New to Medicare, what do I need to know?

[RainCaster]

I turn 65 this year, so every company on earth it seems wants me to sign up for their Medicare related services. So far, it tossed all that junk mail.

Is there anything useful that I should post attention to? I'm still employed so I have his health insurance for now. Thinking more about retirement though, sleeping in has its appeal

[leftieNanner]

1. Do NOT do Medicare Advantage!!

Sign up with Medicare. You may not need a supplemental plan if you still have coverage through your employer.

[keithbvadu2]

4. Previous discussions of Medicare Advantage

Previous discussions...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216622964

Katie Porter leads letter urging Biden not to dump more money into Medicare Advantage

After reading up on it, MA is more of a HMO and it was less risky to pay the Part B for better coverage.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142909182

Medicare Advantage Plans Often Deny Needed Care, Federal Report Finds
---------
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017732643
Get Medicare! No to Medicare Advantage. It's perfume-covered doo-doo that'll bankrupt or kill you.

https://egbertowillies.com/2022/04/30/get-medicare-no-to-medicare-advantage-its-perfume-covered-doo-doo-thatll-bankrupt-or-kill-you/
--------------------
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1261935
advice

[SheltieLover]

8. +1

[Maine Abu El Banat]

12. I love my advantage plan!

Never been denied, have vision and dental coverage. And my new hearing aids are fucking wonderful. Until traditional Medicare starts covering those things and medications I will stay. Why all the negativity around advantage plans, obviously younger people who are miss informed.

[trof]

23. Same here.

I have COPD, acute obstructive sleep apnea, prostate cancer, macular degeneration, osteopenia.

I'm being treated for all that plus high cholesterol, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and enlarged prostate (BPH).
I've had a few squamous cell cancers removed.

I've always chosen the specialists I see, no problem.
Most imaging is no co-pay.
I pay no monthly premium and no co-pay for my PCP.
$25 co-pay for specialists' visits.
All but one of my 7 meds are no charge.

Medicare Advantage has saved us thousands each year compared to the plans we used to have.
I'm 81 and am active and feel good despite all of the above.

[Owl]

28. Hi Trof. May I ask what advantage plan you have?

[trof]

29. UHC through AARP.

[Owl]

30. Thanks!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. Honestly, I don't understand why those here trash Medicare Advantage.

Maybe it makes a huge difference which Advantage Plan you choose. I have one with Humana, and it has been very good to me. Including when I had a heart attack in December, 2020, and paid something like $700 for a $90,000 plus hospital bill.

Maybe there are sketchy Advantage Plans out there. I honestly don't know. But I do know that mine is excellent.

This is a lot like how people here piss and moan about how terrible annuities are. Some are bad. Some are good. The devil is in the details. I happen to have two annuities that are giving me a fixed income. There's a distant chance the income might go up, but more to the point that income works for me. I also have Social Security, a small pension, and money I take from my investments.

[zipplewrath]

2. Be aware

Advantage plans often have severe restrictions on what doctors you can see. Many of them are basically HMO's. There are health insurance "brokers" that can independently advise you on what you need/want.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. And lots of health plans in the working world also have restrictions on what doctors you can see.

Once, some years back, when my husband's company changed their health care plan, we needed to find a different primary physician. It was a huge hassle. Especially as we had grade school sons who were still in the middle of things like vaccinations.

A year later they went back to the old plan, and we were able to go back to our former primary physician. What a relief.

People here often act as if before Medicare, things are totally benign and you can see whatever doctors you need to see. HA!

[Ocelot II]

3. Get regular Medicare; Medicare Advantage is a rip-off.

[Maine Abu El Banat]

13. Why?

[trof]

24. NO IT IS NOT!

Read my post.

[Ocelot II]

27. OK, if that's your experience.

[LakeArenal]

5. Do not do Medicare Advantage. 👆🏼☝🏼👆🏼

It isn’t as complicated as we thought it would be. We were referred to an insurance agent that helped us through. Mr Lake had Blue Cross, I had the one through AARP. His was better.

He got shingles vaccine. I had to pay $250.

A lot depends on what drugs. Mr Lake has a few “top tier” meds.

[Maine Abu El Banat]

14. My Shingles vaccine was free

Wellcare Advantage plan baby!!!

[LakeArenal]

15. Your choice. But most of us know not to go advantage.

Edit to add: Maybe you are the one misinformed. Try Google.

[trof]

25. Same here. Never paid for any vaccination.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

19. I also had a free shingles vaccine.

How bizarre is that?

[LakeArenal]

21. Yeah. As did Mr Lake. But he had a few more copays than I did.

We are on CostaRican healthcare now. No supplements

[upacreek]

6. Go to an insurance broker

Stick with regular medicare insurance programs. Do not get stuck with medicare advantage brought to you by W.bush to disembowel
regular medicare. PM me if need be.

talk to an insurance broker at least 3 months before you retire.

[KarenS]

7. Exactly right,,,, An Independent Insurance broker for your state.

[IbogaProject]

9. Also register for formal Medicare promptly

There are premiums involved depending on your income, it's important to sign on promptly. If you have assets do a medicaid workup to see what you can protect for heirs.

[MOMFUDSKI]

10. Realize that a regular Medicare Supplement

will cost you a monthly premium of roughly $250 PLUS $135 or more off the top of your SS check each month. If you are prepared to put out $400ish a month then get the Supp. An Advantage Plan will cost $10 or so premium per month coming out of your SS check and the remainder of your SS check will be yours. Find a broker that will come to your house and explain BOTH types of plans. All plans are based on your meds. A good broker will determine which plan is best for you. Medicare.gov will have you insert your Zip Code and meds and then list the plans best for your situation - both Supp and Advantage. If you travel a lot, you will want a Supp as an Advantage only covers you at home. You gets what you pays for.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. My Advantage plan costs me zero dollars

above and beyond my Medicare payment. What am I doing wrong?

[CrispyQ]

16. I am very happy with my Kaiser Advantage plan that costs me $0 per month.

However, there is a giant Kaiser medical center just down the road from me & an excellent Kaiser network in the Denver metro area.

I put the plan to an incredible test last year, & was on pins & needles to receive my 4-day hospital & emergency room bills, & I could not believe when it was all said & done my part was less than $2000. My monthly meds are $0 if I go through Kaiser pharmacy.

[QED]

22. I'll start using Medicare in July and will have Part G

Our employer works with an advisor and since I don't have big medical issues and want to travel, G seemed the best.

[trof]

26. And it will cost you more than Advantage.