Talk About........Medicare Supplemental Insurance Cost and Quality, PLEASE

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Some of you guys pay a lot . My supplement through Empire Blue Cross is $39. per mo. But its limited outside of my state , not sure which states honor it .
 
Morgan101 said:
We use Aetna, a medicare HMO. I do not know the cost, but I can say that my wife shopped diligently, and this is the best for us. I will ask her how much we pay. Our doctor visits have no copay. All of my maintenance meds are free. Most of my son's meds are free. My wife takes so many it is probably 50/50. Some free some with a copay. Our hospitalization deductible I believe is $2400.00. We have some limited dental benefits as well. We have been very pleased, and she shops the rates and coverage like a full time job. I trust her judgement.
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I would just make sure that it is not an Advantage Plan. I've tried it both ways and there are distinct differences. Better to pay a small amount monthly than have a policy that limits you. Just my .02
 
kenv1950 said:
Some of you guys pay a lot . My supplement through Empire Blue Cross is $39. per mo. But its limited outside of my state , not sure which states honor it .
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Great, if you never travel anywhere.
If something happens when I’m 1,500 miles from home at my annual infantry division reunion, I want coverage.
 
rice paddy daddy said:
Great, if you never travel anywhere.
If something happens when I’m 1,500 miles from home at my annual infantry division reunion, I want coverage.
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Exactly! And not only that, but if you have, say, a stroke, an Advantage plan can stick you in the care facility of their choice, even if it's 100 miles away from home. With the right Supplemental Plan, you get to choose exactly where you go for any treatments or care.
 
I signed up for an AARP patriot plan. The plan cost me ZERO dollars.
I get $50 a month off my Part B coverage and $100 a quarter in over the counter items.
I'm covered by the VA so I did this for the dental coverage.
I pay $50 less every month for part B and I get $400 a year in OTC stuff
That works out to $600 in cash in my pocket and $400 in OTC every year at no cost to me.
It's not available everywhere so you will have to check your area to see if it's available. Just search for AARP Patriot Plan.
This is only for veterans.
I know it sounds too good to be true but it has worked for me since I signed up in January.
 
haboob said:
I don't know, but isn't is wise for veterans to get on Medicare just for the superior medical care? I have a lot of Vet friends and they all complain about the waits and the inferior care, mis-diagnoses and all.....
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You don't have the option to NOT get Medicare part A. It's automatic when you turn 65. They also enroll you in Part B but you can opt out of that if you are already covered by a different plan. Bill Gates has Medicare, he doesn't uses it but he has it.
I have NO complaints with the VA. I get what I need when I need it. If the wait time is long I can go see a doctor in the community at cost.
The VA system is like any other organization. Some places are better than others.
 
backlash said:
I have NO complaints with the VA. I get what I need when I need it. If the wait time is long I can go see a doctor in the community at cost.
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Dumb question - Wouldn't Medicare cover if you went to another doctor?
 
I’m in the VA health care system.
I go to my annual physical once a year because that’s mandatory to stay covered.

I investigated having them do my knee replacement, but they no longer out source that.
I’d have to go through all the appointment BS with their orthopedic department, and then physical therapy BEFORE they even decide “yes, you need a new knee”. I had my VA doctor tell me this.
THEN, the VA hospital that does this is almost 90 miles away from home.
And I’m not so sure I trust VA doctors to do something as drastic as a total knee replacement.

Nope, I’d much rather use my insurance and go to the orthopedic practice that replaced my other knee and rebuilt my shoulder.
 
haboob said:
Dumb question - Wouldn't Medicare cover if you went to another doctor?
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Yes Medicare will pay some but the VA covers everything so I don't use Medicare.
The last time I went to the ER they had information for all my insurance and they billed the VA.
So you guys have the choice to go with either the VA or with Medicare?
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Yes
 
haboob said:
So you guys have the choice to go with either the VA or with Medicare?
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Yes.
And I used private insurance thru my employer before I retired rather than use VA.

The VA has so many rules, regulations, and procedures governing their care providers, that they have a hard time keeping the better doctors and nurses.
I’m given a new doctor about every two years because the last one left. Just like clockwork.
My local clinic is often so short on nurses that they “borrow “ them from other VA facilities, sometimes even out of state.

