Why does the gummament want me to sign up for Medicare

[GaryS]

That is not correct. Most medical facilities will take Medicare, but they are not required to. If they accept Medicare they must also accept your supplement.

Texas and Florida lead the list with the most medical facilities that will not accept medicare.

All of my doctors state to stick with "original" Medicare is possible. "Everyone takes it" is their reasoning. The other plans, not so much.

 

[SMSgt]

That is not correct. Most medical facilities will take Medicare, but they are not required to. If they accept Medicare they must also accept your supplement.

Texas and Florida lead the list with the most medical facilities that will not accept medicare.

I've never encountered anyone here in S. FL who doesn't accept basic Medicare. I've used it from regular PCP appointments to a week in ICU. Yet I hear those with the Medicare Advantage complaining about can't see this doctor or can't see that doctor because no in network.

 

[GaryS]

When we were preparing our move to Texas I called our secondary insurance company to see what I might have to do to keep my coverage. Before I qualified for Medicare, I knew that i'd have to pick a BC/BS plan if I moved out of state after retiring. When I was talking to the nice young lady at the insurance company she told me that I could keep my existing secondary because Medicare required them to accept any supplement IF they accepted Medicare. She also told me that Texas and Florida were the states that lead the list of providers that didn't accept Medicare.

For some reason my retired school teacher sister told me that wasn't true. She's on Medicare and lives in FL half the year. I think she's misinformed, but didn't say anything because she has an enourmous brain and knows everything!

What our secondary actually does is sub out of state retirees out to United Health Care. They just administer the insurance for the actual provider and when I call the provider whoever I talk to can answer my questions and never mentioned UHC.

Most providers down here in TX seem to accept Medicare, but some there are a few that don't accept any insurance at all.

I've never encountered anyone here in S. FL who doesn't accept basic Medicare. I've used it from regular PCP appointments to a week in ICU. Yet I hear those with the Medicare Advantage complaining about can't see this doctor or can't see that doctor because no in network.

 

[arjay]

Don't procrastinate like I did! I hadn't gotten around to it and stroked at 65 and two months.Spent a night in the hospital and it was quite a bill!! Somebody in billing figured out how to make it all work out. I got lucky

 

[pharmer]

I tried to keep "A&B" with a UHC supplement. $250/mo premium and another $120/mo for BP meds. Co-pays for everything. Went to "part c" with Humana 2 1/2 years ago. Don't pay for anything except $30 twice year for cardiologist. Yes, hospital co pay is $5k max/yr but I banked that after the 1st year. I'll let youse know how it works in practice should anything serious happen. Healthcare is a joke. Joe

 

[GaryS]

Advantage plans work for some people, however you have to know what you are looking at and what is and isn't covered. There are so many ads on TV for advantage plans that I'm highly suspicious of them.

I tried to keep "A&B" with a UHC supplement. $250/mo premium and another $120/mo for BP meds. Co-pays for everything. Went to "part c" with Humana 2 1/2 years ago. Don't pay for anything except $30 twice year for cardiologist. Yes, hospital co pay is $5k max/yr but I banked that after the 1st year. I'll let youse know how it works in practice should anything serious happen. Healthcare is a joke. Joe