Medicare supplemental insurance

[delima2000]

Help. My husband is turning 65 this year and we need to find a supplemental insurance. We are bring bombarded with all kinds of mail on this subject. What do you have? Do you like it? How to pick the best one? :pray::pray:

[jmvalcq]

If your husband is relatively healthy, he should check out Medicare Advantage/Complete. I know that there is a person who works for United Healoth Care wwho lies in the TV.

[Mudder]

Go to the Preferred care Partners office in LSL, their plan is excellent and doesn't cost you anything.

[delima2000]

I guess I should have posted where to go to get cost and kind of coverage is best for us. I would like to make a spread sheet with a few companies and compare. Is there someone we could talk to that deals with different companies and not pressure us to get theirs

[chuckinca]

I believe the main supplement is Plan F.

When I first got it I contacted three major insurers and got quotes that had identical coverage (plan F) and identical cost.

.

[delima2000]

Is plan f all I need along with a,b and d. What are advantage plans? So confused :confused:

[casita37]

Thre is an organization called SHINE. I'm sorry, I don't have any contact information, but perhaps you could just google it....anyway, they offer free consulting regarding medicare, supplemental policies, etc. They are not associated with any insurance company.

They held seminars in TV last year just before the deadline to add supplemental to your medicare. Maybe someone else has a contact number??

[delima2000]

I'll check with them. They meet at Chula Vista. Thanks.

[NotGolfer]

IF you go to The Villages Insurance office, they too can offer free advice on whatever insurance (supplemental) plan will work for you. That's what we did after we came down here. They have no "dibs" in the situation...it's just a service they offer.

Part D is where you get an insurance plan to go along with Medicare to cover your costs. Preferred Care Partners....is like an HMO where you have to go to doctors within the network. You pay no premium on it plus they pay you $75.00 each month and tier 3 medications have no co-pay. Hope this helps!

[aljetmet]

Is plan f all I need along with a,b and d. What are advantage plans? So confused :confused:

Advantage plans are generally zero cost and are HMOs.
Meaning you have Dr and hospital restrictions. You can check the DRs and hospitals on the plan before you enroll.

If you go to the hopital, you can pay $250/ day for say 7 days ( all plans are different)

If you have diagnostic testing you pay 20%. But don't sweat this because the 20% is based on what Medicare pays which is quite less than what was paid by your insurance company when you were working.

My wife has an advantage plan because she is on disabilty and she is under 65. She has almost all the key Docs she had under my group plan and as it turns out the same hospitals. She has AARP Advantage and if you go out of your local area this would be allowed.

Now if you need, there are Supplemental plans which can cost up to $400/ month. Gernerally most DRs and hospitals are on the plan, a stay in the hospital can be at low cost, rehab in a home could be low cost for up to 100 days and it pays the 20% medicare does not pay.

Lastly, regardless of plan there is good old medicare Part D. This is the drug plan and usually are included with Advantage plans but not so much on supplemental. (You have to get an individual part D plan)

If you have to take drugs, especially high cost ones, it does get very expensive...

This is very general because it's only Medicare 101!

Good luck!

[Avista]

Advantage plans are generally zero cost and are HMOs.
Meaning you have Dr and hospital restrictions. You can check the DRs and hospitals on the plan before you enroll.

If you go to the hopital, you can pay $250/ day for say 7 days ( all plans are different)

If you have diagnostic testing you pay 20%. But don't sweat this because the 20% is based on what Medicare pays which is quite less than what was paid by your insurance company when you were working.

My wife has an advantage plan because she is on disabilty and she is under 65. She has almost all the key Docs she had under my group plan and as it turns out the same hospitals. She has AARP Advantage and if you go out of your local area this would be allowed.

Now if you need, there are Supplemental plans which can cost up to $400/ month. Gernerally most DRs and hospitals are on the plan, a stay in the hospital can be at low cost, rehab in a home could be low cost for up to 100 days and it pays the 20% medicare does not pay.

Lastly, regardless of plan there is good old medicare Part D. This is the drug plan and usually are included with Advantage plans but not so much on supplemental. (You have to get an individual part D plan)

If you have to take drugs, especially high cost ones, it does get very expensive...

