Greetings Comrades,
I have had just the standard Medicare for many years and I'm considering coming back to Bidenville to have AUS surgery. Any recommendations regarding supplemental insurance to the standard Medicare would be greatly appreciated. Also, is there a designated time of the year that I need to apply?
If you did not purchase a supplement plan when you first signed up for Medicare then I am pretty sure that you are subject to underwriting. That means the insurance company can either deny your application or charge you higher rates based on your health condition. I have been happy with a high deductible Plan F from Bankers Life/Colonial Penn. I don't think Plan G is sold anymore but Plan G is very close to the old Plan G.
Thank you so much for your reply. I will have to check into "Plan G".
There are a number of standardized Medicare Supplement plans. Each one is identified by a letter - A, B, C, F, G etc. All plans are the same but the different insurance companies that offer the plans charge different rates. So best to go with the lowest rate from a well known company.
Hi Ron,
Do your research because I believe that there’s a penalty for adding a Medicare supplement policy later than when you originally signed up for Medicare initially. The same applies to the drug option Medicare offers. Later costs more money. There may also be underwriting questions from the numerous Medicare supplement providers that allow them to charge more for people with medical issues. Be careful not to be seduced into relinquishing your original Medicare and instead purchase any Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans are not really Medicare. They are independent insurance products offered by numerous insurers that contract with Medicare to place themselves between Medicare and the customer. So when a claim is made, you’ll end up fighting with your Medicare Advantage insurer about the amount they’ll pay if they are recognized at all by your health care provider. The Medicare Advantage plans are reimbursed by Medicare for what they agree they’ll pay to your health care provider. Your health care provider will want to know before they provide services which Medicare Advantage plan you have as soon as you tell them you might not have original Medicare. Just be careful, because insurance agents will try to convert you to one of their Medicare Advantage products when you begin shopping for one of their Medicare supplement plans. The agents make larger commissions selling Medicare Advantage plans. I believe that Medicare will provide a published list of authorized supplement plans offer in the original geographical area where you purchased your Medicare, and you’ll need to compare the various plan costs carefully after you submit an application with your medical history.
I have a friend who has had the procedure done that you’re contemplating at DFBCI in Boston, and he’s satisfied with the results. He was completely incontinent prior to the operation, and the procedure resolved the problem. Good luck, old friend.
Very good points Ragnar2020. Medicare Advantage plans will usually require you to use in network providers so you have to make sure your providers are in the insurance companies network. My opinion only, but the little you save and/or the added benefits that Medicare Advantage plans tout are not worth the loss of choice you get with original Medicare.
Thank you Ragnar for taking the time to write this most informative reply! I knew that I could depend on my many friends on this forum to get help with making a decision.
My best to you and yours,
Ron
I have AARP med sup with United Health Care, they have paid well. When I looked at changing the other providers were not keen on covering my stage 4 cancer....
There are special enrollment periods, but some of them only allow for Medicare Advantage. I agree that supplement plans work better and have more choice than Medicare Advantage. We have AARP supplement and also their part D with Walgreens as preferred provider because that was the cheapest option for Zytiga. If you are limited to the Advantage plan it still may work for what you need. Get all your questions answered for sure before you make a decision. Reading the Medicare rules is like reading the tax code. Might be worth consulting someone who specializes in helping people find the best plan for their situation. medicare.gov/sign-up-change...
I have had AARP (United Health) Supplemental plan F since 2014. I have never had a problem with denied procedures or payments or anything! And my co-pay fits my budget: $0.00 (true of most plan Fs, I believe).
And they have paid out tons of money for all my scans, tests, procedures. The premium goes up a bit each year but it is far less than what my medical costs are in a year. Especially since Medicare pays at Medicare rates, which are most often a tiny fraction of the retail rate listed on my EOB -- any poor sucker stuck with retail rates will be in medical debt for a long, long time.
You may find some answers here: (the top hit for Medicare plans in my area)googleadservices.com/pagead...
Thank you for the information!
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