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 Expert
Posts: 1613
  
Location: Wild Wild West | I'm retiring in a month, just turned 65 last week and I'm going to need a supplement to my Medicare and was wondering who liked or disliked what insurance plans. I am not savy to any of it, unfortunately, so I need to learn. I have a friend in the medical field who says AARP is very good. Please, opinions, ideas, and ideas will help. Thank you. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
 
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | My mom has AARP as a supplement and is very happy with it. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | It depends what state you are in, but you can get a Medicare replacement plan that is very good through AARP and don't even need a supplement. Call AARP and see what's available. |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | When I worked in a DR's office most that had Medicare supplemented with AARP. |
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Expert
Posts: 1613
Location: Wild Wild West | Thank you for the replies. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Hubby's is awesome but they don't offer it anymore. Not sure what is available out there now. We going to keep it as long as possible. We went through Farm Bureau and got a supplemental from BC/BS. It has covered everything except a special toric lens he chose to get after cataract surgery to correct an astigmatism. He has had the cataract surgery on both eyes, hand surgery, got hooked by a bull and carted off by ambulance for x-rays, MRI etc., and it was all covered. he also gets chiropractic care. I want his insurance!! This costs him $123 per month above his Medicare. SO worth it!!
If you can't get it, at least you can compare the price. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I did all kinds of research and when it was all said and done, even though I'm not a fan of AARP, they have the best stress free Medicare Supplement plans. It goes through United Healthcare. |
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3780
Location: n.c. | Another AARP fan here. PLan F is the one I went with.
My Dad had this also, and never paid a dime for anything that was done.
Including his last surgery that was well into the 6 figures. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | We also have Plan F's.
It's nice not having to fill out any paperwork and not have to fight getting things paid. |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | I work for doctors and the ones I see the most that pay the best are AARP , Mutual of Omaha and Bankers Life. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| I have Aetna through teacher retirement of TX. I drops back as the supplement when I turn 65 in a few months. I never pay for anything. Just $25 copay at the doctor.
MAKE SURE you get the hospital part or major medical of Medicare-----whatever it is called. |
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Expert
Posts: 1613
Location: Wild Wild West | Thanks for everyone's comments.
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Just an FYI. We went and got eye exams last week and instead of costing $85.00 each, we were charged $30.00 with our Plan F. The girl told us that the Medicare Advantage plan pays nothing on eye exams. I was told to stay away from any of the Medicare Advantage plans. |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Nevertooold - 2015-03-09 12:50 PM I did all kinds of research and when it was all said and done, even though I'm not a fan of AARP, they have the best stress free Medicare Supplement plans. It goes through United Healthcare.
All medicare supplements are the same by law. Plan G, F, N, etc and exactly the same. Only difference is what premiums are charged.
Very rare outside of the state of Florida for AARP/UHC's med sup rates to be competitive.
In Ky and Indiana they will be 50% higher that the best rates.
No underwriting for the first 6 months after you tuen 65. That's for any pla with any company sod in your state.
Medicare Advantage is also an option. You can get an MA plan with or without Rx coverage. Med sups do not have Rx coverage except for part B medicines administered b a doctor. You need a separate Rx plan if you go with a med sup.
Some companies will make claims about better claim payments on their med sups. That's simply marketng talk and no truth to it all.
Doctors and hospitals do not bill your supplement. They bill Medicare. Medicare then tells your supplement carrier how much to pay.
Medicare Advantage is different. They are privitized medicare. The doctors and hospitals do bill those direct.
Medicare supplements are state regulated. MA plans are federal.
MA plans will not only differ greatly state to state but also by county to county.
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Nevertooold - 2015-03-26 7:04 PM Just an FYI. We went and got eye exams last week and instead of costing $85.00 each, we were charged $30.00 with our Plan F. The girl told us that the Medicare Advantage plan pays nothing on eye exams. I was told to stay away from any of the Medicare Advantage plans.
Something is wrong there. You should have paid nothing if you have plan F.
The person also misinformed you about MA paying nothing. Most do not but some do pay for eyecare. Some MA plans even pay for glasses. MA coverage varies greatly on the benefitsand premiums.
