My understanding is that there can be significant increases to the price of Medicare supplemental policies depending upon how much you have to use it.
If you’re fairly healthy, most people recommend the Advantage plans.
I just went through all this a little over a year ago for my wife. In the end, we opted to go with supplemental plan G.
With a supplemental, you can see any doctor that accepts Medicare anywhere in the country.
I was going to switch in 2020 to and advntg,stayed with plan N broke my ankle total charges 50,000.00 +
No idea what and advantage would have cost me out of pocket and no one can tell me
Advntg has unknowns,Plan G takes care of everything Medscrae does not
If she has the 150 pay it although she needs script and if needed dental
Once she leaves Plan G she may neuver be able to get it back with out underwriting and will probably be denied. She can switch to and advntg at anytime if she decides to
The Medicare Advantage plans are as advertised except that you surrender your freedom of choice in choosing providers. Most MA’s operate as PPO’s that lock you into their preferred contracted providers. If you need cancer treatment that is only offered at Hospital B but Hospital B is not in the network, you likely will be hit with large financial penalties. Do your due diligence on which providers are part of the MA before you buy.
What you see on TV are really HMOs. With all their limitations. A good Medi-Gap is generally the way to go.
“With a supplemental, you can see any doctor that accepts Medicare anywhere in the country.”
That’s also something to take into consideration. If you travel often, supplemental might be better. However, the Advantage plan should cover temporary emergency care out of state. You’ll have to check with the Advantage plan.
The whole Medicare - Medigap - Advantage conundrum is unnecessarily complicated. For me, the Part A which is very limited, (you must be admitted to a hospital (overnight) to be covered), is no brainer since it is granted to everyone. Part B covers everything else and is a must have since that is where most your medical expenses are (no dental or vision). Medicare Advantage is a flavor of Part B, but has too many drawbacks, stay away. Basically Advantage protects you from a maximum out of pocket but may limit you geographically from medical coverage, so if you don’t travel it may work. Then the gap plans can be considered, but this is strictly insurance, you pay significant premium, must involve third parties with tedious medical transactions to get coverage, spend hours on the phone etc. The drug plans are so cheap, they are a no brainer to get, but you will probably never have to use.
You have only until Dec 7 to enroll in an Advantage plan. I can’t address her age, but I absolutely recommend an Advantage plan.
You can go to www.medicare.gov and find the plans available for her location. All plans are under Medicare control, so they are not scams. I am on Humana and love it - everything is paid for, including medications.
Another family member is on Optum (through AARP) and it is just as good, and covers her extensive meds completely. On Humana, her meds would be $3000 or more per year.
Hope this helps a bit.
Went with Mutual of Omaha supplemental over BCBS for about $20 less per mo. Not like that’s an unheard of firm. I think it best to lock in vs delay THEN go shopping when they don’t have to take you or, take you on but at a premium rate for ever
The only thing to consider is if the out of pocket maximum is greater or less than the cost of the annual premium of the Medigap policy & if her doctors are in the network.
Talk to a good insurance broker that specializes in Medicare. He will be a good resource.
Honestly, she’s 94. If she hasn’t had many problems with the coverage she has now, and the cost isn’t prohibitive, she’s better off sticking with what she has. If she switches at this age, she may never be able to get it back if the other doesn’t work out for her.
Be advised that if you switch to advantage, you CAN’T go back to Medicare. I have regular Medicare and Cigna plan G...and I just went through a major issue. Appendicitis with complications. Was in hospital 8 days. My bill was over $85,000 and I came out owing less than $200 so far...which is awesome to me as part of that was deductible.
I’m not changing anything...
I have Medicare Part A and B, plus a supplemental plan. For $180/year, no deductible, it takes care of everything. Doc offices like it, because they get paid by medicare/insurance company, don’t have to bill me.
For that price I think it best to leave her where she is with the plan G. She can go to any doctor who takes Medicare (no network) and she does not need referrals, much easier paperwork, and after quitting they will not take her back unless she very clearly made it a “trial” and goes back quick.
I hate the “Part C” plans — they are a way to opt out of Medicare and into one of those failed HMOs essentially, the socialism of medicine, they make their money by declining enough services by trickery that they have lots left over.
At her age...leave it as it is.
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We have "plan F", it's costing us a bundle, upwards of $800 a month tol.. I think I'll look into "plan G"..
So you want to switch someone who is 94 to save $1200 per year? Are you making the payments or her?
It is getting late. The deadline is Dec. 7.
Anything too good to be true still isn’t. Advantage is too good to be true. The incentive for Advantage is the same as an HMO, keep costs low, high co-pays and deny coverage or at least be niggardly in managing it. Make it a come-on with trinkets.
With Advantage; Medicare is handing over the annual premium to an insurance carrier and challenging them to provide coverage for less than they are getting from your Medicare premium. Good luck with that while still providing reputable coverage.
You can’t change each year without underwriting and as some have noted, you may be denied and so have to stick with the plan you started with. The annual open enrollment is a scam, it isn’t so, there is no “open” enrollment. It isn’t “open” if you have to go through underwriting and it isn’t “open” if you have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you are accepted after underwriting.
Consider this, the system was set up under obamacare. It is a scam and a trip through a filed littered with mines. You will have succeeded in navigating it if you are only slightly injured.
Your hesitation is valid; best not to change anything at this point.