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Expert
Posts: 1956
   
Location: Ky | Nevertooold - 2016-10-17 8:55 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 8:31 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 8:02 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 7:27 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 11:33 AM I will be 65 in April, 2017, and am wondering how I get on Medicare. One place I went online said that I would automatically be enrolled on my birthday if I was already drawing Social Security (which I am ). Is this correct? Or do I have to do something else to get enrolled? I saw somewhere else that I would have to select a plan and Idk how to do that. Also, should I just stay on my current insurance until Medicare takes effect or what? I'm so confused! 
If you don't want part B you will have to tell them. The part B premium for anyone new to Medicare this year is $122/mo. You will be a 2017 enrollee and the part B premiums for next year have not been announced yet. The $122/mo is taken from your SS check. It is higher than $122 if you a high wage earner.
Some people pay a premium for Part A. But you would know already if you are one of those. You will get your medicare card about 3 months before it's effective date. Some get them sooner.
Part A is your hospitiazation coverage. A hospital admission has about a $1300 deductable. This will also change for 2017 but not announced yet. Part A is also the first 20 days in a nursing home.
Part B is your doctor coverage. This year it has a $166 deductable. That will also most likely change. After you met your $166 deductable Medicare pays 80% and you pay 20%.
That is the Medicare program in a nutshell.
Part D is your Rx coverage. It is provided by private carrier. Way too many moving parts to go into detail here. I would discuss this by PM if you want more details.
Medicare advantage is Part C. Also provided by private carriers. You do not use your medicare card if enrolled in part C. Medicare pays that provider a set amouint to provide your Medicare coverage. Most Part C, MA Plans}, are rolled into one today that includes your drug coverage, MAPD. Most MA plans today are PPO's or HMO's. Some are PFFS, Private Fee For Service.
Then you have supplements. Also called Medigap. Again, way too mcu inforamtion to spell out here. They are lettered plans, A, B, C, D, F, M, N, etc. Not to confused with the letters of Part A and B and C and D,
Long story short, Plan F is the most popular plan in the US because it pays everything. The Part A deductable, the Part B deductable and any excess charges. Medigap plans do not include Rx coverage if it was sold after 2006. Your Rx, Part D, would be a separate purchase if you chose to go with a Medigap plan.
All Medicare supplements, Medigap, are the same by law. Plan F is the exact same plan no matter what company you buy it from. They can, and do, charge different premiums for the same exact plan. And it varies wildly. It's not unusual for me to save someone $150/mo or more on the same plan. Usually we can save people $40-50/mo between the best priced plans and the average plan that someone bought.
The problem is that after open enrollment a person has to qualify medically to change plans. Open enrollment is the first 6 months after your Medicare starts. You can buy any Medigap plan from any company in your state with no medical questions during that time.
For Medicare advantage and Rx coverage you can buy any plan during the 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month, the month you are 65 and 3 months after. A 7 month window. Then you can only change those plans one time a year unless there's a "special" circumstance.
It can be overwhelming. That's where the advice of a good indepent agent would serve you well. And I mean truly independent. An agent that is contracted with all the major medigap players in your state and also the MA plans in your area. And they vary by county.
I believe you to be in Florida? If so, you will have limited choices compared to many other states. UHC is going to be a big player in Florida. That is the plan that AARP markets. In most states they are so overpriced to not be considered. In Fl they are competitve. If you are not in Fl then disregard.
Then there's "extra help". many levels of that as well and all completely income based. Rule of thumb, an individual making over $1200/mo is not going to qualify for extra help. They could be an exception to that rule?
I wish I was in FL! Lol I'm in OK. Thank u SOOO much for all the info!! Really appreciate the help!
We normally know about the COLA raise in mid Oct and also the part B premiums and the deductables. I have a feeling we won't know this year until after Nov 8.
I told you $122 on the part B premium. You will hear of people paying $104.90/mo for the part B premium. That's what the premium was for 2 years before this year. So, they are correct when they tell you they are paying that.
There's a "hold harmless" provision that says that part B premiums cannot be increased if there is no COLA raise and can only be increased in accordane with the raise.
Since was a nominal increase Jan 1 of this year the people paying $104.90/mo could not have their premiums increased. The $122/mo was only for people new to medicare after Dec 1, 2015. There's rumore of part B premium being $140+/mo next year.
