Health Insurance Question

[brostholder]

My wife and I are FINALLY just about ready to make the move to our CYV in The Villages. Since I am 62 and my wife 61, we will have to buy health insurance until medicare kicks in. I am a Vietnam vet and can probably get my basic health care needs taken care of through the VA. Is anyone in the same situation and does anyone have any recommendations for purchasing health care? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[ladydoc]

My wife and I are FINALLY just about ready to make the move to our CYV in The Villages. Since I am 62 and my wife 61, we will have to buy health insurance until medicare kicks in. I am a Vietnam vet and can probably get my basic health care needs taken care of through the VA. Is anyone in the same situation and does anyone have any recommendations for purchasing health care? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Wow...buying individual health care is usually VERY expensive and you can pretty much forget about it if their are any pre existing conditions. You might want to consider catastrophic care only with a high deductible if your wife is in good health. State Farm might still write this kind of policy...I am not sure.

We are new to Florida so don't have a lot of answers for this state. You could try contacting the state health insurance regulator in Florida. Some states have pools and they have to take you.

You can also try the big HMOs and see if they are accepting new clients.

Good luck!

[buggyone]

VA healthcare is not free except for service-connected disablities. Under the VA system, your health insurance company will be billed by the VA. If you do not have health insurance, you are responsible for paying for VA healthcare except for items that are service connected. This is in the VA feature called Medical Cost Care Recovery.

Contact the VA eligibility desk directly (in person is best) with your DD-214 and they will tell you exactly what you are covered for and what pricing you can expect for non service connected problems.

[ladydoc]

VA healthcare is not free except for service-connected disablities. Under the VA system, your health insurance company will be billed by the VA. If you do not have health insurance, you are responsible for paying for VA healthcare except for items that are service connected. This is in the VA feature called Medical Cost Care Recovery.

Contact the VA eligibility desk directly (in person is best) with your DD-214 and they will tell you exactly what you are covered for and what pricing you can expect for non service connected problems.

It is free for everything if you are retired military, I believe.

[LvmyPug2]

You may also want to check out the local Federal Qualified Health Center for very affordable, high quality care care and medications. They employ licensed and board certified physicians and dentist and the care is excellent. This is not a "free clinic" but I have found their fees are much lower and the quality of care higher than most clinics. Here is a link to an FQHC that has a clinic in Leesburg. http://chcfl.org/services/medical/

[batman911]

Military retirees pay an annual fee for Tricare Prime up until age 65 when you are forced to transfer to Medicare as your primary coverage. Then you pay the monthly Medicare fee plus the Tricare annual fee if your spouse is under age 65.

[DENNIS G]

Try Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida. They advertise some
low cost plans. BC/BS is accepted all over the area.

I have had BC/BS shield for over 10 years and never any problems with doctors or specialist.

[trichard]

Blue Cross and State Farm offer policies with a high deductible which are usually reasonably priced. Coverage with lower deductibles are sometimes available. But you either pay now through high premiums with a low deductible or a low premium with a high deductible. With a high deductible you have a chance of some savings each year. Most insurance companies will require you to exhaust your Cobra rights before they will offer you a policy. Also, to avoid a pre-existing condition coverage issue you will need to present a certificate of credible coverage to prove that you had group health insurance coverage within the past 60 days.

[Luv2travel]

No insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Premiums out of sight.
Who cares, your on your own. So says the Tea Party.
Obamacare may be your only answer.
This is where the real problems in the healthcare crisis hit the pavement.
Good luck on finding insurance at an affordable price.

[GOJODO]

Good luck on finding health insurance it was the most difficult part of our move.
Ladydoc and lovetotravel are correct. Get ready to have insurance agents hang up on you, even the independent insurance agents at LSL are of no help. I suggest that you contact you health carrier and tell them you are interested in moving to florida, do not say you have moved or they will cancel you immediately. Ask if they have a conversion plan. Be sure to follow all the instructions to the letter at every turn there is a problem that I encountered.
These are just a few of the many problems I encountered!
From current carrier one customer service person, ... no we can't fax anything
to you, (I was told that by 3 different people) until I reached a supervisor and she said "of course we can fax the letter to you"
*your insurance expires 3/31 so on 4/1 you have to call during office hours to request another form*
* fl insurance, call on 3/1 between business hours to request form from us, if you can only have one day to request form fill out and fax back.
*prepare to be on the phone and don't trust anyone you talk with*
*please mail form with your attached check for 2,800.00 to the accounting department*
*with that done, the check was cashed the form was trashed*
more phone calls, had to fill out another form and fax, get on phone confirm that they received forms.
get names of all parties involved, keep accurate records of conversation, make copies of all forms, follow up on all calls emails and faxes get names of parties involved and document you conversation do not miss a step otherwise it is over.
Now I have insurance for about $1,000/mo.
Good luck

[Number 6]

Assuming that you are currently covered by a group policy, the first question is, can you be covered by COBRA? That would give you 18 months of coverage at your current group's rate. Secondly, you should receive a Certificate of Credible Coverage from your current carrier. That will take care of the pre existing condition problem should you purchase an individual policy. As others have pointed out, first dollar coverage is the most expensive. Look at high deductible plans, maybe with an HSA for the tax benefit.

