Posted on 10/23/2023 8:59:39 AM PDT by LouAvul
We’re with Mutual of Omaha, too. Rates ... argh!!!
“Me and the Mrs. use Aetna Silver plan. Doesn’t cost us a single dime and lots of perks.”
But that would be an Advantage Plan, not Supplemental, right?
“I happen to belong to the conservative alternative to AARP, called AMAC. One of the benefits of that membership is access to experienced advisors”
We got out advisor through AMAC, too, 10 years ago when I went on Medicare. Got great advice.
A few years later we had to change since Aflac quit writing in TN, and the AMAC guy searched to find one that would take us since I had had breast cancer (Mutual of Omaha).
United health care here in tx many years.
Yes. This is correct.
The Medicare is confusing. This is on purpose.
Talk to an insurance specialist.
Ask lots of questions.
I got a part G plan, called medigap..covers everything that traditional part a and b does not..
No restrictions...
Low deductible...
But part C plans pay high commission to the insurance specialist, whereas a part G plan doesn’t.
The fed wants to drive people into part C plans.
I think that if we ever relocate we would need to change plans. But for just vacation travel we would be covered by any Blue Cross network, or in an emergency by any hospital. We see a doctor only 2 or 3 times a year, so it hasn’t been an issue.
If you’re already Medicare age or past it, stick with what you have if you’ve got medical problems. Any new company is going to review your health condition/problems and adjust the premium accordingly.
Let’s get a bit real here.
1) The people above saying they pay nothing for Supplement are either confused, intentionally wrong, both, or have not yet made claims.
2) Medicare’s Part B (and Part D) premiums cover 80% of your costs. The other 20% is where all this insanity starts.
3) No one can tell you what will be a better plan for you. Many will tell you they can, but they can’t. It’s all individual by state. There is no shortcut. You have to study.
4) There is terminology complexity. Supplement. Original Medicare. Part C. This is part of study. You have to know what all of that crap means.
5) Up until very recently, insurance brokers got a significantly higher commission selling Supplement plans vs selling Medicare Advantage plans. Very quickly the horror stories about Medicare Advantage began. They linger, but are dying, because the commission totals are now similar.
6) God knows why Congress ever said Medicare would be for 80% rather than 100%. It adds a lot of layers of complexity. And now, if they undid it with a 100% declaration, they would slash employment in that sector by maybe 40%.
You have this wrong.
Part C is Medicare Advantage. It paid LOWER commissions to insurance agents for many years. And so horror stories evolved about Advantage vs the higher commissioned Supplement plans like G.
Now, commissions are largely the same. Advantage plans with their $0 premiums and imposed copays are catching up.
About 40% of new enrollees are now Advantage and it is growing.
If you find a good Medicare broker he will help you sort all this out. My wife and I prefer regular Medicare (Plan G) with a supplemental plan over the Advantage plans. Costs a bit more than Advantage plans but no concerns about whether a doctor is in network and also no geographical limitations within the US.
We have “standard” Medicare(A&B) and D(meds), and G(supplemental).
D is using Silverscript. Had Elixir but their rates skyrocketed at the end of 2021 so we changed to Aetna Silverscript for 2022-present.
G is using AARP/United Healthcare. Wifey is 2 years younger and signed up this year, she got a MAJOR discount as we were given a “family” or “multiple members in same household” rate. Saved us about $100/month this year.
circle back to baseline
Not during open enrollment periods unless changing from Advantage plan to supplement (good reason not to join a Part C Medicare Advantage plan because you're basically stuck there if have medical conditions).
If you want to switch Medigap plans, or you’re joining from a Medicare Advantage plan or original Medicare without supplemental coverage and you’re not eligible for open enrollment, then you’ll probably face underwriting.
There are "flat" rate plans and age based plans. The only flat or group plan available in Oklahoma owing to the small market is AARP / Humana. All others will go up at inflation plus your age group. Those age based premiums are in the opening disclosures and are significant; there will be inflation on top of that as there is for AARP.
I can't see how advantage is not a loss leader but some people have done well with it. I don't go to the doc much but the AARP supplement hasn't paid a dime in two years. If you go advantage you are locked into the network and woe betide any departure from that.
So you are on advantage? I didn’t think they covered any hospital or doctor but only ones in network.
My agent (who is a personal friend) told me the commission rates...
You are incorrect.
She said that she would have to sell 6 part G plans to make what she could make with 1 part C plans.
As others have said, advantage ropes you into a geographic area for hospitals and in network restrictions. Our hospital is either 25 miles away across the state line or 100 miles away in Tulsa. One of the reasons I am on AARP / United G for now. You can always go to advantage but not always go from advantage back to G because of underwriting. You can also switch carriers in advantage at will in open enrollment.
A friend has advantage and is treated well but his hospitals are in state and their docs are in network. He has a relatively good health care system available and I don't.
please see clarification this messages replies to.
See if Health Markets has a broker in your area. Ask them for options.
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