Medicare Advantage

[DaGOOSExyz]

Any of you been on one of the Medicare Advantage plans?
How did it go and are you still satisfied and using it?
My secondary insurance to Medicare comes from the Co I
retired from and up to now we all had the same plan. Now
we are going to be given a choice on it and I'm wondering
about the Medicare Advantage. My older sister had it before
she passed away and swore by it. Any input would be
welcome. PS I do understand there are many Co out there
who provide Advantage plans of different kinds. Just trying
to get a feel of if they are liked and considered a good deal.

 

[Marshwheeling]

The one I have is quite good. It covers prescriptions with a small copay, provides membership in a health club, and I don't know what else. It costs less than $50/month.

 

[wilkoi]

I have Blue Cross/Shield advantage program. It is the bees knees, excellent program.

 

[Brian41]

I'm all ears as I just got my Medicare card yesterday and effective Dec.1 this year. My wife will be starting a new job in a couple weeks with health care benefits so will be contacting her human resources department as soon as possible to see our options.
It's all rather confusing to me right now and am trying to figure it all out. I'm reading the booklet they sent and will visit their website too.

 

[quneur]

Talk to a patient coordinator or hospital insurance administrator or whatever they're called. Find out what insurance your physican accepts. Then compare plans. Sometimes certain plans are not right for your situation; ask them as they will have a better understanding of insurance options.

PPO plans are cheaper but have a limited network. But why pay for a non-PPO plan if you can see the same physican and get the same care for less?

You may want to look into Concierge Medicine although if you already have Medicare it may be redundant. There are practicing physicans in my area that accepts concierge type medicine for fairly cheap monthly payments. If I had to buy my own plan, I would opt for concierge. Prices range from $100 - $170 per month. In concierge plans, the physican limits the number of patients and you have access to their email, sometimes private cell phone, and visits are much longer and comprehensive.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I just went through this. I had to decide on Advantage plan or Gap. I went with a G Gap instead of AP. AP is less expensive but gets weird if you are out of network. If you never travel and like to read the fine print in contracts than AP is probably a good choice. Every AP is different so make sure you understand exactly what you are buying. Insurance companies have a way of finding a clause that will leave you high and dry. We travel a lot so a Gap was our choice. I don't like reading contracts much. Also call your state insurance commissioners office and enlist their help because a lot of complaints may have been filed on certain companies and you would want that information.

 

[Brian41]

Good advice and I'm listening too. My wife is going to work at a hospital and have her insurance through them so their HR should know what her insurance pays for my Medicare supplements.
We've checked already and our primary doctor, surgeon and pain management docs all accept Medicare plus her new insurance plans.
We're fast heading for universal insurance in this country I believe. Might happen before my wife also retires in a few years but if not we'll be on the marketplace buying insurance for her too. Scary to think about having employer provided health insurance all these years but times are changing.

 

[quneur]

Social Security is a government run insurance plan with medical benefits. You paid all those years into it so don't feel ashamed about receiving it. Medicare Advantage plans are very popular and price is competitive. There is an actual marketplace - competition will breed lower cost and better benefits.

Medicare Advantage works for insurers because they receive premiums + co-pays. Healthcare providers receive a better pay schedule, ie. they can partially claim against the 20% Medicare doesn't pay. It somewhat eases the burden for providers for accepting Medicare patients.

 

[DaGOOSExyz]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm trying to learn all I can so I can make
a good decision. Will keep checking back for any imput, Thanks again!

 

[Oldiron]

Goose, it sound like you have been on the phone calls with the AON folks. AT&... is my retirement co, so as of Jan 1 everything changes for me too. My B-I-L has the AARP type F plan through United and loves it. Waiting for a package to come in the mail to see what is going to be available.
Larry

 

[DaGOOSExyz]

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Yep, the very same. All these changes this late in the game is a bunch of B $. A friend of mine said the doctor told him the type F plan is the one that covers the most in regular Medicare supplemental ins. Talked to AON already but still have a while
to make up my mind. Good luck with your choice.

 

[H Richard]

Be very careful. Read ALL the fine print especially the Co-pay amounts for various things such as extended hospital stays, physical therapy, ambulatory surgery, etc. But most important is the "Network". Especially if you travel, you may find yourself out of network and have no or extremely reduced benefits and find yourself out of pocket thousands of dollars. A good supplemental plan, "G" is the least costly way to go in the long run. If you are perfectly healthy, and know you will stay that way, and not need any health-care, an advantage plan will save you money. But, do you know if you will need any health-care?

 

[41 fan]

Oldiron & DaGoose,
I'm in the same boat. Retired from Bellsouth in 2001. Spoke with AON rep. They don't have prices yet. I believe she said it would be October. I'm going to be checking on AARP. My late mother had a plan that cost about $165 a month, but she said she had no out of pocket expenses. Dean

 

[H Richard]

There are lots companies out there that offer equal or better plans. I recommend you contact a (known trusted) Medicare Specialist insurance agent. Ask around your older friends who they use. I'm 73, and my latest renewal for a plan F is $958 for 6 months, ($159 p/mo). A plan G will be a couple hundred less, but has a $250 deductible, so it isn't much cheaper. Keep in mind that every company must offer the exact same benefits on the same plans, a plan G from one company will pay the exact same benefits an from any other company. Just the price is different and will vary with age and location.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

My Trade Union gives us retirees on Medicare "Humana" which seems to work well.

Just had "inquinal hernia" surgery, the hospital bill was a little over $16,000 (out-patient) and my portion was $39.00.

 

[bgrafsr]

My secondary is United Healthcare by AARP, which I get from the Ohio Police & Fire Retirees Program. I believe I have Plan F, and although a bit pricey, we normally do not have to pay much, if anything, plus no co-pays.

The best part is that you do not need to be a member of AARP to have it. I totally despise that organization.