Medicare time!
Nov 8th 2019, 1:33 pm
#32
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,520
Re: Medicare time!
And (anecdotally) I’ve heard that it’s not unknown for folks between the ages of 65 and <death> to sometimes develop certain medical conditions.
Nov 14th 2019, 9:01 pm
#33
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: Medicare time!
To revisit this Medicare thread, my HI agent has always recommended Medicare Supplement plans as opposed to Advantage plans, but I have just heard from him this week about a zero dollar premium Aetna plan that utilizes the Aetna National PPO network and combines medical, prescription, dental, vision, hearing. He says that there will be more exposure for deductibles and copays, but accounting for premium savings and one's individual situation, it may pay to make the switch. So I am currently reading up on the plan to see if it will work for me. But it is apparently something for Medicare users to look into.
One thing to watch with switching from Medicare + Medicare Supplement to Medicare Advantage, is, if at some time in the future, you choose to switch back to M. supplement, will you be hit by a penalty on the premium for the supplement (as compared with the premium you would have been paying, had you stayed with the supplement plan.)
Nov 14th 2019, 9:51 pm
#34
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: Medicare time!
Nov 19th 2019, 2:28 am
#35
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2019
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 519
Re: Medicare time!
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.
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.
Nov 19th 2019, 12:11 pm
#36
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,379
Re: Medicare time!
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!
Dec 17th 2019, 3:27 am
#37
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Medicare time!
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!
Retirement date is this Friday! Am i excited..you bet!
Dec 17th 2019, 1:29 pm
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Medicare time!
Dec 17th 2019, 2:01 pm
#39
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Medicare time!
Well, it’s really all about choice. You choose the plan you want according to what works for you. Once you decide, you generally get excellent health care. You can change within a window of time every year if you do not like your plan. DH and I have had wonderful care. No complaints.
Dec 17th 2019, 11:19 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,648
Re: Medicare time!
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!
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.
Sep 2nd 2020, 9:39 pm
#42
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2020
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 41
Re: Medicare time!
I prefer to stay with regular Medicare and buy a supplement versus going with an Advantage Plan which may be limited on which doctors will accept. You are locked in for a year and if planning to move during that time you could end up outside the area of coverage for an advantage plan. In my case advantage is a non issue as I have a free Medicare supplement from military retirement.
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 ?
Sep 2nd 2020, 10:21 pm
#43
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Medicare time!
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 ?
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 ?
Sep 3rd 2020, 12:17 pm
#44
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Re: Medicare time!
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.
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.
Sep 3rd 2020, 1:57 pm
#45
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: Medicare time!
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.
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?
