Pharma, and use Good RX for best prices.

Total cost for each of us, including parts A and B, about 270 each month

taken off the top of your SS check each month.

140 for part B, 100 for supplemental, 5 for part d.

So, actually 245 monthly

That is, Part B premium, drug plan and supplement plan? If you do go with an Advantage plan, pick at least a four star plan and pay close attention to the maximum out of pocket you will pay. There is no free lunch with insurance - low premiums mean high maximum out of pocket. If you are healthy then that’s not a huge issue. If you already have high medical expenses then Original Medicare may be cheaper, even if the premiums are higher.

such as a senior center for counseling and advice. There are so many options out there to choose from that I know it can be frightening and after all you are talking about your precious health. I took the route I am recommending to you and was referred to a social worker at no cost who was able to help me make my decision. I ultimately opted for conventional Medicare coupled with a Medicare supplement plan.

With a supplemental plan with Regency Blue Cross. And a drug plan with United.

If you choose an Advantage plan, it's cheaper now, but may not cover as much as you age. Plus it's difficult to switch to Medicare if you're not happy.

A lot of factors are involved - affordability, network (HMO) or anyone (PPO) and Medigap. Also you general health or family health is a consideration.

One of the most important factors also is "guaranteed underwriting" - in other words at the time of initial signup you are guaranteed acceptance - that might not be the case afterwords (especially if you have underlying conditions).

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/types-of-medicare-plans/

but there are also a lot of limitations and exclusions and problems if your provider is out of network that aren't a problem with original Medicare.

We have Never had to pay a penny out of pocket for the last 10 years for doctor and hospital stays. I get a discount on my drugs using singlecare. They are about a third of the drug plan coat and I take some expensive drugs.

I have to pay a $255 deductible out of pocket every year, but after that, I never see another bill, and I was hospitalized twice last year.

While there seems to be a lot of negatives about Supplemental insurance plans. I've had wellness appts annually, plus MRIs and outpatient surgery with follow-up anti-virals. I haven't had to pay anything out-of-pocket for any treatments in the past 3 years,

Has to offer there’s several. Try and stay away from advantage plans.

1. Traditional Medicare (NOT Medicare Advantage)
2. AARP Medigap policy
3. Silver Script for prescriptions

I have Medicare Advantage with Kaiser Permanente

I've been hearing bad things about Medicare Advantage, but I have had zero problems, and some shockingly LOW pharma costs

My Lisinopril is free

My albuterol is $10 per monthly unit

I haven't been hospitalized since I came aboard, but I dont pay any extra premium... Only the SSI contribution ($170 per mo?)

I was really shocked when the first bills came in ... All zeros

And since I also have a CalPers retirement, both my wife and I get the $170 refunded back to us.
I pay an occasional $10 copay but everything else seems to be covered. I mean, I haven't been charged with anything yet.

as you weigh your options is that if you start off with a Medicare Advantage plan and then decide later that you want to switch to Original Medicare you will be able to, but the supplemental insurance folks will no longer have to accept you. At that point you can be possibly be denied supplemental coverage depending on your medical history. Just a word of caution. Good luck and best wishes.

You have given me a lot of info to examine and investigate. Again, I am thankful for the wonderful people on DU.

Our union was pushing a Medicare advantage plan that seemed to be simple and easy to understand.
That was 14 years ago, if I knew then what I know now I would never have signed up for Medicare Advantage.
I think the Union was paid to push Medicare Advantage. You have to stay in network or you pay 20%, the same
as having just plain Medicare with no insurance and they deny payment whenever they feel like it.

Is the only way to go. More and more Advantage plans are being reported for misleading participants. Plan to spend more, but a serious illness can wipe a person out. Its worth it.

We have an Anthem supplemental policy that's free to me, along with vision and dental coverage. The dental insurance is the only one I have any complaints about, but that's not unusual-- most dental insurance sucks. Still, it pays a portion and it's free.

But Medicare: my wife was hospitalized for two months, had several surgeries, and has half a dozen specialists on speed dial, I've been to the ER twice, and excepting the Delta Dental shortfall, and some very minor prescription co-pays, care has not cost us one dime since Medicare kicked in.

I'm very proud of some of our signature American social programs, but Medicare is near the top of the list.