[wendyquat]

We were able to attend two of the Medicare Part C Advantage Plans for 2012 today. One, United through AARP, is a PPO with no monthly premium but you still pay the entire Part B premium. The second, Preferred Care Partners, is a HMO with no monthly premium and they refund up to $75 per month of your Part B premium. The HMO plan offers very little co-pays but also confines you to staying in the network and your provider choices are somewhat limited. The PPO has some reasonable co-pays but the provider choices are more generous. I will have to do some more research but am leaning toward the PPO through AARP as we have had a Medicare Supplement (F) for a number of years and have been more than happy with the amounts paid and especially the service we have received.

If anyone currently has the Medicare Complete Plan through AARP I would love to have your input on how it has worked (or not worked) for you.

[LoriAnn]

The sole purpose of all Medicare replacement plans is to save Medicare money. That is accomplished by decreasing benefits to the Patient. They advertise services not offered by traditional Medicare to lure you. They never disclose all the benefit cuts compared to traditional Medicare. Keep in mind that everyone you are meeting with are sales people who stand to make money when you give up your traditional Medicare. Often they do not know every detail of the replacement policy in comparison to traditional Medicare. It is very complex. You always get more services with traditional Medicare. I have seen people choose replacement policies for gym memberships and covered medications that are generic inexpensive and generations removed. They never cover the most effective latest developed meds. In return the patient gets co-pays and/or deductables on hospitalizations, homecare, DME, and limited choices in providers. When a person on replacement policy needs a referral to a specialist they don't even get the best choices. The referral person can only pick from the list that accept that policy. Every provider accepts traditional Medicare, it's always the best choice.

[Avista]

Originally Posted by wendyquat

We were able to attend two of the Medicare Part C Advantage Plans for 2012 today. One, United through AARP, is a PPO with no monthly premium but you still pay the entire Part B premium. The second, Preferred Care Partners, is a HMO with no monthly premium and they refund up to $75 per month of your Part B premium. The HMO plan offers very little co-pays but also confines you to staying in the network and your provider choices are somewhat limited. The PPO has some reasonable co-pays but the provider choices are more generous. I will have to do some more research but am leaning toward the PPO through AARP as we have had a Medicare Supplement (F) for a number of years and have been more than happy with the amounts paid and especially the service we have received.

If anyone currently has the Medicare Complete Plan through AARP I would love to have your input on how it has worked (or not worked) for you.

We attended informational sessions for both plans also and are leaning toward Preferred Care Partners. It seemed to include so much more.

Primary doctors PCP zero and specialists $10
AARP primary docs $10 and specialists $40

Hospital Days 1-5 PCP. $50/ day
AARP. $320/ day

Urgent Care PCP zero
AARP. $30

Plus PCP give back $75/ month

Would consider AARP, but now am leaning toward Preferred Care Partners.

This year I have been on Original Medicare, but expect to save over $3000 baring needing a lot of medical care. Even then out of pocket max is $5000.

[GTTPF]

All of this confuses me. I am on medicare part A and B and I have AARP as my suplemental and I don't pay any co pays. My agent set it up that way. Maybe he put me in a more expensive plan? I have a different company for prescriptions.

[LoriAnn]

You said it perfectly Avista, the replacement policies are great and save you money if you don't get sick. They are designed to save the Medicare system money in a Patients sickest years. Timing is everything. If a critical illness or injury occurs close to the window that allows you to change back to traditional Medicare, you win. Otherwise, a patient can have thousands of dollars in co-pays and deductibles. The maximum out of pocket is deceiving too. The replacements still pay all vendors much less than traditional Medicare. That puts a very sick patient in the position of not having access to the best providers. I have seen people spend their life savings for treatments not covered by their replacement. GTTPF, you have a supplement not a replacement. It sounds like you have kept your traditional Medicare and are paying for a supplemental policy. That is a safe choice.