But they can't raise the premium on current payers unless they get a huge pay raise. If there is no pay raise the people paying $104.90 will contine to do so and the people paying $122 will continue. Only people new to Medicare would pay the 2017 Part B premium. Whatever it is?
Getting confused now?
I assume you are talking about supplement? There may be a better for you out there. There may not be? If you are healthy enough to move it would be in your interest to shop your medicare supplement. And you can do that anytime. The annual enrollment period, which we are in now, only applies to MA plans and Part D plans. | |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
 
Location: In the Hills of Texas | jd&ez - 2016-10-17 8:59 PM Nevertooold - 2016-10-17 8:55 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 8:31 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 8:02 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 7:27 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 11:33 AM I will be 65 in April, 2017, and am wondering how I get on Medicare. One place I went online said that I would automatically be enrolled on my birthday if I was already drawing Social Security (which I am ). Is this correct? Or do I have to do something else to get enrolled? I saw somewhere else that I would have to select a plan and Idk how to do that. Also, should I just stay on my current insurance until Medicare takes effect or what? I'm so confused!
If you don't want part B you will have to tell them. The part B premium for anyone new to Medicare this year is $122/mo. You will be a 2017 enrollee and the part B premiums for next year have not been announced yet. The $122/mo is taken from your SS check. It is higher than $122 if you a high wage earner.
Some people pay a premium for Part A. But you would know already if you are one of those. You will get your medicare card about 3 months before it's effective date. Some get them sooner.
Part A is your hospitiazation coverage. A hospital admission has about a $1300 deductable. This will also change for 2017 but not announced yet. Part A is also the first 20 days in a nursing home.
Part B is your doctor coverage. This year it has a $166 deductable. That will also most likely change. After you met your $166 deductable Medicare pays 80% and you pay 20%.
That is the Medicare program in a nutshell.
Part D is your Rx coverage. It is provided by private carrier. Way too many moving parts to go into detail here. I would discuss this by PM if you want more details.
Medicare advantage is Part C. Also provided by private carriers. You do not use your medicare card if enrolled in part C. Medicare pays that provider a set amouint to provide your Medicare coverage. Most Part C, MA Plans}, are rolled into one today that includes your drug coverage, MAPD. Most MA plans today are PPO's or HMO's. Some are PFFS, Private Fee For Service.
Then you have supplements. Also called Medigap. Again, way too mcu inforamtion to spell out here. They are lettered plans, A, B, C, D, F, M, N, etc. Not to confused with the letters of Part A and B and C and D,
Long story short, Plan F is the most popular plan in the US because it pays everything. The Part A deductable, the Part B deductable and any excess charges. Medigap plans do not include Rx coverage if it was sold after 2006. Your Rx, Part D, would be a separate purchase if you chose to go with a Medigap plan.
All Medicare supplements, Medigap, are the same by law. Plan F is the exact same plan no matter what company you buy it from. They can, and do, charge different premiums for the same exact plan. And it varies wildly. It's not unusual for me to save someone $150/mo or more on the same plan. Usually we can save people $40-50/mo between the best priced plans and the average plan that someone bought.
The problem is that after open enrollment a person has to qualify medically to change plans. Open enrollment is the first 6 months after your Medicare starts. You can buy any Medigap plan from any company in your state with no medical questions during that time.
For Medicare advantage and Rx coverage you can buy any plan during the 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month, the month you are 65 and 3 months after. A 7 month window. Then you can only change those plans one time a year unless there's a "special" circumstance.
It can be overwhelming. That's where the advice of a good indepent agent would serve you well. And I mean truly independent. An agent that is contracted with all the major medigap players in your state and also the MA plans in your area. And they vary by county.
I believe you to be in Florida? If so, you will have limited choices compared to many other states. UHC is going to be a big player in Florida. That is the plan that AARP markets. In most states they are so overpriced to not be considered. In Fl they are competitve. If you are not in Fl then disregard.
Then there's "extra help". many levels of that as well and all completely income based. Rule of thumb, an individual making over $1200/mo is not going to qualify for extra help. They could be an exception to that rule?
I wish I was in FL! Lol I'm in OK. Thank u SOOO much for all the info!! Really appreciate the help!
We normally know about the COLA raise in mid Oct and also the part B premiums and the deductables. I have a feeling we won't know this year until after Nov 8.
