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

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
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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/
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https://www.democraticunderground.com/1261935
advice

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Read my post.

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.

Wellcare Advantage plan baby!!!

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

How bizarre is that?

We are on CostaRican healthcare now. No supplements

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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