[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

here's the website

Great info. Thanks.

[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.

[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 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).