[aljetmet]

My wife is on medicare disability and is on the AARP plan in Memphis. Plan pays much better in Memphis lower cost for hospital stay than TV ( well if you stay less than 5 days) and $3450 for max out of pocket for medical compared to $4500 in TV. Her medicine is on the plan. Most other plans do not have both drugs she takes. So you need to check the plan for your drug. She's had a brain MRI and other prodedures this year (her 1st) and the total out of pocket for medical has been only around $500. Much lower than I expected.
Medicare just pays very low and you pay 20% of the medicare amount.
Finding docs are a challenge but would bet it would be easier in TV.
We're having BCBS come to the house Monday. We'll see what they have to say...

[Avista]

Originally Posted by LoriAnn

You said it perfectly Avista, the replacement policies are great and save you money if you don't get sick. They are designed to save the Medicare system money in a Patients sickest years. Timing is everything. If a critical illness or injury occurs close to the window that allows you to change back to traditional Medicare, you win. Otherwise, a patient can have thousands of dollars in co-pays and deductibles. The maximum out of pocket is deceiving too. The replacements still pay all vendors much less than traditional Medicare. That puts a very sick patient in the position of not having access to the best providers. I have seen people spend their life savings for treatments not covered by their replacement. GTTPF, you have a supplement not a replacement. It sounds like you have kept your traditional Medicare and are paying for a supplemental policy. That is a safe choice.

Yes, traditional Medicare with a supplement and RX drug coverage is certainly a safe choice. It is what I nave been on. However it is quite expensive for many of us on fixed incomes.

With Preferred Care Partners I could save $3416/ year. Double that and include my husband and it comes to a savings of $6832/ year. We plan to put that money aside should we ever need it.

Here's how I get my figures:
2011 Medicare Supplement per month $160
2011 RX Plan. $48
Then add the $75 returned to you my Preferred Care Partners
Multiply by 12

With Preferred Care Partners I will have a Board Certified Internist.

If you need a cardiologist, here are the Cardiologists they use:

www.citruscardiology.org. They look good to me and are in Sumter Landing

This is a great thread and I would enjoy other comments. I haven't signed up yet, but am close to it.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by wendyquat

We were able to attend two of the Medicare Part C Advantage Plans for 2012 today. One, United through AARP, is a PPO with no monthly premium but you still pay the entire Part B premium. The second, Preferred Care Partners, is a HMO with no monthly premium and they refund up to $75 per month of your Part B premium. The HMO plan offers very little co-pays but also confines you to staying in the network and your provider choices are somewhat limited. The PPO has some reasonable co-pays but the provider choices are more generous. I will have to do some more research but am leaning toward the PPO through AARP as we have had a Medicare Supplement (F) for a number of years and have been more than happy with the amounts paid and especially the service we have received.

If anyone currently has the Medicare Complete Plan through AARP I would love to have your input on how it has worked (or not worked) for you.

I am in CT but Medicare Complete tells me I can sign-up in FL when I get there.

I have been on the Medicare Complete program for the last two years. It has worked well for me as I haven't had a need for hospitalization and the plan covers a lot of routine procedures.

My understanding is this program is designed more for preventive maintenance issues as opposed to someone who needs to regularly see a physician for known and ongoing problems. They receive your payment from ones SS check for the part B, (payment varies for each individual, mine is $110/mo), and includes a drug prescription program. All the providers in this program were doctors that I was seeing before starting with this program.

Medicare Complete is one choice amongst many plans available and the other is traditional Medicare with part D and a supplemental program if one chooses to go that route.

So far, I have been in good health in not requiring hospitalization. The one thing that bothers me has to pay for the first five days of hospital stay and the out of pocket max seems to increase yearly. Everyone has to decide if the program they are joining suits their medical needs and will give you piece of mind. Every year is the option to change plans and must be reviewed.

I'm sure another poster can tell you where in TV that services are offered to people to obtain information about plans that might best suit your needs as I don't remember where and who it is.

I hope this helps.

[StarbuckSammy]

Excellent thread and very informative. We have some very sharp members.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by GTTPF

All of this confuses me. I am on medicare part A and B and I have AARP as my suplemental and I don't pay any co pays. My agent set it up that way. Maybe he put me in a more expensive plan? I have a different company for prescriptions.