This is very general because it's only Medicare 101!

Good luck!
In addition, Medicare Advantage Plans usually include drug coverage. With a supplement, you must purchase an additional drug plan at about $40/month per person.

We originally had a supplement but changed to Preferred Care Partners. Easy to talk,to,them at their office near AAA in Sumter Landing.

My husband did a spread sheet to figure all of this out.

[jimbo2012]

I'm not at that age yet but my friend living in Tampa uses AARP, pays $115 for part N with $20 copays and the AARP preferred med plan for $40 total $155 a month.

I have BlueCross in NY it's only $700 a month :cus:

I can pay a mortgage with the difference!

[delima2000]

Thank you for all the info. We will check out shine and the villages insurance company. I'm really glad that we have talk of the villages. This has been a life saver. I always check out the posts to see if it pertains to us. Thank you.:a040:

[aljetmet]

Oh yes I forgot to mention the copays.

On Advantage for example my wife pays only $10 to her internist but $35 to all her specialists.

I was paying well over $600/month for my wife at my place of employment and that's why we opted to go to AARP Advantage.

[Avista]

Oh yes I forgot to mention the copays.

On Advantage for example my wife pays only $10 to her internist but $35 to all her specialists.

I was paying well over $600/month for my wife at my place of employment and that's why we opted to go to AARP Advantage.

With Preferred Care Partners, we pay zero co pay for intrnist and $10 copay for specialist.

[MLBellis]

I'm not at that age yet but my friend living in Tampa uses AARP, pays $115 for part N with $20 copays and the AARP preferred med plan for $40 total $155 a month.

I have BlueCross in NY it's only $700 a month :cus:

I can pay a mortgage with the difference!

I was quoted $275.75 a mo :(

[eweissenbach]

I was quoted $275.75 a mo :(

Probably a different plan. There are something like 8 to 10 different options for medicare supplements, with widely varying costs. We have AARP through United Healthcare and for Plan F we pay $342 per month for both wife and myslelf. So far we have paid 0 out of pocket in the year we have both been on it and we have each had numerous issues (not serious, but nagging) which have required several CT and PET scans and MRIs along with some minor surgery and treatments. Our out of pocket healthcare costs, including premiums, have gone down dramatically since we have been on medicare and supplement, AND we had very good employer paid health coverage through blue cross/blue shield prior to that.

[Avista]

I guess I should have posted where to go to get cost and kind of coverage is best for us. I would like to make a spread sheet with a few companies and compare. Is there someone we could talk to that deals with different companies and not pressure us to get theirs

Sounds like my husband. He did a spread sheet last Nov. We ended up with Preferred Care Partners and have been pleased with our choice.

[RichieB]

Sounds like my husband. He did a spread sheet last Nov. We ended up with Preferred Care Partners and have been pleased with our choice.

It's a VERY important decision in your life, and deserves your time and attention.

I just hit 64, and I've started to do the research for next year already.

I'm also tapping the knowledge and experience of a retired co-worker who is two years older, so I know a little bit about what to expect.

[pattybgood]

I suggest that you take a look online at Medicare.com

You enter your zip code and the site will list all the plans available to you in TV. There are Supplemental plans, prescription drug plans and Medicare advantage plans. I found it to an excellent resource.

I also attended an excellent class through the Lifelong Learning College that was put on by Preferred Care Partners. They did an excellent job in explaining all the "parts" of Medicare so that I had a better understanding of what I wanted to look for in a plan.

Good Luck as it is very confusing even when you understand how it all works.

[CaptJohn]

It's a VERY important decision in your life, and deserves your time and attention.

I just hit 64, and I've started to do the research for next year already.

I'm also tapping the knowledge and experience of a retired co-worker who is two years older, so I know a little bit about what to expect.

I'm in the same boat as you and doing the same thing. I'm not looking forward to the huge amount of junk mail my friend says in on the way in a couple of months! Too many choices. I appreciate this forum!

[RichieB]

I'm in the same boat as you and doing the same thing. I'm not looking forward to the huge amount of junk mail my friend says in on the way in a couple of months! Too many choices. I appreciate this forum!

me too !

