[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by CrazyTiki

This is a timely and important discussion, especially since I just hit the big 6-5 this month and dove headfirst into the Medicare jungle (no machete required, but a good cardiologist helps). One of my closest friends—who also happens to be my cardiologist—was a lifesaver in helping me figure out which coverage made the most sense.

He told me he no longer accepts certain Medicare Advantage plans because, in his words, “they’re more interested in saving pennies than saving patients.” He’s had to fight tooth and nail just to get approval for basic tests. Based on his advice, I also met with a Senior Health Advisor—because when it comes to Medicare, Google just doesn’t cut it.

After chatting with both the advisor and my cardiologist (and surviving the paperwork avalanche), I decided traditional Medicare, a supplemental (Medigap) plan, and a separate drug plan was the way to go. It’s not the cheapest combo, but it felt like the safest bet for my health and sanity.

In my humble opinion, if you’re on a very tight budget, I totally get the appeal of an Advantage plan, those zero-dollar premiums can look mighty tempting. But if you’ve got a little financial breathing room, traditional Medicare with a supplemental and drug plan might just be the Cadillac of coverage. And hey, at our age, we’ve earned a smooth ride.

Recently went through all that as well, and came up with the exact same conclusion.