[John_W]

We were in a similar situation. I'm 61 and previously in Maryland I had insurance with Carefirst but it kept going up every year and I kept raising my deductible. Since the rates were up to $250 a month and I had served 3 years in the Army I applied to the VA last December in Maryland. Within 3 days I was notified I was accepted. I didn't have a disability or was retired but was accepted under low income. My wife is a little older and had Medicare plus Medigap with Carefirst.

We closed on our villa in TV on July 5th and I went down the following week to the new VA Clinic in TV and requested my care be transferred here. I had orientation two weeks ago and my first doctor visit was last Monday and my doctor has already scheduled me for a stress EKG next month since I had a stent in 2007. So if you haven't moved yet, apply to the VA where you live.

My wife switched to United Health, which is the plan offered by AARP, we went to Villages Insurance and she applied there. The medical agent is located at the Lake Sumter branch, so apply there and not at Spanish Springs. Here coverage is the same as she had in Maryland with Carefirst but minus the dental. She pays $171 a month for her Medigap and it comes right out of checking.

[Panderson1954]

I'm 57 and I had no problem finding health insurance. I chose United Health Care and I have been very happy with it. Not every medical facility contracts with them, but you will still find enough that do. I have found it to be less expensive than BCBS - who wanted to do a pre-existing for me. I ended up with a 1000 deductible and 35 $ copay and no pre-existing.

Good Luck. Tough to be under 65 here.

[brostholder]

I would like to thank everyone for their very helpful replies. I have found some reasonable plans at a website called www.ehealthinsurance.com but have not yet applied. I guess all plans will look good until I find out if they will accept us and our pre-existing conditions (really....how many of us get to be in their 60's without pre-existing conditions). Thanks again to all for the helpful info.

[mayBavillager]

I am presently with the VA healthcare system. I have been covered by the VA since 1984. Iam a Vietnam Era Veteran. I served during a war and I am covered under the VA. I only pay a co- pay for prescriptions and a $15.00 co-pay for office visits. I dont pay any premiums or for any tests, procedures or anything else. Iam now 64 and will continue to use VA until I am eligible for medicare, and then I will use both. I suggest you contact the nearest VA facility for information. Being a Vietnam Vet I dont see you having a problem getting coverage.
As far as your wife is concerned, once you get to Florida you should call insurance co. in the area. I understand health insurance in Florida is more affordable and easier to get than in any other state. You can also look on the internet for companys.

[aljetmet]

We were in a similar situation. I'm 61 and previously in Maryland I had insurance with Carefirst but it kept going up every year and I kept raising my deductible. Since the rates were up to $250 a month and I had served 3 years in the Army I applied to the VA last December in Maryland. Within 3 days I was notified I was accepted. I didn't have a disability or was retired but was accepted under low income. My wife is a little older and had Medicare plus Medigap with Carefirst.

We closed on our villa in TV on July 5th and I went down the following week to the new VA Clinic in TV and requested my care be transferred here. I had orientation two weeks ago and my first doctor visit was last Monday and my doctor has already scheduled me for a stress EKG next month since I had a stent in 2007. So if you haven't moved yet, apply to the VA where you live.

My wife switched to United Health, which is the plan offered by AARP, we went to Villages Insurance and she applied there. The medical agent is located at the Lake Sumter branch, so apply there and not at Spanish Springs. Here coverage is the same as she had in Maryland with Carefirst but minus the dental. She pays $171 a month for her Medigap and it comes right out of checking.

My wife is on Medicare and she is on AARP with United Healthcare and pays $0 per month. She's on Medicare because of disability. Check available plans at AARPMEDICARECOMPLETE.COM Where we live in TN it's slightly a better deal than in TV. However, two plans are offered for TV residents one with part D the other without. But both plans have $0 cost.

I also have pre-existing so my plan is to work to 63.5 then cobra to 65 then Medicare. As long I apply to medicare before I'm 65 I should be in..

Sixteen months and 14 days and counting!

[Posh 08]

My wife is on Medicare and she is on AARP with United Healthcare and pays $0 per month. She's on Medicare because of disability. Check available plans at AARPMEDICARECOMPLETE.COM Where we live in TN it's slightly a better deal than in TV. However, two plans are offered for TV residents one with part D the other without. But both plans have $0 cost.