[delima2000]

To capt John not only do you get a,lot of mail but we are getting calls from bankers life at least once a week. We tell them to take us off their list then someone else calls with a different number also with bankers life today marked the seventh call from bankers life but someone else making the call. From what I guess is the cold calls comes from different people but for the same company so they can get around the do not call list. Beware of bankers life and colonial penn. We keep telling them to take us off their list but the person making the call tells us that she will take us off her list but that won't mean our name will be taken off the other lists from bankers life. I'm making a spread sheet now and have narrowed it down to three plans. The best advice was to see Shine at Chula Vista club house and the villages insurance co.

[RichieB]

we're with you all the way on that one, delima.

that "do not call list" is a load of garbage, IMO

[aljetmet]

I found going to medicare.gov is the best way to find a plan.
Most people ready for medicare are relatively healthy and reviewing the cost of key elements is important. However until you have an illness you really don't know what drugs you need to take (and if your plan will provide them)and that's where all the costs lie. You pay through the nose for drugs on medicare.

The good news is that you can change your plan every year...

[RichieB]

Al, I feel that you are accurate in everything you have stated.

When my parents first became eligible for Medicare, they carried secondary insurance. They thought that they were reasonably healthy and it was a waste of their money.

Two weeks after my father's 70th birthday, he suffered a MAJOR stroke, and spent 18 days in the hospital. Weeks later, when the hospital bill came, my mother groaned and moaned about the 20 percent that had to be paid, and blamed me for talking her into dropping the sup insurance (I didn't, in fact did just the opposite).

How quickly your circumstances in life can turn !

[eweissenbach]

Al, I feel that you are accurate in everything you have stated.

When my parents first became eligible for Medicare, they carried secondary insurance. They thought that they were reasonably healthy and it was a waste of their money.

Two weeks after my father's 70th birthday, he suffered a MAJOR stroke, and spent 18 days in the hospital. Weeks later, when the hospital bill came, my mother groaned and moaned about the 20 percent that had to be paid, and blamed me for talking her into dropping the sup insurance (I didn't, in fact did just the opposite).

How quickly your circumstances in life can turn !

Insurance companies are the enemy -- until you have a big claim! Insurance is nothing more than spreading the risk across a large number of people plus the expenses of the company, plus a reasonable profit, minus the return on investment of reserves. Some companies do a better job of containing expenses, investing the reserves, and underwriting risk - thus some have lower premiums.

[jimbo2012]

Found this explanation > does it make sense I thought plan "F" was the most popular.


Why Medicare Supplemental Plan G Is Best Medigap Plan Value

January 20, 2012

Most senior citizens on Medicare often have difficulty choosing the Medicare Supplement Plan with the best value. We believe Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the best value when compared with any of the 10 Medicare Supplement Plans that are currently offered. When you are going on Medicare for the first time--often upon reaching the age of 65--you will quickly learn that you need to purchase Medicare Supplemental Insurance, and will find that it is often overwhelming trying to decide exactly which plan to go with.

One of the main reasons for confusion is because of the hard-to-understand verbiage that Medicare uses. Many Medicare terms sound the exact same, yet mean something completely different. When it comes down to comparing all 10 of the Medicare Supplemental Plans available on the market, you will likely feel confused on which one is best for you--for your individual needs.

We realize that it may initially seem very confusing to narrow down the plans, but it is quite simple in fact, and we will explain why. Although there are a total of 10 plans to choose from, over 95% of senior citizens that purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan today will either purchase a Plan F, Plan G, or Plan N. This is due to the strikingly similarities in coverage between these different plans. Medicare Supplement Plans are designed in a letter system ranging from Plan A -- Plan N, with Plans E, H, I, and J not being offered any longer. One might think that Plan A has the most basic coverage, and Plan N has the greatest level of coverage--this is not true in any form. The ranging of the different Medicare Supplement Plans has nothing to do with how much coverage the plan has. When you place the plans in order from which plan is least comprehensive to most comprehensive, the order would actually go like this (from least to most comprehensive): A, B, K, L, M, N, D, G, C, F.

