The more complicated it is, the easier it is to cheat people. It's as simple as that. Where do you think the huge sums of money come from that pay for those enormous ad buys for advantage and other such plans (as well as lining the pockets of the GOP with "campaign contributions.)

It's driving me around the bend, honest.

I am several years aftee the sign-up. When I was approaching Medicare, I began looking into it and was absolutely floored as to the complexity of choices, as you've discovered. It eventually boiled down to A+B+supplement +D. Every year, I still need to spend a large amount of time going through the various part D plans (prescription) offered. It makes a huge difference as to what my wife and I will end up paying during the year for medicines. We boht have different part D plans because we take different maintenance meds, and that makes ALL the difference. And it changes every year.

As someone who retired from a high tech career, and who used higher math on a daily basis, I cannot even imagine how "ordinary" or "innumerate" people manage to get it right. Especially with the constant blaring of Jimmy Walker and Joe Namath to call now and get hooked up with a plan that not only has no premiums, but pays extra back into your SS check. Those may work if you're healthy now, but, will bankrupt you if your health begins to fail. And, as an extra added bonus, if you sign up for them as your initial selection going into Medicare, you may not be able to get back to the original structure of A+B+supplement+D.

good resource for information. I hate those for profit companies trying to sell their product. They tell you the good stuff and then you find out the bad part later.

It took the Council on Aging less than 5 min. To tell me the provider with the cheapest supplement plan.

All supplement providers must offer identical coverage in the same category.

I went with Plan F because it covers all copays & deductible for all covered services & you can (or could at the time 2 yrs ago) choose it when you first become eligible.

Plan G covers all the copays, but not the deductible.

Part D is a mess. I didn't sign up for one personally. But if you don't pick one when you turn 65, there is a 1% per month penalty for life for every month you wait to sign up. Carriers all have different pricing & different coverages.

The council on aging can plug in any meds you take & tell you in a matter of minutes very quickly which provider offers the best price & how much your out-of-pocket for meds will be.

I hope this is helpful.

I'm very lucky. Busted my butt in an auto factory for 30 years and retired at age 52. I owe it to my strong union. MY UAW Union got me a great BC/BS supplement policy for Medicare. Covers prescription and a big part of medical deductibles. They also have reps to help with any retirement questions.
I was also able to get a college degree for free while I was working.
I hang out at the Senior Center here in town, so I get to see what they offer.

Neither my wife nor I signed up for Part D when we turned 65 because my employment covers us with equivalent benefits. But that exemption ends when I retire next year, and I'll need to prepare for that transition to make sure I don't trigger the penalty.

I started studying Medicare requirements in early January, more than a year from my planned retirement date, and it was so overwhelming I just gave up. But I need to dive back in after I file my taxes, because it looks like it will take me months to really understand what I'm doing, much less decide upon a specific set of plans.

I've been dreading this for years, and so far Medicare has lived up to my worst fears.

and as far as I know, if you're in G (which I am), they won't cancel you, but nobody else can join. Why? Because the insurance companies don't make any $$ on them. Well, hardly any. Not nearly enough to satisfy their greed.

The newbie, coming to Medicare for the first time, may never even learn about the various supplement plans, because they will have been hijacked by the onslaught of TV adds pushing the Medicare "Advantage" plans.

Which is why the insurance companies push them so hard.

He has seminars on each of the supplements too. Check out his channel playlist. There's just so much information. The videos are long and detailed. Here's a sample...

Plan F is what I chose &, you are right, Plan G is the next best, covering all copays, but not the deductible.

The Council on Aging took less than 5 minutes to tell me the provider with the cheapest Plan F, which I knew I wanted.

Plan G coverage is the same as Plan F, but does not cover the deductible.

Part D is a confusing mess, but the Council on Aging can plug in your current meds & tell you which provider offers the best price & what your out-of-pocket will be.

I was amazed at the huge difference in prices for Plan F supplement! 😱 the most expensive was $260 per month, but the Farm Bureau was only $120 per month!

For the supplement, all carriers must offer identical coverage for each category. Not so with Plan D for drugs.