I told you $122 on the part B premium. You will hear of people paying $104.90/mo for the part B premium. That's what the premium was for 2 years before this year. So, they are correct when they tell you they are paying that.
There's a "hold harmless" provision that says that part B premiums cannot be increased if there is no COLA raise and can only be increased in accordane with the raise.
Since was a nominal increase Jan 1 of this year the people paying $104.90/mo could not have their premiums increased. The $122/mo was only for people new to medicare after Dec 1, 2015. There's rumore of part B premium being $140+/mo next year.
But they can't raise the premium on current payers unless they get a huge pay raise. If there is no pay raise the people paying $104.90 will contine to do so and the people paying $122 will continue. Only people new to Medicare would pay the 2017 Part B premium. Whatever it is?
Getting confused now?
There were 2 cheaper plans and after having Humana mess up our drug plan we gladly pay more to have United Health Care and not have any aggravation in our lifes. Then I found a Mutual of Omaha plan and my husband told me he didn't want to being messing around changing so it's his money and it made it easier for me to do nothing except send our premium in every month. Thanks for the info. | |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| Frodo - 2016-10-17 1:47 PM
dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 1:34 PM Ok, thanks. I was really hoping I didn't have to do that. We have a small office that serves several towns and the wait time is usually horrendous. Forget calling. They won't answer. You have to come in. lol
I talked to SS just last week because I'm on a company medical plan which is going up by 30% and have about decided to go back to Medicare.  Call the number on the SS website and when they tell you it will be a 45 minute wait "or" you can have them call you back, take the second option.  They called me back and were very helpful.  It will drag $120 out of your SS check for Part B which is a must. My dilemma is choosing a supplemental plan. There are so many out there. I keep asking people and everybody has something different. Medco, Humana, BC/BS, USAA, Coventry........so many.Â
I have Humana. I have been vary happy with it. I have had bladder cancer for seven years now and so far covered every thing. This year I also got prostrate cancer and had to go thru 48 days of radiation covered everything except the co pay for specialist 45 a day so all in all not to bad. right now I am cancer free so I am pleased with the service. It costs me 104 per month from my SS check. And I can take the plan anywhere which was the main reason to choose it. | |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | jbhoot - 2016-10-17 9:11 PM
Frodo - 2016-10-17 1:47 PM
dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 1:34 PM Ok, thanks. I was really hoping I didn't have to do that. We have a small office that serves several towns and the wait time is usually horrendous. Forget calling. They won't answer. You have to come in. lol
I talked to SS just last week because I'm on a company medical plan which is going up by 30% and have about decided to go back to Medicare.  Call the number on the SS website and when they tell you it will be a 45 minute wait "or" you can have them call you back, take the second option.  They called me back and were very helpful.  It will drag $120 out of your SS check for Part B which is a must. My dilemma is choosing a supplemental plan. There are so many out there. I keep asking people and everybody has something different. Medco, Humana, BC/BS, USAA, Coventry........so many.Â
I have Humana. I have been vary happy with it. I have had bladder cancer for seven years now and so far covered every thing. This year I also got prostrate cancer and had to go thru 48 days of radiation covered everything except the co pay for specialist 45 a day so all in all not to bad. right now I am cancer free so I am pleased with the service. It costs me 104 per month from my SS check. And I can take the plan anywhere which was the main reason to choose it.
Praise The Lord u are cancer free!! Thanks for the input! My FIL has United & has been very happy w/his. | |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | www.medicare.gov Reading the information available on this official site should make the process and the choices crystal clear. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | jbhoot - 2016-10-17 9:11 PM Frodo - 2016-10-17 1:47 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 1:34 PM Ok, thanks. I was really hoping I didn't have to do that. We have a small office that serves several towns and the wait time is usually horrendous. Forget calling. They won't answer. You have to come in. lol I talked to SS just last week because I'm on a company medical plan which is going up by 30% and have about decided to go back to Medicare. Call the number on the SS website and when they tell you it will be a 45 minute wait "or" you can have them call you back, take the second option. They called me back and were very helpful. It will drag $120 out of your SS check for Part B which is a must. My dilemma is choosing a supplemental plan. There are so many out there. I keep asking people and everybody has something different. Medco, Humana, BC/BS, USAA, Coventry........so many. I have Humana. I have been vary happy with it. I have had bladder cancer for seven years now and so far covered every thing. This year I also got prostrate cancer and had to go thru 48 days of radiation covered everything except the co pay for specialist 45 a day so all in all not to bad. right now I am cancer free so I am pleased with the service. It costs me 104 per month from my SS check. And I can take the plan anywhere which was the main reason to choose it.