When you actually compare the cost/benefit ratio on all plans, Medicare supplement plan g seems to make the sense--providing the best value for your money. Here is the reasoning. The only difference in coverage between the Plan F and the Plan G is that Plan F pays all gaps by Medicare at 100%, and the Plan G does as well although requires you to pay the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $140 in 2012. The Plan F premium will cost approximately $20-30 more per month on average which adds up to about $240 - $360 more per year in cost, although the only difference is that Plan F does not require that small $140 deductible. You are better off paying that deductible on your own and putting the $240 - $360 premium savings in your pocket.

When you compare the Medicare Supplemental Plan G with the Plan N, you will also realize a better value. Plan N requires you to pay that deductible (same price as Plan G), but in addition, Plan N also requires you to pay a $20 co-pay for doctor office visits as well as a $50 co-pay for emergency room visits. Co-pays can quickly add up to a significant sum of money if you have a problem and need to use the doctor often. The price with Plan N is also not much less than the Plan G, and often only costs $15 - $20 less per month, so that extra money is well worth the investment into the Plan G. Again, we recommend Plan G as being the best valued plan that is most cost-effective for most senior citizens today.

[rirlam]

Found this explanation > does it make sense I thought plan "F" was the most popular.


Why Medicare Supplemental Plan G Is Best Medigap Plan Value

January 20, 2012

Most senior citizens on Medicare often have difficulty choosing the Medicare Supplement Plan with the best value. We believe Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the best value when compared with any of the 10 Medicare Supplement Plans that are currently offered. When you are going on Medicare for the first time--often upon reaching the age of 65--you will quickly learn that you need to purchase Medicare Supplemental Insurance, and will find that it is often overwhelming trying to decide exactly which plan to go with.

One of the main reasons for confusion is because of the hard-to-understand verbiage that Medicare uses. Many Medicare terms sound the exact same, yet mean something completely different. When it comes down to comparing all 10 of the Medicare Supplemental Plans available on the market, you will likely feel confused on which one is best for you--for your individual needs.

We realize that it may initially seem very confusing to narrow down the plans, but it is quite simple in fact, and we will explain why. Although there are a total of 10 plans to choose from, over 95% of senior citizens that purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan today will either purchase a Plan F, Plan G, or Plan N. This is due to the strikingly similarities in coverage between these different plans. Medicare Supplement Plans are designed in a letter system ranging from Plan A -- Plan N, with Plans E, H, I, and J not being offered any longer. One might think that Plan A has the most basic coverage, and Plan N has the greatest level of coverage--this is not true in any form. The ranging of the different Medicare Supplement Plans has nothing to do with how much coverage the plan has. When you place the plans in order from which plan is least comprehensive to most comprehensive, the order would actually go like this (from least to most comprehensive): A, B, K, L, M, N, D, G, C, F.

When you actually compare the cost/benefit ratio on all plans, Medicare supplement plan g seems to make the sense--providing the best value for your money. Here is the reasoning. The only difference in coverage between the Plan F and the Plan G is that Plan F pays all gaps by Medicare at 100%, and the Plan G does as well although requires you to pay the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $140 in 2012. The Plan F premium will cost approximately $20-30 more per month on average which adds up to about $240 - $360 more per year in cost, although the only difference is that Plan F does not require that small $140 deductible. You are better off paying that deductible on your own and putting the $240 - $360 premium savings in your pocket.

When you compare the Medicare Supplemental Plan G with the Plan N, you will also realize a better value. Plan N requires you to pay that deductible (same price as Plan G), but in addition, Plan N also requires you to pay a $20 co-pay for doctor office visits as well as a $50 co-pay for emergency room visits. Co-pays can quickly add up to a significant sum of money if you have a problem and need to use the doctor often. The price with Plan N is also not much less than the Plan G, and often only costs $15 - $20 less per month, so that extra money is well worth the investment into the Plan G. Again, we recommend Plan G as being the best valued plan that is most cost-effective for most senior citizens today.

