[Vanity] Signing up for Medicare

vanity | Ken in Texas

[ken in texas]

Apologies in advance for the vanity.

Any advice for someone signing up for Medicare?

[ken in texas]

Appreciate the info about a Walmart-Humana plan, had not heard of it.

[bert]

United health care medicare advantage

our plan costs $0 per month with $5 and $25 copay

[jch10]

Get a good supplemental insurance and avoid AARP like the plague!

[ken in texas]

We’re leaning towards getting both B and D. The supplemental is of concern because she was turned down for insurance once COBRA ended and we shopped on our own.

[ken in texas]

Thanks.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Great advice. Also, Sam’s Club is a better pharmacy if available.

[ken in texas]

Thanks.

[DustyMoment]

I did not realize there were any. That is in Texas? So they simply refuse admission?

An increasing number of doctors and hospitals are declining Medicare because, with the advent of ZeroCare, the rates Medicare pays are declining in an effort to force more people to sign up for ZeroCare.

This, in turn, is causing more doctors to either retire from private practice or simply decline to accept new Medicare patients.

[steve86]

I know all about the individual providers but have seen little evidence of hospitals joining that trend. In fact, just the opposite.

[bitt]

*

[TomGuy]

Download the Medicare and You 2013 booklet from the Medicare website. Be sure to get the one for your state.

You might want to check and compare Medicare Advantage plans that are listed for your state. They should be identified in the Medicare and You booklet.

For 2014, the Medicare and You usually comes out in late Sept or October. Enrollment for 2014 begins in early October.

You might also check the CMS website for your state information.

http://www.medicare.gov
http://www.cms.gov
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/hprc/mediinfo.shtm

[Ditter]

I asked a Canadian friend about their health care system. He said it works great.......... as long as you don't get sick. He wasn't kidding.

[ken in texas]

Appreciate the links and references.

[Kirkwood]

Humana is known for turning down a lot of applicants. If your wife was turned down once already, you may need to find an agent who handles policies for many companies and that person will help find a company who will accept your wife.

[UB355]

The AARP plan is United Health Care. In my wife’s case best option , her doctor is in the plan. The agent did mention many people she deals
.with with have issues with AARP.

[Past Your Eyes]

And your response is necessary in what way?

[VerySadAmerican]

Medicare is really private insurance sold through the government. There are lots of plans. Just be sure to have a calculator handy when trying to figure it out.

As for Part D, we ran the numbers and it’s actually cheaper for my wife to buy drugs from Canada that pay the premiums and co-pays with Medicare. If you take a lot of drugs, especially if they’re name brand, the co-pays are high. And on some of the plans the co-pays on generics are higher than what the pharmacy charges. You have to really look at it close.

[ken in texas]

Appreciate the links and references.

[Gay State Conservative]

Well,for one thing...be aware that you'll be a member of the first group subject to death panels,waiting lists for everything from X-rays to appointments with a cancer specialist to an opening at a hospital for heart surgery.That is unless you're rich,powerful or “connected”.

[ken in texas]

LOL. I was once in the same city as someone that was rich, powerful or “connected”, but none of it rubbed off.