enrolling in medicare for the first time

[Salladay]

any recommendations on Part F versus versus Part G, Part N.

i was diagnosed june 2016

[1953bullard]

Part G is the better deal if you do the math

[sassygsp]

I picked F for my husband since he already had Parkinson's. We were getting kicked off the University's insurance and they were really pushing The F plan. It is more expensive, but that being said, when my husband fell and shattered his hip, had surgery, was in ICU for a week, the skilled care/rehab home for 8 weeks while our bathroom was remodeled--I never saw a bill. I do have copay for his medications (a separate plan) and I had to write some checks for the first month's payment on his hospital bed and Hoyer lift, but nothing from the hospital, doctors, nursing home. I had insurance coverage for another month at the nursing home but I got him out of there as soon as we had a downstairs flushing toilet again.

[Nitro53]

Definitely F little more expensive but better coverage

[Lionore]

F is best if you can afford it.

[jackedmonston]

Where I live (MA) we have only two levels of supplemental coverage (Medigap). Premiums from various providers range from $100 to $250 a month. We bought neither plan and even though my wife had a minor stroke last year and polymylagia rheumatica (PMR) this year; and I have PD; total outlays have been less than premiums we would have paid.

[wifeofparky]

In Western NY, our Medicare Advantage Plans give great value. I have a $0 monthly premium and it is an HMO model. All my docs are in the plans and my copays are reasonable. I need to pay Part B through my SS check but it is still cheaper than a supplemental plan. Best thing to do is go meet with the insurers ( BC/BS and our carriers offer one on one meetings to review your needs vs their plans.) Take a list of your docs and meds with you. Also NY has EPIC for anyone for 65 than helps with drug copays. The Medicare Advantage plans do not have a donut hole and have a cap on your yearly out of pocket expenses.

[Autumn56 in reply to wifeofparky]

We live in Central NY also and have found this true. ( that advantage plans are good. I have an Aetna 0 dollar premium plan. $5 for a doctors visit. 35 for a specialist, 500 dollar allowance for hearing aid which i did get one. One pair of glasses per year with a $30 co-pay to see an eyeglass doc for an eye exam and it also pays most of my prescriptions costs. For instance I had a deer tick bite and was put on 3 weeks of antibiotics which would have been over a hundred $ but were 13 dollars I have cancer and the resulting test's like PET scans and Ultrasounds and blood work co-pays really were not that bad. I have refused any surgery or radiation and chemo, so am wondering if it is true that anyone in the medicare advantage field can refuse me for a preexisting condition. My husband won't let me sign him up for part B and says he does not need it even though he has known now that he has PD for 3 and 1/2 years. Is he allowed to sign up in the middle of the year if he misses the enrollment period? Just in case he changes his mind?

[wifeofparky in reply to Autumn56]

If he fails to sign up for Part B when he is eligible and then decides to at a later date he will pay a lifelong premium increase. The longer he waits, the higher the penalty. You can go to Medicare.gov for specifics on that.

My husband had PD and he had a Medicare Advantage Plan. We never had a problem seeing doctors or getting treatment.

Our Advantage Plans have nearly every doctor in their plans so I never had to change doctors. There are also plans that cover snowbirds who travel South for extended periods. My BC/ BS plan covers me for emergency and/or urgent care when I travel.

Under current law, you cannot be denied for a pre-existing condition as long as you have continuous health insurance from a verified source.

[cflloyd]

My husband had part F. It covered everything that Medicare did not which would have been substantial. I never received a hospital bill. It covered what Medicare would not on his rehab nursing home stay from day 22-100 which our out of pocket would have been $160 a day. I am grateful that he had been directed to do Part F. It was worth the extra that we had to pay.

It is my understanding that part G offers the same benefits, with the exception of an annual deductible of $183. I would consider part G if I had to choose now, knowing what I know now. I personally have become Medicare age and have been researching this extensively. Part F and G both allow you to choose your doctor and I believe, they cover you where ever you are.

The Medicare Advantage Plans are scary. They don’t cost much, but there are lots of deductibles and copays. They restrict who you can see and some hospitals and clinics will not take them. I speak from experiences that my friends have had. They do not cover you if you are out of your area in some cases. I would avoid them at all costs, considering that hospitalizations and medical bills are inevitably in your future. At this time your husband cannot he turned down due to pre existing conditions, but after this initial enrollment period, he can, if I am not mistaken, so it is to your advantage to chose the best coverage that you can afford.

God bless you in your journey.

[wifeofparky in reply to cflloyd]

Different states have different rules. I am only versed in NY plans. However, our advantage plans give the best bang for the buck plus there is a maximum you can pay out of pocket and no deductibles. We just have co-pays which are affordable.

[cflloyd]

The biggest problem with the advantage plans is that they can require you to see doctors who are in their network. This can be a problem in many ways. My brother-in-laws plan required him to pay the first 10 days of a hospitalization. And you are correct, each state is different so if you end up outside of your area, you can be turned down as my Pastors mother was when she came to live with him from another state. It's too scary for mr to recommend for anyone. It looks good upfront, but it has issues. My friend, who had prior approval on a test arrived to the health facilities on the day of her test and got denied. It's affordable, yes, but it definitely has its drawbacks. I'm grateful that my husband had the Supplemental Part F.

[Lheinlel]

All I can say is I have F and have never had to pay a medical bill. This includes hip replacement

And DBS. THINK ITS DEFINATELY THE BEST!