Liberals who want government run health care have no idea what they are asking for.
 
haboob said:
I will update since I just did a big change.....started on a Supplemental Plan, then went to Advantage, just to save a couple hundred bucks a month. Not worth it! The Advantage plans are free for a reason! Long wait times for referrals, very average doctor care - it kinda felt like I was in Canada or Europe or somewhere half the time.

I found a VERY GOOD insurance agent who specializes in Medicare and she steered me towards a Supplemental Plan with a 'high deductible'. But it's not really high, just $2500 a year, pay as you go. This plan covers everything, and most importantly - anywhere. A lot of the other plans (particularly Advantage) are not any good if you are out of your area, except absolute emergencies.

Now I am covered anywhere for anything, for a reasonable cost of $50 a month. I'd urge anyone to check and see if they can get this plan in their state. For me, at least, it is a perfect fit.....
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What is the name of the plan or what company?
 
Morgan101 said:
We use Aetna, a medicare HMO. I do not know the cost, but I can say that my wife shopped diligently, and this is the best for us. I will ask her how much we pay. Our doctor visits have no copay. All of my maintenance meds are free. Most of my son's meds are free. My wife takes so many it is probably 50/50. Some free some with a copay. Our hospitalization deductible I believe is $2400.00. We have some limited dental benefits as well. We have been very pleased, and she shops the rates and coverage like a full time job. I trust her judgement.
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Please let us know the cost when you can. Thanks!
 
You can only go to a doctor that accepts medicare. There are fewer and fewer of those that will.
I just had to find another eye care facility for my wife because the one we were using last year doesn't accept it any more.
 
Hubby and I just went through this ourselves. It is a poop show for sure. I suggest you consult with some sort of specialist in Medicare or supplemental insurance coverage. That’s what we did. You have to find a company that covers all the meds you are in, etc. They have quick access to things we don’t. They can plug in your meds, doctors, needs, and tell you which plan will cover you the best. It took us almost 2.5 months to settle on something. We are now working with retirement investment people to know what to do with our retirement money. We can live off our combined SS but we need to know how to use/invest/withdraw from hubby’s pension and our 401(k)s to make the money grow and last our lifetime yet not put us in a higher tax bracket.
 
haboob said:
I will update since I just did a big change.....started on a Supplemental Plan, then went to Advantage, just to save a couple hundred bucks a month. Not worth it! The Advantage plans are free for a reason! Long wait times for referrals, very average doctor care - it kinda felt like I was in Canada or Europe or somewhere half the time.

I found a VERY GOOD insurance agent who specializes in Medicare and she steered me towards a Supplemental Plan with a 'high deductible'. But it's not really high, just $2500 a year, pay as you go. This plan covers everything, and most importantly - anywhere. A lot of the other plans (particularly Advantage) are not any good if you are out of your area, except absolute emergencies.

Now I am covered anywhere for anything, for a reasonable cost of $50 a month. I'd urge anyone to check and see if they can get this plan in their state. For me, at least, it is a perfect fit.....
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It seems like you discovered what we discovered. We went with a traditional Medicare B plan and have Physicians Mutual as supplemental. The Medicare C plans are good for some people but not us.
We, too, advised with a Medicare specialist because there was just too much to dig through.
 
I had it for several years and was very dissatisfied with its conditions. My main complaint was that I could not spend the money in case of urgent need. Only in case of a fatal injury, and that is complete nonsense. There are all kinds of situations in life, and you never know when you might need that money. So I didn't renew the insurance and went with Medigap. And now I can say with absolute certainty that I found Top Medigap Plans for 2022. And I got in line back in 2020, and now I can get a better version of option F insurance.
 
Ah, part of mine is disability as well. I forgot that detail. United health care is still pretty good for the money.
 
haboob said:
Everybody on Medicare must pay the Part B to the Govt, which is currently $170 mo
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You do not have to have part B. You can decline the coverage but if you need it later there is a penalty. I think it's 10% increase every year you're not covered.
I have a UnitedHealth care plan through AARP that cost me nothing and I get a 50$ reduction for part B.
 
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