I failed to mention one caveat.
You need to do some study before buying the
United Health care AARP $0 medicare advantge plan.
To get the cost savings you must be in good health. There is an out of pocket requirement
If health is not good, one of the monthly pay plans might be better
But...... and I cannot overstate this benefit. You don’t have to screw with medicare. The insuance plan does all that. From taking care of 4 parents that is a real benefit
Do not be put off by the AARP connection. AARP is merely a major agent that has chosen United as it’s insuror. AARP has no hand in the business other than sales.
Correct, the plan administers the whole thing. The $100 that SS deducts and gives to Medicare is passed on from Medicare to the plan operator. You never present your medicare card(number) to a provider. Instead, you use your Plan ID card. You do have to provide the medicare card number to the plan operator at the time you enroll in the plan, so that they can apply for that $100/month from Medicare.
"You need to study before buying"
For sure. Study the supplemental policies, study the advantage plans. The reality is that there are a very limited number of insurance companies offering the zero dollar HMO advantage plan. I live in a rural area and there are only 2 in my area, Windsor and Humana. In the city there are more. There are substantially more insurance companies offering the Preferred Provider advantage plan(PPO) and many, many companies offering the fee for service advantage plan(FFS).
Also, if you are taking a lot of prescriptions, you need to study the companies drug list, regardless of whether it is a Plan or a Supplemental Policy, or a stand alone prescription plan. Supposedly, the drug donut exception ends with Obamacare.
Keep in mind these are yearly plans and you can change them in the fall. If you health starts to decline, you need to re-shop it.