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Originally Posted by cordenny
I am shopping for health insurance for next year. We currently have BCBS basic through the postal service. We have been happy with it, but the premiums are increasing for next year.
We were thinking of getting a Medicare advantage plan. I was wondering if anyone has these and are they happy with them.
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Assuming you are old enough for Medicare - I would say you must get a Medicare Advantage Plan as they cover all the stuff that Medicare covers AND many other things such as dental, vision, and hearing that Medicare does not cover or they cover better. There are several tools that can help you get this comparison.
In TV, be sure to pick a plan that is accepted - I know that United Healthcare and BCBS Advantage plans are widely accepted. Additionally, there are frequent seminars given to help people with the decision - The Villages Health is one that provides frequent ones and The Villages Insurance is another resource.
When I turned 65, I was confused by all the options for Medicare Advantage. I am an AARP member and would like to believe they have the best interests of us seniors. They recommended United Health care so that is what I went with. UHC has a "Village Plan" that has really worked well for my wife and I this past 6+ years. And there is NO PREMIUM (and that's true for most Medicare Advantage Plans). UHC is also widely accepted across the country which is helpful if you travel and especially if you are not a full time resident here - i.e. they have preferred providers in most states.
Be aware that once you pick an Advantage plan, you can easily change once a year in November/December timeframe to another plan. Also, you and spouse do not have to be on the same plan. It's not like the family plans that we were all used to under private insurance. Each person "stands alone" as far as deductibles and co-pays goes.
There are Medicare supplement plans too but most, if not all, of these have premiums. I mention this type of plan so you don't leave this out of your research. I think these plans are a better option if a person has health issues or chronic conditions. But again, one person can be on a supplement plan and the other on an advantage plan.
Research is key and there are resources to help. I would stay away from the ads on television that offer to help find a plan for free as they are paid based on the policies they write and may not have the best interest of the person in mind. Suggest starting with United Healthcare website to get a feel for a plan. Florida Blue is also a good one.