It appears you are not on a Medicare Advantage plan but on traditional Medicare with a supplement which is what I have and there is no way ads and meetings are going to lure me into an advantage plan. Too many pitfalls for my liking..

LoriAnn's posts above (#2 and #8) say it best.

[Carla B]

I agree with LoriAnn and Downeaster. Insurance companies determining which providers to see equal rationed care, to my way of thinking. I like the idea that with a Medigap plan as opposed to an Advantage plan, I can choose any doctor that takes Medicare and that the supplemental plan will cover the balance.

[ajdeck]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

I am in CT but Medicare Complete tells me I can sign-up in FL when I get there.

I have been on the Medicare Complete program for the last two years. It has worked well for me as I haven't had a need for hospitalization and the plan covers a lot of routine procedures.

My understanding is this program is designed more for preventive maintenance issues as opposed to someone who needs to regularly see a physician for known and ongoing problems. They receive your payment from ones SS check for the part B, (payment varies for each individual, mine is $110/mo), and includes a drug prescription program. All the providers in this program were doctors that I was seeing before starting with this program.

Medicare Complete is one choice amongst many plans available and the other is traditional Medicare with part D and a supplemental program if one chooses to go that route.

So far, I have been in good health in not requiring hospitalization. The one thing that bothers me has to pay for the first five days of hospital stay and the out of pocket max seems to increase yearly. Everyone has to decide if the program they are joining suits their medical needs and will give you piece of mind. Every year is the option to change plans and must be reviewed.

I'm sure another poster can tell you where in TV that services are offered to people to obtain information about plans that might best suit your needs as I don't remember where and who it is.

I hope this helps.

The one thing that has kept us from moving to TV is the health insurance. I have cancer and have no idea of which is the best plan. After talking to a few people seems everyone is just as confused as I am.

Would be nice if one had one place to really get the whole story so you could make a real educated decison.
aj

[wendyquat]

Common sense tells me that Medicare with a AARP supplement and Part D (which is what we have) is the best situation but with the increases in premiums every year, I wonder how long it will remain affordable. Just looking at what the best option might be should we have to change to a less favorable plan.

Thanks for all the input.

[EdV]

Originally Posted by LoriAnn

The sole purpose of all Medicare replacement plans is to save Medicare money. That is accomplished by decreasing benefits to the Patient. They advertise services not offered by traditional Medicare to lure you. They never disclose all the benefit cuts compared to traditional Medicare. Keep in mind that everyone you are meeting with are sales people who stand to make money when you give up your traditional Medicare. Often they do not know every detail of the replacement policy in comparison to traditional Medicare. It is very complex. You always get more services with traditional Medicare. I have seen people choose replacement policies for gym memberships and covered medications that are generic inexpensive and generations removed. They never cover the most effective latest developed meds. In return the patient gets co-pays and/or deductables on hospitalizations, homecare, DME, and limited choices in providers. When a person on replacement policy needs a referral to a specialist they don't even get the best choices. The referral person can only pick from the list that accept that policy. Every provider accepts traditional Medicare, it's always the best choice.

While what you are saying here is true for Medicare Health Plans that are categorized as HMOs, it is not true for all Plans. Some plans like the AARP Choice plan mentioned are categorized as a PPO which allows you to use an out of network provider for an additional fee.

The best place to compare the various plans is right at the Medicare Website under the “Compare Drug and Health Care” menu option. Just follow the step by step guide and enter any medications you take. Be sure to select the option to save the medications list and jot down the serial number and password date that it provides you. After selecting the last step, it will give you a detailed list of each plan and an estimate of the annual out of pocket expense that you can expect to pay. You can even get adjusted figures if you have certain high cost ailments.

As for compensation to the insurance agent, they have a link to download a spreadsheet and view the agent's compensation for all the plans.

[LoriAnn]

PPO is generally a better option than HMO and PFFS. However they still have co-pay also known as co-insurance and deductibles that are not found in Traditional Medicare. All replacements including PPO, PFFS and HMO were specifically designed to spend less on services to the Patient. That is their sole purpose.