If you wait to sign up for Plan D, there is a 1% per month penalty that you will pay for life! I didn't choose one, personally. I use Kroger's discount program. $36 per year to join & generics are $12 for a 90 day supply. At least for the few meds I have used.

I hope this helps!

I will look into this.

... it's not that hard. Create your account on www.mymedicare.gov, go to the part d page, enter all your prescriptions, pick a few local pharmacies, and it will give you a list of insurers with cost of insurance, copay on drugs, total cost. Pick a "cheap" one, and you're done.

You have to do that every year. Some insurers have discontinued the plan I have in the current year, and automatically enroll me in a more expensive plan, even if they then invent a lower cost plan under a different name. So, just do the exercise every autumn to be sure.

Some people like their Part C (Advantage) plans. They cover more stuff, are cheaper. But, you're restricted to "in-network" rules that can bite you. I'm on Part B with Plan F supplemental. It costs a bit more, but no hassle.

I hope someday Part B will cover hearing/dental/vision.

I didn't realize there was a presumably secure way to choose Part D!

Dental, vision, & hearing care should absolutely be covered!

Choosing a supplement was easy once I understood that each level of coverage is legally required to be identical. (Something qpukes have not screwed up yet!)

Part D is a nightmare imo.

AARP could potentially be a source of info as well.

Pls let us know how this works for you!

You CAN wait to sign up for Part D and avoid the penalty if you have credible coverage from your employer.

Every year since I turned 65, my employer's HR department sends me a statement of credible coverage confirmation. I'll need to provide those letters to Medicare when I apply for benefits (probably early 2023).

Source: https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/part-d-late-enrollment-penalty/3-ways-to-avoid-the-part-d-late-enrollment-penalty

I had no point of reference for this experience.

But, without employer coverage, the ridiculous penalties do apply & they are for life!

even tho ppl are grateful for medicare, it can be such a nightmare.
and the constant pressure on the system from pols looking for ways to cut is how you get this byzantine bullshit.

m4a is a bad brand. ty bernie for muddying the waters when you could have said- fully fund and expand aca.

If you plan to delay Medicare coverage (as I have) past age 65, be very aware that you may need to sign up for Part D anyway to avoid life-long penalties later.

You are exempt from penalties, however, if you can provide documentation of credible coverage after age 65. If your employment benefits qualify as credible coverage, your HR department should provide you with that documentation. KEEP THOSE RECORDS and provide them to Medicare when you eventually apply for benefits.

(United Health Care) Medicare Advantage. I pay $26 a month, and get my prescriptions through a mail order pharmacy, 90 days prescriptions. I pay NOTHING for 8 of them, and the only one that costs me is the Symbicort, which is an inhaler and is $125 for 90 days. This plan covers diagnostic lab work in full, $0 co-pay for PCP, and $35 for specialists (I see a pulmonologist and cardiologist each once a year.)

There is a maximum out of pocket of about $4,000 a year. There is better coverage out there, however, not for $26 a month.

Good luck to you!

Thanks for the information -- my medical needs are very similar to yours. I also use the Symbicort inhaler and I regularly see both a pulmonologist and cardiologist.

I'll look into the plan you're using!

had a bc/bs supplemental when i 1st signed up. had had bc for decades and trusted them.
turn out they dont even administer that plan themselves.

because, well ... they're BIG and they're United Healthcare! I do a comparison every year as to costs and benefits, there is software available for that - I do it on the UHC website. This year they compared Humana, BC/BS, and I can't remember the other one, to my plan. Mine was much better.

As I said, there are better plans available, but certainly not for $26/month. The really good supplemental plans are as much as private insurance always was, and I couldn't afford it.

and sucked

insurance so I get that. I hear people all the time that claim they pay nothing no premiums and their insurance pays everything. I talked with a salesperson from Humana
she looked at my insurance and told me she couldn't come close to matching mine for the money. I pay some co-pays but $1000 a year is the maximum out if pocket per year.

It will probably be worse by then

Their supplement has been fantastic for us.

We went from an 'alphabet' plane (N) to an advantage plan and it will save us about $7,000 this year.
Dental and drug coverage in one package.