By not going everywhere I mean if you move out of the service area you will have to get a new plan. The $104/mo from you SS sounds like your part B premium.
Edited by jd&ez 2016-10-17 10:30 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Nevertooold - 2016-10-17 9:03 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 8:59 PM Nevertooold - 2016-10-17 8:55 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 8:31 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 8:02 PM jd&ez - 2016-10-17 7:27 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 11:33 AM I will be 65 in April, 2017, and am wondering how I get on Medicare. One place I went online said that I would automatically be enrolled on my birthday if I was already drawing Social Security (which I am ). Is this correct? Or do I have to do something else to get enrolled? I saw somewhere else that I would have to select a plan and Idk how to do that. Also, should I just stay on my current insurance until Medicare takes effect or what? I'm so confused!
If you don't want part B you will have to tell them. The part B premium for anyone new to Medicare this year is $122/mo. You will be a 2017 enrollee and the part B premiums for next year have not been announced yet. The $122/mo is taken from your SS check. It is higher than $122 if you a high wage earner.
Some people pay a premium for Part A. But you would know already if you are one of those. You will get your medicare card about 3 months before it's effective date. Some get them sooner.
Part A is your hospitiazation coverage. A hospital admission has about a $1300 deductable. This will also change for 2017 but not announced yet. Part A is also the first 20 days in a nursing home.
Part B is your doctor coverage. This year it has a $166 deductable. That will also most likely change. After you met your $166 deductable Medicare pays 80% and you pay 20%.
That is the Medicare program in a nutshell.
Part D is your Rx coverage. It is provided by private carrier. Way too many moving parts to go into detail here. I would discuss this by PM if you want more details.
Medicare advantage is Part C. Also provided by private carriers. You do not use your medicare card if enrolled in part C. Medicare pays that provider a set amouint to provide your Medicare coverage. Most Part C, MA Plans}, are rolled into one today that includes your drug coverage, MAPD. Most MA plans today are PPO's or HMO's. Some are PFFS, Private Fee For Service.
Then you have supplements. Also called Medigap. Again, way too mcu inforamtion to spell out here. They are lettered plans, A, B, C, D, F, M, N, etc. Not to confused with the letters of Part A and B and C and D,
Long story short, Plan F is the most popular plan in the US because it pays everything. The Part A deductable, the Part B deductable and any excess charges. Medigap plans do not include Rx coverage if it was sold after 2006. Your Rx, Part D, would be a separate purchase if you chose to go with a Medigap plan.
All Medicare supplements, Medigap, are the same by law. Plan F is the exact same plan no matter what company you buy it from. They can, and do, charge different premiums for the same exact plan. And it varies wildly. It's not unusual for me to save someone $150/mo or more on the same plan. Usually we can save people $40-50/mo between the best priced plans and the average plan that someone bought.
The problem is that after open enrollment a person has to qualify medically to change plans. Open enrollment is the first 6 months after your Medicare starts. You can buy any Medigap plan from any company in your state with no medical questions during that time.
For Medicare advantage and Rx coverage you can buy any plan during the 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month, the month you are 65 and 3 months after. A 7 month window. Then you can only change those plans one time a year unless there's a "special" circumstance.
It can be overwhelming. That's where the advice of a good indepent agent would serve you well. And I mean truly independent. An agent that is contracted with all the major medigap players in your state and also the MA plans in your area. And they vary by county.
I believe you to be in Florida? If so, you will have limited choices compared to many other states. UHC is going to be a big player in Florida. That is the plan that AARP markets. In most states they are so overpriced to not be considered. In Fl they are competitve. If you are not in Fl then disregard.
Then there's "extra help". many levels of that as well and all completely income based. Rule of thumb, an individual making over $1200/mo is not going to qualify for extra help. They could be an exception to that rule?
I wish I was in FL! Lol I'm in OK. Thank u SOOO much for all the info!! Really appreciate the help!
We normally know about the COLA raise in mid Oct and also the part B premiums and the deductables. I have a feeling we won't know this year until after Nov 8.
I told you $122 on the part B premium. You will hear of people paying $104.90/mo for the part B premium. That's what the premium was for 2 years before this year. So, they are correct when they tell you they are paying that.
