BCBS has supplemental and replacement plans, it depends on your situationI am not any kind of guru, but the answers to your questions will depend on what state you live in and likely even the county. For example in some areas HMOs are about the only plans offered and in my part of the country, they don’t exist. There are some resources for info like through the local senior center (yeah, I don’t feel that old either) that might be able to give you unbiased info. Good luck.
It depends on which state you live in. They have different plans and different insurance company participants.
If you get a Medicare and You 2016 booklet in the mail, it should like most available plans in your area, with the various coverages and fees.
Even if you get the Medicare and You booklet, check the online Medicare website. They do have discrepancies.
After you narrow the plans down, you might check the insurer’s website.
There are too many variables without knowing more about your situation/state, etc., to give you much more info.
Also, check with your primary doctor to see whether he/she even accepts a particular insurance plan.
You probably have a choice between Medicare + a supplemental plan or Medicare Advantage. Medicare + supplement still requires drug coverage which may require an additional drug plan. Medicare Advantage may or may not include a drug plan. If it does not, you will be required to get an additional drug plan.
If you do not have an acceptible drug plan when you start Medicare/Medicare Advantage, you will be penalized annually until you get an approved plan. The penalty will still continue to be assessed.
Best bang for the buck if it is in your area is Kaiser. It guarantees you will have a doc. If you are proactive about your own care you will do fine
Not all docs will take Medicare so just because you have a plan doesn’t mean anything
BCBS has supplemental and replacement plans, it depends on your situation