilling medications without a doctor to renew the prescriptions. Right now all I can do is cut all my pills in half........
Never wanted Medicare- but I had no choice - and had to get part B
[ In Reply To ..]when first applying for retirement funds so part B I have. The part I did not care about having was anything else, A, C or D whatever those are.
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