Medicare pays nothing for glasses so the sup will never pay either. With the exceptin of the first pair of lenses after caterac surgery. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | jd&ez - 2015-03-26 7:33 PM Nevertooold - 2015-03-26 7:04 PM Just an FYI. We went and got eye exams last week and instead of costing $85.00 each, we were charged $30.00 with our Plan F. The girl told us that the Medicare Advantage plan pays nothing on eye exams. I was told to stay away from any of the Medicare Advantage plans. Something is wrong there. You should have paid nothing if you have plan F.
The person also misinformed you about MA paying nothing. Most do not but some do pay for eyecare. Some MA plans even pay for glasses. MA coverage varies greatly on the benefitsand premiums.
Medicare pays nothing for glasses so the sup will never pay either. With the exceptin of the first pair of lenses after caterac surgery.
I was sitting right next to her when she called to verify our benefits and to find out what we had to pay. Our eye doctor does not take advantage plans. My husband and I use to go to different eye doctors and his eye doctor didn't accept medicare period. |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Nevertooold - 2015-03-26 7:50 PM jd&ez - 2015-03-26 7:33 PM Nevertooold - 2015-03-26 7:04 PM Just an FYI. We went and got eye exams last week and instead of costing $85.00 each, we were charged $30.00 with our Plan F. The girl told us that the Medicare Advantage plan pays nothing on eye exams. I was told to stay away from any of the Medicare Advantage plans. Something is wrong there. You should have paid nothing if you have plan F.
The person also misinformed you about MA paying nothing. Most do not but some do pay for eyecare. Some MA plans even pay for glasses. MA coverage varies greatly on the benefitsand premiums.
Medicare pays nothing for glasses so the sup will never pay either. With the exceptin of the first pair of lenses after caterac surgery.
Something is wrong. If they take medicare then will accept medicare assignment. They have no choice. Medicare will pay the medicare approved amount, {80% of It}, and then tell the supplement carrier to pay the rest when on plan F. Works no other way.
Unless the doctor charges excess. Then the doctor can charge 15% more than thmedicare approved amount. In that case the monies are not assigned to the doctor. The medicare supplement carrier will make the check to the insured and the insured is responsible for paying the doctor.
Plan F also covers the excess so there would still be no out of pocket to you.
They cannot bill you for the difference of what medicare approves and the doctor charges. That's called balance billing and it's illegal.
If the doctor does not take medicare at all then no payment will be made by medicare or the supplement. You are cmpletely on your own if you go to a doctor outside of the medicare system.
And, yes, doctors can refuse to accept medicare advantage even if they take medicare. Separate contracts. |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Nevertooold - 2015-03-26 7:50 PM jd&ez - 2015-03-26 7:33 PM Nevertooold - 2015-03-26 7:04 PM Just an FYI. We went and got eye exams last week and instead of costing $85.00 each, we were charged $30.00 with our Plan F. The girl told us that the Medicare Advantage plan pays nothing on eye exams. I was told to stay away from any of the Medicare Advantage plans. Something is wrong there. You should have paid nothing if you have plan F.
The person also misinformed you about MA paying nothing. Most do not but some do pay for eyecare. Some MA plans even pay for glasses. MA coverage varies greatly on the benefitsand premiums.
Medicare pays nothing for glasses so the sup will never pay either. With the exceptin of the first pair of lenses after caterac surgery.
Something is wrong. If they take medicare then will accept medicare assignment. They have no choice. Medicare will pay the medicare approved amount, {80% of It}, and then tell the supplement carrier to pay the rest when on plan F. Works no other way.
Unless the doctor charges excess. Then the doctor can charge 15% more than thmedicare approved amount. In that case the monies are not assigned to the doctor. The medicare supplement carrier will make the check to the insured and the insured is responsible for paying the doctor.
Plan F also covers the excess so there would still be no out of pocket to you.
They cannot bill you for the difference of what medicare approves and the doctor charges. That's called balance billing and it's illegal.
If the doctor does not take medicare at all then no payment will be made by medicare or the supplement. You are cmpletely on your own if you go to a doctor outside of the medicare system.
And, yes, doctors can refuse to accept medicare advantage even if they take medicare. Separate contracts. |
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