There's a "hold harmless" provision that says that part B premiums cannot be increased if there is no COLA raise and can only be increased in accordane with the raise.
Since was a nominal increase Jan 1 of this year the people paying $104.90/mo could not have their premiums increased. The $122/mo was only for people new to medicare after Dec 1, 2015. There's rumore of part B premium being $140+/mo next year.
But they can't raise the premium on current payers unless they get a huge pay raise. If there is no pay raise the people paying $104.90 will contine to do so and the people paying $122 will continue. Only people new to Medicare would pay the 2017 Part B premium. Whatever it is?
Getting confused now?
The drug plan and your supplement are separate. One has nothing to do with the other. All supplements pay exactly the same. The provider doesn't bill the supplement. Medicare bills the supplement and tells them what to pay. If you are on plan G it's exactly the same no matter what company. Same for any other plan. The only difference is in the benefits of the plan, not the company. The only thing that's not standardized is the supplement premiums. The Medicare and You booklet will tell you this as well. It says, "companie may charge different premiums for the exact same plan". Not a similar plan, the "exact same" plan. | |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | I switched to United Health Care thru AARP, and I'm pretty happy with it. There's 0 deductible, 0 copay for your primary dr., $30 for specialist. No extra cost. Talk to an agent near you to see if it's good in your state. | |
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Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | SC Wrangler - 2016-10-17 9:56 PM
www.medicare.gov  Reading the information available on this official site should make the process and the choices crystal clear.
Sorry that I seem to be so stupid. As I stated on my original post, I have already been to that site & read everything & it was ANYTHING but crystal clear. I appreciate the board buddies who actually gave me helpful advice & didn't just assume I'm too stupid to actually try the website first. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Fun2Run - 2016-10-17 10:35 PM I switched to United Health Care thru AARP, and I'm pretty happy with it. There's 0 deductible, 0 copay for your primary dr., $30 for specialist. No extra cost. Talk to an agent near you to see if it's good in your state.
You have a Medicare advantage plan. There are extra costs. I believe on the plan you are on it's $265/day co pay for hospital admission for up to 8 days. Some of those AARP/UHC plans the copay is for 5 days. Either way a 3-4 day hospital stay will cost you a lot of money in copays.
Then the part B medication are not covered over the 80% that medicare would pay. So you would pay 20% on drugs administered in a doctor's office. That could be very expensive.
And again, since it's an MA plan it has a network and if you move out of the service area you would have to change plans.
And with MA plans the providers do actually bill the carrier since medicare is removed from the billing. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 10:40 PM SC Wrangler - 2016-10-17 9:56 PM www.medicare.gov Reading the information available on this official site should make the process and the choices crystal clear. Sorry that I seem to be so stupid. As I stated on my original post, I have already been to that site & read everything & it was ANYTHING but crystal clear. I appreciate the board buddies who actually gave me helpful advice & didn't just assume I'm too stupid to actually try the website first.
It is very complicated and confusing. You should check out an insurance forum sometimes. People that deal with Medicare everyday for a living and have for 20-30 years will post about something that's stumped them or they have never seen before.
I got out of the medicare advantage business 7 years ago because of the government red tape and confusions. I only deal with supplements now but people are always confusing the two. I mostly deal with seniors and burial type plans now and medicare supplements. Most of my clients are low income and therefore can't afford supplements. I ask everyone I meet with who they have their supplement with. They will tell me, Humana, AARP, Anthem, Baptist, etc. They are almost always medicare advantage plans. People just call them supplements.
It's illegal for me as an agent to tell someone they are the same thing. And for good reason, they are different as night and day. But consumers aren't agent so they can call it whatever they want. But that leads to all this confusion when people talk to each other. They think they are comparing the same things and they are not.
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | Be sure to completely understand "advantage" plans. They sound great, but..... My mom was so proud of herself for having the advantage plan that did not cost her anything, etc. She did not totally understand how the advantage plans work and we ended up taking the company to court to get them to pay for her hospitalization and surgery. She now has Mutual of Omaha as her supplemental and it has been GREAT!
