Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Medicare Supplemental...

So many companies.
So many plans.
So much confusion.
Help! I'm overwhelmed!

Retiring in January, wondering if any of my fellow geezers might have any advice or recommendations.

Much appreciated.
Jeff

Don’t get an advantage plan. It might be an optyfor someoin good health living in an urban city that’s in their “network” but your SOL if you’re out of network. Other than that you can research different offerings to see which plan fits your needs better. They’re all going to be pretty much the same I think.

firsthand knowledge of my mom's retirement Stay the fuçk away from Humana. Traditional medicare is the best for her here in Northeastern Arkansas.

A, B, D, G. Costs you about 325 a month, 150.00 a year out of pocket. Call United Medicare Advisors. They can explain it all to you. I think they are in Kansas City. They find the cheapest policies for you, charge you nothing. I guess they get kickbacks from insurance companies. A lot of folks I know went through them, never heard a complaint yet.

Good luck

You see whichever Doc you want

Humana is awful, whatever plan they offer.

We went from a supplemental plan that was costing a lot of money to an Advantage plan that has no premium. Over the last three years it's been great. Their co-pays and stop-loss costs are better than the premium charging supplemental plans we could find.

We're in a rural area that is served by an in network hospital and clinic. I go in Tues for a comprehensive annual "wellness check". It has no co-pay, the lab work is included, and they send me a $50.00 pre-loaded Visa card as an incentive to get the check up.

There can be some significant expenses and co-pays, but they're less than the annualized premium and co-pay limits in the Supplement plans.

Hi Jeff,

What your choices will be, is determined on where you live and what providers you have available to pick from. Choose wisely!

My Wife and I have different policies. I travel quite a bit for hunting, shooting and fishing and my wife will go a few time a year with me. She was in the medical field for over 40+ years and we went with what worked best for us.

I have a Medicare advantage plan - PPO. this allows me the option to go to a doctor without being referred by your primary care dr. I have to pay additional for this option. however when you are 1,000 + miles from home and need to be seen it comes in handy.

While we have the dental option, we still have an additional supplement policy. something to ask your dentist about and they should be able to provide you some information for policy that they take. If you have dental issues this is something to consider.

What you will need to determine is what insurance policies your current medical providers take. If you like your current dentist and primary Doctors and any specialist you should ask them if you take this insurance (the insurance you intend pick) will I be able to use you or do you take this insurance.

You will find that, if you select an insurance company that the medical group in your area is not taking, what are you going to do.

We have had friends who decided to go with a different insurance company and they found out that the dentist, primary care doctors and specialist were not taking the new policy that they went with.

Find a local insurance agent that specializes in Medicare supplements. There are so much involved that you’ll not even think to ask about.
Be very wary of advantage plans as mentioned above.

Only the government could make something so complicated

You guys are awesome.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help.

Jeff

I live in rural north central PA, I picked UPMC (University Pittsburgh Medical Center) it has been GREAT! I worked for Blue Shield CA for 22 years and had what I thought was a good plan but this one is so much better!!

The government medicare cost me I think $145 a month the supplement cost $38 and covers most everything, prescription copay is much lower than my company plan and a visit to the ER is $90 not $600 like before. Had a heart ablation and my cost were maybe $300 out of $85k, my old plan was $3000...

But it does help that my local hospital is part of the UPMC family, my brother is in Wyoming County PA and doesn't have access to UPMC and pays double...

If you can get the Mutual of Omaha or a Washington National Supplement they are the best going. (Actually Mutual of Omaha owns Washington National), I have traditional Medicare and the Mutual of Omaha supplement and I never pay anything other than my yearly deductible. Meds are different but all mine are generic and they are cheap on my $15.00 a month plan.

Wish I could get one like that for beer...

If you go with a Medicare Advantage plan and have some serious health issues, you won't be able to buy a Supplement if you want to go back to Medicare.They will gouge with the premium.

I have the Humana Choice PPO. I took it because they cover the entire front range from Pueblo north to the state line.If you advise them of your travel they will give you in netwok hospitals and Dr.'s where you go and cover that. No referrals needed for specialist. In 2023 the $195 prescription deductible goes away. Vaccines are paid for with no copay and that includes Shringrix. No copay for any Tier 1 generics

I had United Health Care and Humana has treated me a lot better.I have no complaints, but you have to follow the rules. My bill for three days in the hospital when I had my stroke was $99,000. Of course they contracted it down, but I paid less than $1000

You want a certified Medicare advisor, not a quack insurance agent that’s trying to make money off of you.

Youtube has many good videos and channels dedicated to Medicare. I learned alt from it last year when enrolling my wife for the fist time.

good luck

pick the right plan

when I retired in 2011.......I was 59

I lost $180/month when Medicare took over at 65 (now $200)

My UPS/Teamsters plans covered me very well before 65

But.......we get an 8% SS increase in 2023

Wooopy fuggin ding joe

COL has eaten that up the last 12 months

FJB

I pay Mutual of Omaha $235 a month. no deductables or copays.The VA picks up my prescriptions.

What a lot are not telling you is that besides the supplement plan,you also have to buy a prescription plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans include a prescription plan. Vision and dental are extra. Look at VSP for you vision insurance . The yearly premium is less than two eye exams..

Best advice in the entire thread is to find a certified Medicare advisor that will explain all plans, Medicare and Advantage and help you choose what is best for you.It won't cost you anything.

With Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare pays that insurance company a set amount every months based on the average cost of senior care in you area.

What a lot are not telling you is that besides the supplement plan,you also have to buy a prescription plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans include a prescription plan. Vision and dental are extra. Look at VSP for you vision insurance . The yearly premium is less than two eye exams..

Best advice in the entire thread is to find a certified Medicare advisor that will explain all plans, Medicare and Advantage and help you choose what is best for you.It won't cost you anything.

With Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare pays that insurance company a set amount every months based on the average cost of senior care in you area.

You still have to pay your Medicare Parts A&B premium which was $170/mo. in 2022 per person

It's confusing intentionally. We ran into a lady at Walmart of all places who really helped. I got the Advantage PPO for half price hearing aids. I'm healthy, no drugs to speak of. No premium. Copays though. Good Rx is good to beat the system on drugs. Maximum cost per year no matter what is $4,500. Two years in. So far so good. Sleep study cost me $300 or something. Regular doc is free. Specialist $25. Advantage gets knocked but she convinced me to stick with it.

If you are in the network advantage plans offer some perks but be advised, they manage your Medicare. they can deny services that Medicare would allow if it's not in their network. For some people it's a good option for others it's not.