It sounds a nightmare doesn't it?!

Just wanted to report back on further research on the Aetna plan I cited above. First, unlike some Advantage plans, it would cover any medical services required on a trip to the UK; the Advantage plan has a zero premium, but one continues to pay Medicare Part B premiums; and there is no penalty if one switches back to a conventional "medigap" coverage during the annual open enrollment period, unless one was in a grandfathered plan that no longer exists (as I am right now), in which case you'd be out of luck!

There is one major fly in the ointment with those plans which cover treatment in the UK, mine does as well. The UK will not give you an itemized invoice, for example they will invoice "treat broken leg £10,000". The US insurer will ask for an itemized invoice before they reimburse you. It then becomes a nightmare to sort out.

Taking a look at the Advantage plans on offer here: medicare.gov has an excellent Advantage plan comparison tool. There are really only two companies to choose from in this geographic area. We are currently with the biggest player, but the other guys are clearly making an effort to compete and pull people over. The other company are offering some Dental cover, which is attractive if you have a mouth fitted with British Teeth. Reading the fine print, I see that Dental cover is only available from "in-network" practitioners, as listed in the Provider Directory. So off to their website to check the Dental Provider Directory, and I see it is "Coming Soon". Sigh.

When I signed up with my dentist in the US, he gave me a sales pitch in his sales presentation room which included a spreadsheet displayed on a large LCD screen with all options listed, total $11,000. Having recently arrived from the UK, this was of course a different experience to my NHS dentist. I declined all suggested treatment except for an extraction that I had already been recommended by a dentist in Glasgow earlier that year. A decision I do not regret 10 years later, as my British Fillings have yet to crumble. I should say that as well as a good salesperson, my dentist is also a very good although pricey dentist. I doubt if he will be appearing in the "Coming Soon" Provider Directory.

Was truly surprised to see a notice at the eye doctor's yesterday that as of January, 2020 there will be a Medicard deductible of $180. Whoa!

So before I even begin this new adventure the Medicare monthly reduction from my SS check will now be $10 more than originally stated!
Retirement date is this Friday! Am i excited..you bet!

It's still very much in the thinking stage. But at least we will have more time to visit different areas!

You need to check how much your advantage plan would cover.

I have a supplemental plan with Blue Shield and although they reply 'yes we do' if asked if they cover treatment abroad, if you ask further mine was only up to 50K USD; that would not cover repatriation or anything very severe. I always take out separate travel insurance.

I appreciate that you recently posted a reply to me on the military and WEP and I’m still investing that, I also found this old post on Medicare so thought I’d seek your advice again.
I am just about to hit sixty and am covered with TriCare Prime .... Spouse is the same as you on TriCare for life.
so am I correct in saying that I won’t require an advantage plan ?.. like you I’d prefer not to have one if I could avoid. Also seems like I’ll have to switch from prime to TriCare for life when MediCare kicks in ?

That is correct. When you turn 65 your Tricare prime will convert to Tricare for life which is a free supplement. Advantage plan would be a non issue. Several years ago when the Republicans pushed and passed the advantage plan system they claimed it was to save money. Actually it was a free gift to their buds providing health insurance. It now costs the govt 15 to 20 percent more for those on advantage plans. It is pretty obvious we are all paying for the endless commercials selling advantage plans. Some of which seems very deceptive to lure in unsuspecting seniors. It may be automatic for your Tricare to convert to Tricare for life but be sure to follow up and make sure it happens.

If you can possibly avoid it, stay off of Medicare Advantage plans. Inviting an insurance company to administer what are otherwise guaranteed benefits is a pretty daft idea.

The number of older people I see that need care that they would get under traditional Medicare that gets turned down by Advantage plans for 'medical necessity' is staggering - but not surprising.

Nine months into the Aetna plan that I wrote about earlier in this thread I have had no problems with it, despite, unusually for me, having to actually use it a few times this year. It has also paid for dental work and contact lenses that I have never been reimbursed for in the past. Perhaps not all plans are created equal?