I also have pre-existing so my plan is to work to 63.5 then cobra to 65 then Medicare. As long I apply to medicare before I'm 65 I should be in..

Sixteen months and 14 days and counting!

Have things changed on cobra? I thought cobra was very expensive. :shrug: your plan has my attention.

[momesu]

Since COBRA has come up here may I ask a question? You all are so knowledgeable. I am in the process of going through a divorce and understand from my soon to be ex that I am eligible to have health insurance under COBRA for 3 years. Does this mean I stay in his companies health plan and just pick up the employer paid portion on my policy. That it will be the same policy I currently have as his spouse or does it just mean I get the same rate and need to go out and find a new policy. Currently I am covered by United Healthcare. Also since we have dental, vision and healthcare do you know if COBRA covers carrying all three or just basic healthcare? I am not getting these answers from spouse. I know I should probably call UHC but at the moment with frantic packing I don't have time to spend several days in a phone cue......
Suzanne

[aljetmet]

Have things changed on cobra? I thought cobra was very expensive. :shrug: your plan has my attention.

Cobra is definitely expensive. For me it will run probably $7,500 per year plus co pays and deductible for hospital stays. But, I get two cat scans a year and it pays 100% Small cost to retire 18 months early!!

I am a cancer survivor and who knows if and when it comes back.

[aljetmet]

Since COBRA has come up here may I ask a question? You all are so knowledgeable. I am in the process of going through a divorce and understand from my soon to be ex that I am eligible to have health insurance under COBRA for 3 years. Does this mean I stay in his companies health plan and just pick up the employer paid portion on my policy. That it will be the same policy I currently have as his spouse or does it just mean I get the same rate and need to go out and find a new policy. Currently I am covered by United Healthcare. Also since we have dental, vision and healthcare do you know if COBRA covers carrying all three or just basic healthcare? I am not getting these answers from spouse. I know I should probably call UHC but at the moment with frantic packing I don't have time to spend several days in a phone cue......
Suzanne

I would simply call human resources of the company he works for. If that does not work, get your attorney involved. You should not have to have questions about healthcare!

Cobra you pay 100% of what the company pays for the insurance. So it could be quite expensive. If I could go on for 36 months, I might be in TV now!! Now my health plan includes vision but we have a separate plan for dental. I'll have to ask what happens with dental coverage when I go on cobra. I'll find out. I know how hectic it could be but health care and its cost is a very high priority for us. Good luck Suzanne!

[Posh 08]

Cobra is definitely expensive. For me it will run probably $7,500 per year plus co pays and deductible for hospital stays. But, I get two cat scans a year and it pays 100% Small cost to retire 18 months early!!

I am a cancer survivor and who knows if and when it comes back.

Rutro, sorry about your medical situation. Cobra won't work for me. My brother retired to Florida last Fall and picked up a policy with BCBS. I'm looking in that direction.

[Ohiogirl]

talk to more than 1 HR person if you can, and ask for something in writing. When my company closed its offices and those of us who chose not to transfer talked to HR people (and some of that was outsourced in my co), we got conflicting and different info.

I was lucky in that I got to choose my Cobra coverage because my co. was changing all of their healthcare policies for the next year, and we were going out at the end of the year. I chose the least expensive, high deductible policy.

In Cobra, you pay 100% of the cost of the coverage, plus an administrative fee (3% I think). No more employer subsidy. If you have dental/vision, you still have it under Cobra (and you pay for it accordingly). Many companies nowadays have several choices/levels of coverage and most have annual enrollment periods coming up. If you think you'll be on Cobra sometime next year, now is the time to choose carefully if your annual enrollment period is approaching. 18 mos of coverage when terminating employment or 3 years if divorcing and you are going to end up on your spouse's healthcare thru Cobra. But have a plan.

You might be better off if you qualify for a not-too expensive private policy rather than go on Cobra. My fear was that I would develop something while on Cobra that would keep me from getting a reasonably priced policy in 18 mos, but I was also among the group that qualified for the 15 month federal subsidy which swayed me to go on the Cobra policy. It was a risk I decided to take and it worked out for me, but it mightn't have.

Retiree coverage from many companies nowadays is often more expensive than a private policy, but admittedly usually better coverage or at least with a lower annual deductible or policy caps. If you have a ways to go before Medicare please start researching this stuff. Talk to a good agent, ask for copies of any policies you're considering, make notes and ask questions. There is no stupid question - you will really educate yourself. Confirm what you think you understand it to be and if the agent doesn't seem knowledgeable, switch agents.