There are many Supplemental plans and you WILL need to purchase one when you get enrolled in Medicare. Visit a trusted insurance agent and have the agent review all the plans with you. We had numerous medical field friends tell us Mutual of Omaha is one of the very best out there -- and it has been terrific. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Delta Cowgirl - 2016-10-18 6:21 AM Be sure to completely understand "advantage" plans. They sound great, but..... My mom was so proud of herself for having the advantage plan that did not cost her anything, etc. She did not totally understand how the advantage plans work and we ended up taking the company to court to get them to pay for her hospitalization and surgery. She now has Mutual of Omaha as her supplemental and it has been GREAT! There are many Supplemental plans and you WILL need to purchase one when you get enrolled in Medicare. Visit a trusted insurance agent and have the agent review all the plans with you. We had numerous medical field friends tell us Mutual of Omaha is one of the very best out there -- and it has been terrific.
For them to say any supplement is better than another is just ignorance on their part. All supplements pay the same and they have to by law.
Medicare Advantage plans are not standardized and the benefits, or lack thereof , varies wildly. And providers have to bill MA plans direct. hey do not bill supplements.
I agree that supplements are far better than MA but there is no one answer for all persons. I had a lady call me yesterday from a referral. She wanted to buy a supplement from me. Buit a supplement wasn't right for her. I referred her to an agent that handles MA plans in her area.
I do not recommend MoO supplements because of their crazy rate increases. They have been known to go up near 30% in one year. And for the person that's not in good enough health to change plans they are stuck with the rate increases. But, the rate they pay will not affect the payment of their medical bills. MoO still has to provide standardized service no matter the premium. And if someone has MoO, under their many names, they do have a supplement. MoO does not sell medicare advantage plans.
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | My sister and her husband have a supplement plan (is that right?) with USAA which costs them $153 a month for each of them. My brother-in-law over the past five years has had part of his foot amputated (diabetic), heart by-pass surgery, several mini-strokes and various other problems.......bottom line they haven't had to pay a single penny for medical expenses. That's impressive to me. They also speak with Dept. of Aging occasionally to try and figure out what's best for them on many levels. Something I've never done.
Just an FYI........and may I add growing old "sucks."
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | Delta Cowgirl - 2016-10-18 6:21 AM Be sure to completely understand "advantage" plans. They sound great, but..... My mom was so proud of herself for having the advantage plan that did not cost her anything, etc. She did not totally understand how the advantage plans work and we ended up taking the company to court to get them to pay for her hospitalization and surgery. She now has Mutual of Omaha as her supplemental and it has been GREAT! There are many Supplemental plans and you WILL need to purchase one when you get enrolled in Medicare. Visit a trusted insurance agent and have the agent review all the plans with you. We had numerous medical field friends tell us Mutual of Omaha is one of the very best out there -- and it has been terrific.
Interesting.....thank you. | |
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Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | jd&ez - 2016-10-18 6:40 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2016-10-18 6:21 AM Be sure to completely understand "advantage" plans. They sound great, but..... My mom was so proud of herself for having the advantage plan that did not cost her anything, etc. She did not totally understand how the advantage plans work and we ended up taking the company to court to get them to pay for her hospitalization and surgery. She now has Mutual of Omaha as her supplemental and it has been GREAT! There are many Supplemental plans and you WILL need to purchase one when you get enrolled in Medicare. Visit a trusted insurance agent and have the agent review all the plans with you. We had numerous medical field friends tell us Mutual of Omaha is one of the very best out there -- and it has been terrific.
For them to say any supplement is better than another is just ignorance on their part. All supplements pay the same and they have to by law.
Medicare Advantage plans are not standardized and the benefits,  or lack thereof , varies wildly. And providers have to bill MA plans direct. hey do not bill supplements.
I agree that supplements are far better than MA but there is no one answer for all persons. I had a lady call me yesterday from a referral. She wanted to buy a supplement from me. Buit a supplement wasn't right for her. I referred her to an agent that handles MA plans in her area.
I do not recommend MoO supplements because of their crazy rate increases. They have been known to go up near 30% in one year. And for the person that's not in good enough health to change plans they are stuck with the rate increases. But, the rate they pay will not affect the payment of their medical bills. MoO still has to provide standardized service no matter the premium. And if someone has MoO, under their many names, they do have a supplement. MoO does not sell medicare advantage plans.Â
jd&ez, who do you recommend? I know my FIL has United Healthcare for his supplement and he's been very pleased with them. I don't think he's had to pay a penny for any of his surgeries and he's had several.
