Seriously, I'm really glad I posted this. Things are already starting to make more sense.

I've also got the print handbook that they send in the mail every year.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I've also got the print handbook that they send in the mail every year.

Thanks for the suggestion.

help is at hand.

Call SHIBA. They are an excellent service.

https://www.insurance.wa.gov › about-shiba-services

About SHIBA services | Washington state Office of the Insurance ...

Washington state's SHIBA provides free, unbiased and confidential help with Medicare to people of all ages and backgrounds. Our volunteer advisors, located around the state, can help you: Assess your health care coverage needs. Determine your general eligibility for health care coverage programs. Evaluate and compare Medicare plans and programs.

Last edited Sat Sep 23, 2023, 11:50 PM - Edit history (2)

I'm adding that to my list of things to look into.

Edited to add: Yes, we have something in Illinois called Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), "a free statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers."

I'm looking at their website right now, and it kooks really helpful!

But when he tried calling, they were like, "Uh, no, we don't do that." Weird!

direction. Fingers crossed!

Edit: I see below someone recs Medicare Marketplace, that is a good suggestion!

...of supplemental plan in Illinois.
As there was no meaningful difference in price amongst them we went with BCBS for everything, including part D.
We did go through a broker who did plan price comparisons for us and presented them.
The same company also set up an annuity with 40% of our retirement money, so it was one stop shopping for us.
There are LOCAL insurance firms willing to do this and it costs nothing. The insurers pay them a cut for drumming up business. Might greatly simplify things to just let an expert do the details & just make recommendations to you.

I did know about local brokers but hadn't investigated that yet for some reason. I think my brain was tied up in knots for a while there. These replies are helping to shake things loose, thank goodness!

And improvement, and instead successfully modified the system to steer people into for profit private advantage plans.

But really what we need is universal comprehensive healthcare for everyone.

I always think of the quite deaf widower without a computer struggling to navigate the System. I know my agent stops by these folks’ houses to help them. It shouldn’t have to be this way.

Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be somewhat computer savvy and have access to the internet. I don't know I'd ever survive without it.

I'll bet they welcome the confusion, because it probably makes it easier for them to sell their Medicare Advantage plans (which I understand are much more profitable for them). I would have probably gone that route myself, if not for some of the posts I've read about it here at DU.

on a piecemeal basis, fixing one thing, patching coverage holes, etc. They’ve never done a comprehensive overhead. Doubt they will anytime soon.

MediGap coverage is pretty much the same no matter what company you get, as long as you get the same plan designation. Plan G offers pretty much same coverage no matter what insurance company you use. Plan G also covers the most of deductibles and coinsurance. Therefore, go for cheapest.

Plan D is different. You can see what plans you want based upon medications you take now, or can reasonably expect to take in future.

If it were me, I’d call a few LOCAL insurance brokers who represent many insurance companies. Tell them upfront you don’t want Medicare Advantage. They’ll find options for several MediGap and drug plans.

While I agree MA has disadvantages, it’s all some people can afford. About 50% of Medicare beneficiaries choose it. I’d start out like you suggested on traditional Medicare and MediGap and drug plan. You’ll have more flexibility in most states in choosing coverage in future.

Good luck. Not an expert, just my opinion after 10 years.

I fully understand the appeal of Medicare Adantage for a lot of people, but I don’t want to lose the flexibility of "regular" Medicare.

So after 40 years, I’m on my own as they’re cutting off the retirees if we don’t want United Heathcare Advantage. So..since I’ve had Florida Blue forever, I’m working directly with an agent there. I called them and they gave me their billing information and I’ve spoken a couple of times with them now. If you don’t want to go to an agent/broker, call directly to the company you are going to go with work with them. It never used to be this complicated but I think the competition among the companies to get us Boomers is making it so. Best wishes

I am going to look into brokers as several people here have mentioned those.

Thanks for the input!

There are so many choices but I went directly to BC because of the scams and they’re even scarier!

The plan we've been on and are about to lose is BC. I thought about calling them, and still might. If they're scary, I'll just have to deal somehow.

Monday is the deadline I've given myself for taking some kind of action. Mr. B and I are both terrible procrastinators and have a tendency to put things off too long, if we let ourselves. I am not going to let that happen with this.

Im just staying with what I’ve had for all these years. I may have to change plans but BC has never given me a reason to change. Good luck and post how you’ve made out.

I will definitely post an update!

seminars to help you figure it all out, I think.

Look up and call Medicare Marketplace. They will do everything. They’ll find you the best supplemental plan in your area, the the best prescription plan based on the coverage of the meds you are taking.

They provide a service, no charge.

I’ve found them to be responsive and accurate in their information. It’s really a one-stop-shop

Good luck.

always had United Healthcare through AARP. They had an expensive plan though. My Mom has Medicare RX through them as well. It’s actually going to go down in price next year. They had pretty good luck with them. My husband and I have BC&BS federal plan through his retirement from PO. It’s kind of expensive, but I take some medications these other plans from other companies either won’t pay for or we would have to pay a lot of pocket that we couldn’t afford. BC&BS has been pretty good, especially since we have been on Medicare.

coverage at the same rate I was paying when I worked. Primarily because I can keep my wife as a plus one when she retires in April. I recently had a quadruple bypass, and so far, Medicare is covering 80% and my government plan is taking up the slack on the 20%. I keep getting EOBs that say zero owed for hospital stays, surgery and all manner of doctors who dropped by while I was in the hospital. I told my wife the other day to keep those coming. Since my government plan covers medicines, I think I'll be in good shape going forward.