Jimbo, What is the source of this information?
Thanks

[jimbo2012]

here's the website (http://www.medicaresupplementsolutions.com/news/why-medicare-supplemental-plan-g-is-best-medigap-plan-value/)

[2BNTV]

here's the website (http://www.medicaresupplementsolutions.com/news/why-medicare-supplemental-plan-g-is-best-medigap-plan-value/)

Great info. Thanks. :bigbow:

[CaptJohn]

Thanks for the info and link Jimbo. At least it is a little better understanding!

[CaptJohn]

New question: It is my understanding that all company's Medicare supplemental insurance will not be valid in all states without paying a huge extra premium. Does anyone know this for sure? In other words, if you live in or spend a lot of time in 3 states, is there a company that includes them or is that another shopping problem? One company a friend has is only good in his state of residence and an ajoining state. Not good for snowbirds, snowflakes or sandbirds (me).

[Ragman]

United Healthcare (AARP) doesn't offer Plan G in the 32162 Zip code. Other companies may.

UH is nationwide for any doctor accepting Medicare and Plan F covers 80% of foreign travel as do other plans.

There is no cap on the 20% Medicare does not cover. That can be a disaster with a serious illness.

If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan carefully examine the choices available, especially hospitals. Large cities have lots of good choices, but around here they can be limited. As long as your healthy anything works, but serious illness can strike fast.

:wave:

[getdul981]

I have seen signs in some Drs. offices that they do not take Preferred Partners and I'm sure there are others. It might be good to check with the Dr. you go to and see if there is a plan that they do not accept.

[NotGolfer]

With PCP...you have to have a card with your primary doctor's name on it. You can't just walk in any PCP doc's office and expect to be seen w/o that. You always see your primary first...then get a referral to someone else within the system. We have Preferred Care Physicians (PCP) and it's worked well for us. Before that I had Secure Horizens....I could see "any" doctor I wanted, whether in The Villages, out of The Villages and out of state. BUT had to pay a premium and also a co-pay on my medications. You should speak with any independent insurance agent to get your information from them rather than on a social media web-site, however.

[dstege]

Delima2000,

I am an independent insurance agent (offering several companies) for Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage, and Part D Prescription drug plans here in The Villages. I am 66 and know how you feel with all the different options! Of all the companies that I represent, when I turned 65, I chose Preferred Care Partners, and I was extremely satisfied. ButI had to change this month to an AARP Med Supp plan because I have to go to UofF/Shands for some treatments that no one here in The Villages does. (Shands/Mayo Clinic, etc. don't accept Medicare Advantage plans.) I hope to go back to Preferred Care Partners in the next Annual Enrollment period.

You mentioned you wanted to do a spreadsheet. The first place I would go to is the Medicare.gov (http://www.medicare.gov) site. You can put in your informaton and select two different catagories: Medigap plans (i.e. Plans A-N) and it will show you all the companies that offer plans in your county, and their costs. (A quick summary for your spreadsheet!). You'll find AARP and Blue Cross are the most competitive. If you select a Med Supp, you'll also want to select a Part D drug plan.
You can do the same process for Medicare Advantage Plans in our area. They are a little harder to compare apples to apples! Most of them are $0 premium. Some plans are PPO, and some are HMO with networks of doctors and hospitals. Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drugs.

SHINE is a very good organization. They tend to put emphasis on Med Supps because they offer total flexiibiltiy, but if your doctors, and The Villages Hospital (beside the other local hospitals) are in a Medicare Advantage network, then they will provide very good coverage for less money.

Two comments people made above are incorrect. The Tier 3 drug costs at Preferred Care Partners is $55. I think they meant the Tier 1 (generics) and $0 cost. The Villages Insurance office offers free advice, but they are compensated by the insurance companies when someone signs up at their office!

I hope this helps a little

[jimbo2012]

As an agent do you have any thoughts on the earlier post relating to F vs G

[dstege]

Plan F is the most comprehensive, and most popular because it covers every benefit. I am authorized to offer AARP and they don't offer Plan G, but the only difference is Plan G does not cover the yearly Part B doctor deductible (which is $140 in 2012). If a company offers Plan G and it is $140 a year less than the Plan F then it would make sense. If more than $140 difference then Plan F is the best! (The Part B deductible changes every year).