[Dejola]

Myself and my wife are both covered by Medicare. In addition, as a retired New York State municipal employee we also have group health insurance provided by the so-called Empire Plan and administered by United Healthcare. This is partially subsidized by the town I was employed by before I retired. Even with the partial subsidy I pay $491.53 monthly in premiums.

Since Medicare is now our primary carrier and the Empire Plan is secondary it seems like I'm not getting the same "bang for my buck" that I got before we got on Medicare. This has caused me to look at alternatives to the Empire Plan.

TV ads are hawking all kinds of so-called medigap or supplementary insurance. Medicare Advantage plans are among those being advertised heavily. Such plans are being offered by all the insurance carriers, including United Healthcare, The Hartford, and on and on. AARP sponsors one of them. In fact United Healthcare, which administers The Empire Plan offers separate standalone (non-group) Medicare Advantage Plans. One may be called Medi-Blue, I believe.

I'm trying to decide if I should stay with the New York State Empire Plan or switch to one of the Medicare Advantage Plans, some of which require zero premiums (versus the $491.53 a month I'm now paying).

I understand there are some disadvantages to the Medicare Advantage Plans, including (but not necessarily limited to) the fact that with the Medicare Advantage Plans the carrier, not Medicare, becomes the primary carrier. You know longer deal with Medicare; the Medicare Advantage Plans require an HMO type coverage (with the Empire Plan I can go to whatever doctors I choose and do not need a referral); my doctors may not be in the HMO network; and finally, the so called prescription drug "donut" situation.

I'm wondering if there are any knowledgeable souls here who can advise me about these matters.

I sort of feel that while the New York State Empire Plan may be a very robust plan I may be paying too much for the fewer benefits we get since The Empire Plan is now our secondary health insurance carrier.

By switching to a zero premium Medicare Advantage Plan I could save almost $500 a month. But at what cost in coverage and benefits? That is the question.

All comments and advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.