We have free-to-me platinum Anthem-Blue Cross gap coverage and an OptimRX plan for prescriptions. We also have vision and dental plans, which we pay a little extra for. I'm not that happy with OptimRX, but that's what we've got and it keeps the pill bottles full. I have no complaints about Anthem-BC although I don't usually pay attention to who pays what, as long as it's not me. I get that this isn't your situation, just sharing what works for us. Good luck!

Do you have Insurance Navigators where you live? I cannot recommend talking to one highly enough. They know all the facts about all the plans out there so you don’t have to drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out. Plus, their service is free.

knows about your State,,,, we used one and it worked for us,,,,

This is also the first time Husband & I don't have the same insurance company,,,, it just worked out that way.

Good luck to you!!

but it was a broker who tricked me onto Medicare Advantage. He was *suppose* to be independent. Afterwards, finding out what he'd done, I'd swear he was bought and paid for by Aetna. After that, even pleading my case as to what happened and how, he made out like a bandit (no doubt) and I basically cut out of the Medigap program by cost... simply because I'd *already* been on Medicare Advantage. For like one day.

I say Medicare for All, and make it a thorough health program (NOT an insurance program) that covers not only your torso, but also your eyes and ears, and all the parts in between!

There are "bad players' everywhere. We were fortunate.

I agree with you on the Medicare for all and making it a Health Program that covers everything.

Good luck.

I will be super vigilant if we talk to any brokers. I know they're not all like thst, but it's good to be aware of the possible pitfalls.

Amen to Medicare for all, for everything! This piecemeal garbage is for the birds.

Several of my law partners are over 65 and this man has advised one of my partners. As a partner, I pay my own insurance and I am saving a great deal by being on Medicare. I have a schedule G supplement and a prescription plan with my coverage. I am paying about one-third of the amount that I was paying as a partner.

I have N now. I’m so thankful for Medicare and want to keep Original Medicare as I’ve worked too long to give it over to a private health company. When I was younger and looked over my pay stubb, I chimed in with the others about my money going to SS and Medicare and squawked about never gonna see it because I wasn’t gonna live that long! Omg…now, I wish if I had known I’d live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself. Ain’t life great?!

I am so glad I opted to pay the higher premium because you rarely have to worry about anything. I can't think of a scenario where you'd end up with a huge bill for medical care unless you had some terrible health problems that required extensive, lifelong assistance. I've never looked into those types of scenarios. I pay $192 a month for Plan G and am 74 years old. When I was 69 I vacillated between waiting until I was the magic number of 70 to change to Plan G, but instead I did it at 69 and boy, was I glad I did because my dry macular degeneration turned to wet in one eye and I needed monthly injections for one year. The cost would have been $2000 per injection. The retinal specialist's charges not included. I never paid a penny after I met my deductible which that year was about $138.

I take no meds, have no underlying conditions, have been fit and healthy my entire adult life, but you never know what can happen once you get older. I do know that very few get into their senior years without something. Just this summer I had major surgery for a rare type of tumor that is benign but still had to be removed. I've just now received all the bills and what I owe. All the charges added up to about $60,000 and I didn't pay a penny. It was all covered by Medicare (80%) and UHC picked up the rest.

I also have my Part D prescription plan with them and it's the lowest one they offer because I take no meds. I needed one antibiotic post surgery and that cost me about $9. I pay approximately $28 per month for the plan.

I can afford the higher premium for my Plan G and I understand there are a lot of people who that might be scary to fit into their budgets, but my experience shows that the higher premium is much easier to stomach if you think about the cost of any major health issue if and when that happens.

Also, I don't care what any of the celebrities say who hawk Advantage plans. Not for me. I need the security of knowing that any odd thing that may crop up in my health will be covered.

Pleased that you are healthy and at 74, that makes a good quality of life. I’m a couple of years older but I take thyroid meds but I’m fortunate to be otherwise healthy. I should exercise more, tho. I’m keeping my Original Medicare and staying with BC as I’ve been with them for many years. I have a phone consultation next week as enrollment is right around the corner. Best wishes for your continued good health 😊

I responded because you said you were considering switching from Plan N to Plan G. It's been a few years, but I believe Plan G was the top tier you could still get into (Plan F was phased out unless you were already in it and that was the top tier supplement plan prior to when it was phased out for new people).

I agree that it is complicated at first. It doesn't have to be. It's sort of like trying to decide how to invest retirement money. If you are risk averse as I am, you stick with uncomplicated and more security. You need those two things as you get older. My oldest sister is 83 and she has a saying that none of us is getting out of this world without some health issues that require medical care (outside of if you get hit by a bus crossing a street and kick the bucket - LOL).

Some people bad mouth it, but we have been very happy with it.
NO monthly premiums.
Zero co-pay for your family doctor.
$25 co-pay for each specialist visit.
Drug, dental, and vision coverage.
Walk-in clinic/urgent care covered.
$90 co-pay for ER visit.

No monthly premium has saved us thou$ands.

Once you opt for an Advantage plan, you can never go back to traditional supplemental.

Don't want to get painted into a corner we can't get out of,

If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare Part A & Part B.

https://www.google.com/search?q=can+I+go+from+Medicare+Advantage+back+to+a+standard+plan&gs_ivs=1#tts=0

I retired a few months ago, and got supplemental Medicare at a discount by bundling with my State Farm home & auto insurance policies. Even if I move on to another insurance company later, this was an easy way to get started.