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 10:40 PM SC Wrangler - 2016-10-17 9:56 PM www.medicare.gov Reading the information available on this official site should make the process and the choices crystal clear. Sorry that I seem to be so stupid. As I stated on my original post, I have already been to that site & read everything & it was ANYTHING but crystal clear. I appreciate the board buddies who actually gave me helpful advice & didn't just assume I'm too stupid to actually try the website first.
Diane, I truly apologize. I certainly did not mean to imply that you are stupid. The official Medicare website is what I used to educate myself when I became elegible. I found it to be very clear and comprehensive. Again I am very sorry, as I was only trying to help with info direct from the source. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | dianeguinn - 2016-10-18 9:47 AM jd&ez - 2016-10-18 6:40 AM Delta Cowgirl - 2016-10-18 6:21 AM Be sure to completely understand "advantage" plans. They sound great, but..... My mom was so proud of herself for having the advantage plan that did not cost her anything, etc. She did not totally understand how the advantage plans work and we ended up taking the company to court to get them to pay for her hospitalization and surgery. She now has Mutual of Omaha as her supplemental and it has been GREAT! There are many Supplemental plans and you WILL need to purchase one when you get enrolled in Medicare. Visit a trusted insurance agent and have the agent review all the plans with you. We had numerous medical field friends tell us Mutual of Omaha is one of the very best out there -- and it has been terrific. For them to say any supplement is better than another is just ignorance on their part. All supplements pay the same and they have to by law.
Medicare Advantage plans are not standardized and the benefits, or lack thereof , varies wildly. And providers have to bill MA plans direct. hey do not bill supplements.
I agree that supplements are far better than MA but there is no one answer for all persons. I had a lady call me yesterday from a referral. She wanted to buy a supplement from me. Buit a supplement wasn't right for her. I referred her to an agent that handles MA plans in her area.
I do not recommend MoO supplements because of their crazy rate increases. They have been known to go up near 30% in one year. And for the person that's not in good enough health to change plans they are stuck with the rate increases. But, the rate they pay will not affect the payment of their medical bills. MoO still has to provide standardized service no matter the premium. And if someone has MoO, under their many names, they do have a supplement. MoO does not sell medicare advantage plans.
jd&ez, who do you recommend? I know my FIL has United Healthcare for his supplement and he's been very pleased with them. I don't think he's had to pay a penny for any of his surgeries and he's had several.
I t really depends on who is competitive in your area. I use mostly Aetna and Equitable. Send me a PM with your zip code and I can do a locate on who's competitive in your zip.
I'm on my way to Gatlinburg for a few days R&R so I may not get back to you real quick. | |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | jd&ez - 2016-10-17 10:52 PM dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 10:40 PM SC Wrangler - 2016-10-17 9:56 PM www.medicare.gov Reading the information available on this official site should make the process and the choices crystal clear. Sorry that I seem to be so stupid. As I stated on my original post, I have already been to that site & read everything & it was ANYTHING but crystal clear. I appreciate the board buddies who actually gave me helpful advice & didn't just assume I'm too stupid to actually try the website first.
I got out of the medicare advantage business 7 years ago because of the government red tape and confusions. I only deal with supplements now but people are always confusing the two. I mostly deal with seniors and burial type plans now and medicare supplements. Most of my clients are low income and therefore can't afford supplements. I ask everyone I meet with who they have their supplement with. They will tell me, Humana, AARP, Anthem, Baptist, etc. They are almost always medicare advantage plans. People just call them supplements.
It's illegal for me as an agent to tell someone they are the same thing. And for good reason, they are different as night and day. But consumers aren't agent so they can call it whatever they want. But that leads to all this confusion when people talk to each other. They think they are comparing the same things and they are not.
I do understand the difference between the Advantage plans and the supplemental plans and the individual drug plans. SS takes out our $104.00 a month and then I have the AARP United Health Care plan, that I know we are paying too much for, and then the BC/BS for our drug plans. Like I said...when you get old is not time to have to be dealing with the confusion of all of this but what do you expect when it's government run...nothing is simple and easy. | |
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3780
Location: n.c. | If you are already drawing SS, Medicaire Part A & B will come out automatically on your 65th birthday.
As for supplemental insurance, so many to choose from. Bobby is with AARP United Healthcare, Plan F2.
He hasn't had to pay a penny out of pocket for Dr, specialist, surgery, etc. | |
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