Supplemental Insurance

Ruger Nut

Ruger Nut

US Veteran
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I have been on SSD since Feb. 2012. I get Medicare Feb. 2014 but am looking into getting a supplemental insurance policy to cover what Medicare doesn't, when that time comes. Any suggestions, and how does it work?
 
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Check with USAA... They are a great outfit... You qualify for membership with military service..
JIM.....................................
 
Ruger Nut said:
I have been on SSD since Feb. 2012. I get Medicare Feb. 2014 but am looking into getting a supplemental insurance policy to cover what Medicare doesn't, when that time comes. Any suggestions, and how does it work?
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Is there any way you could be service connected form your current problem. One of the rules " caused or aggravated by military service" If so it might help with medical care at a VA hospital or compensation.
 
Good advice given Ruger...USAA should be the only choice, and steer clear of AARP. Unfortunately, when you're eligible for Medicare, only the Lord knows what the healthcare system is going to look like.
 
+1 for USAA. I've been with them since 1989. Their insurance and banking services are premier.
 
If you have Medicare and need a surgical procedure, can you go anywhere in the US and have it done, as long as they accept Medicare? Do they make you pay the 20% up front, or how does that work?
 
A few things you should know about Medicare and supplemental plans.
1. Both A & B is automatically deducted. Some supplemental plans combine Part C (prescription) with their plans.

2. You can join a supplemental plan anytime but only change during the end of the year during enrollment period.

3. Medicare does not provide dental insurance. Supplement plans sometimes have a rider for dental.

4. You may find local insurance companies which offer cheaper plans. Here Group Health offers the cheapest plans -they have their own hospitals.
 
If you get a supplemental plan that is a HMO, you must only use doctors in that plan. You just can't go anywhere that accepts Medicare, unless you are willing to pay upfront.
If you get a PPO plan you can use and go to whatever doctor you wish, but those usually are a more costly plan.
Medicare Part D is the prescription drug plan, not C.
Most plans offer Part D with different levels of coverage.
Some cover generic drugs with no copay, others charge a copay.
Some plans offer zero copay for doctor visits, others have copay's that can be as much as $50/visit.
You have to shop around for the plan that fits you best.
You have plenty of time to do so, and you can get all the info you need online.
The good part is that these supplemental plans accept what you pay Medicare for their plan. So your $104.90 can either cover original Medicare, or one of the supplemental plans.
 
My wife and I have this insurance through AARP and are very satisfied. They have many optional plans and we picked one of the better ones. Given what Medicare pays (or more correctly doesn't pay) it make sense to have a plan. Example: Doctors bill for a test was over $ 400.00. Medicare paid $ 84.00. Supplementary paid the balance. Just be sure whatever company you pick is portable, that they cover you in all 50 states.
 
Find a good independent Insurance agent.

I have cancer.
After passing the two year mark I became eligible for Medicare.
Medicare only pays 80%. A single (weekly) Chemo infusion costs up to $10,000.

My supplemental coverage is from Mutual of Omaha, and costs $144.50 per month. It pays every dime of the rest. I don’t know how they do it so cheap, but it’s great.
I don’t think I even pay the $20 co-pays I used to.

I also have a “Part D” separate coverage for prescription meds.

It gets complicated but if you have a good insurance agent, it’s easy.

If you need more help feel free to PM me.

Emory
 
Steve in Vermont said:
My wife and I have this insurance through AARP and are very satisfied. They have many optional plans and we picked one of the better ones. Given what Medicare pays (or more correctly doesn't pay) it make sense to have a plan. Example: Doctors bill for a test was over $ 400.00. Medicare paid $ 84.00. Supplementary paid the balance. Just be sure whatever company you pick is portable, that they cover you in all 50 states.
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IIRC...AARP is "VERY ANTI-GUN" I would never pay them a dime for anything....
JMHO...
JIM..................
 
snake803 said:
IIRC...AARP is "VERY ANTI-GUN" I would never pay them a dime for anything....
JMHO...
JIM..................
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Playing that game is a very slippery slope. I have friends who are "anti-gun", yet we are still friends. I know a few business people who feel the same way, yet I still do business with them. I can say the same thing about religion, or politics. If I started sorting out my friends, or businesses, based on any of the above I'd drive myself nuts. The bottom line for me, in friendships and business relationships, is simple. Do my friends respect me (and I them) despite our differences? Do the businesses I deal with have a good product, at a fair price, and treat me fairly? What separates a good society from a great one is its diversity, the ability of all of us to hold opposing views and yet interact, both in friendships and business relationships, respecting each other as we do so.
 
I like Vermont Maple Smoked Bacon, and I always put Vermont Maple Syrup on my pancakes.

Almost forgot, I have Aetna for my supplemental insurance carrier and very happy with it.
 
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All Medicare supplement plans MUST offer the same coverages. There are several plans so be very careful reading what coverages you are buying. The most common (and usually the best for most people) is the Plan F. It covers just about everything not covered by Medicare for both Hospital and Physicians. Prescription Drug coverage is totally separate and often the companies offering supplements may not offer Prescription Drug (Medicare Part D). My suggestion is to contact a (local where you live) Insurance agent that specializes in Medicare supplement coverage and represents several companies. AARP is not only very anti-gun, they are currently one of the highest cost plans available. I am not familiar with USAA, as to whether or not they offer "Medicare Supplement" plans, but sinc eI also qualify I will be looking at them also. I always "shop" about every third year as companies reestablish their charge structure frequently. You can change insurance every year during open enrollment period.
 
You don't list what state you're in, but I'll assume Louisiana.

Every state has an office called SHIIP (I think it stands for Seniors Health Insurance Information Program) that can help people with insurance advice. They're usually pretty good, but of course not nearly as good as your average internet forum. ;)
 
Health Spring. $39.95 a month. It's a HMO and I have to use their clinic and their hospital, but it was the ones I used anyway. If an emergency happens and I'm out of town I'm still covered. The drug coverage is actually better than the supplements I looked at.
 
I have United Healthcare, issued through AARP, but I do not need to be a member of AARP to have the plan. It is through my Ohio Police & Fire Pension System, and I'm extremely happy with them. Time will tell how obamacare is going to make it more expensive though.

My wife has cancer and has been fighting it for 11 years now and what with her chemotherapy and other associated medical care she needs, we have not paid much, if any, money except for our annual deductions. Medicare and the supplemental insurance has paid it all.
 
i am in illinois and have blue cross blue shield insurance supplimental plan F. it coveres many of the items that medicare does not, including the initial out of pocket costs and no doctor visit fees.

i never had a disputed claim. BCBS has always paid the medical providors and i have no out of pocket costs after the premiums.

you also may want to check out the RX presciption plans "D". the medicare web site has an excellant feature to help you select a good "D" plan.
 
vytoland said:
i am in illinois and have blue cross blue shield insurance supplimental plan F. it coveres many of the items that medicare does not, including the initial out of pocket costs and no doctor visit fees.

i never had a disputed claim. BCBS has always paid the medical providers and i have no out of pocket costs after the premiums.

you also may want to check out the RX prescription plans "D". the medicare web site has an excellent feature to help you select a good "D" plan.
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Someone has probably one of the best insurance providers "Blue Cross Blue Shield", good for you, top shelf.;)
 
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