[Caymus]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

OP, very sorry this happened to you, and this is one (of many) reasons that we choose to stay with Medicare and supplemental plan. We were on advantage plan for a short period when Villages Health decided to stop grandfathering of supplemental plans. We had some problems and were able to get back to supplemental WITHOUT the underwriting requirement. We will never go back to an advantage plan.

I am still a year away, but I have a side question. Can supplement plans be changed annually without underwriting? I know that underwriting is not required initially when reaching age 65.

PS I spent my first 22 years in Allentown

Thanks

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by noslices1

I have had advantage plans since I turned 65, 14 years ago and have had several surgeries, lots of different medications and appointments with specialists and have paid hardly anything but a small co-pay ($20-35), and no more than a couple hundred for any of the surgeries Advantage plans work very well from my experience.

Medicare Advantage Plans are great if you want to save money, at the expense of your health.

If your health is your priority and not your wallet, Medicare Supplemental Insurance has much better coverage.

It's always been that way, always will be. Save money or save your life ... you get to choose.

[rsmurano]

You do know the advantage plans are terrible don’t you? The supplement plans like ‘g’ ‘n’ and others, these are the Cadillac plans for very little money with no copays, $200 deductibles, and I can go to any dr in the country that supports Medicare. My insurance broker told me to never go to an advantage plan and i never will

[jimmy D]

The question was. Why don’t the Dr call and tell you this. Why is the question and only the Dr have an answer not anyone else. Everything after us naught.

[Larchap49]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

An advantage plan is Medicare Part C. It replaces and covers most things that Part B (doctor visits and surgery) and Part D (drugs) cover. Part A is hospitalization.

Wrong wrong. Medicare part c is a supplement from an insurance company ie humana, blue cross etc. It is identified as part E, F, G, M, etc. An Advantage
Plan is total aftermarket coverage from an insurance co. GOVERNMENT Medicare is off the table with an advantage plan. Lower premium with advantage but high deductible and co- pays.

[dougawhite]

Originally Posted by Larchap49

Wrong wrong. Medicare part c is a supplement from an insurance company ie humana, blue cross etc. It is identified as part E, F, G, M, etc. An Advantage
Plan is total aftermarket coverage from an insurance co. GOVERNMENT Medicare is off the table with an advantage plan. Lower premium with advantage but high deductible and co- pays.

Plan C is often mistaken with Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, but the two are very different. Plan C is supplemental insurance for people who have Original Medicare. Medicare Part C is a private health insurance alternative to Original Medicare.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Larchap49

Wrong wrong. Medicare part c is a supplement from an insurance company ie humana, blue cross etc. It is identified as part E, F, G, M, etc. An Advantage
Plan is total aftermarket coverage from an insurance co. GOVERNMENT Medicare is off the table with an advantage plan. Lower premium with advantage but high deductible and co- pays.

Not correct. A Medicare Advantage plan is Medicare Part C. Medicare Supplement plans are an additional plan sold to people who have Medicare Part B. A supplement plan will cover most of the 20 percent co-insurance that Part B doesn't cover. Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) are totally different from a Medicare supplement plan, which is also called Medigap.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by dougawhite

Plan C is often mistaken with Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, but the two are very different. Plan C is supplemental insurance for people who have Original Medicare. Medicare Part C is a private health insurance alternative to Original Medicare.

Correct. Thank you.

[kendi]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Typically, it would be the insurance company who dropped the doctor from their plan. I can understand them not notifying you because they would have no way to know if you had an appointment with that doctor. I think the doctor should have notified you, but a 60 day notice seems unrealistic. They do confirm appointments, but that is usually a few days before the appointment.

The insurance company knows who their doctor is and should notify the person whether they currently have an appointment or not.

[Priebehouse]

Your "broker" makes more money off the traditional supplements. After 30 years in the business, I know that MA Plans are not for everybody, so you have to do YOUR RESEARCH and select a plan that best covers you based on your conditions and your finances. Be aware that these plans can change dramatically every year. Docs and hospitals join and leave insurance plans for a number of reasons annually, but they are obliged to send letters once they change their status. Best of luck to you, OP.

[Singerlady]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

You do know the advantage plans are terrible don’t you? The supplement plans like ‘g’ ‘n’ and others, these are the Cadillac plans for very little money with no copays, $200 deductibles, and I can go to any dr in the country that supports Medicare. My insurance broker told me to never go to an advantage plan and i never will

I’ve had a Medicare Advantage plan for years. My State employee pension offers it and only it. It has a low deductible and out of pocket. Since many of us moved out of state, they negotiate the terms quite favorably for us! And, my husband is also on it and the drug costs are unbelievable. My husband’s portion of his old supplemental plan cost more for just him than we’re paying together!
They’re NOT ALL BAD!

[Rosie1950]

Last time the Village Health Care dumped insurance, ALL patients got a letter from VHC. Wether u had that insurance or not. It was an FYI letter. If it didn’t pertain to u then no worries.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Caymus

I am still a year away, but I have a side question. Can supplement plans be changed annually without underwriting? I know that underwriting is not required initially when reaching age 65.

PS I spent my first 22 years in Allentown

Thanks

Short answer, yes, long answer, contact SHINE, SHINE - Home they have meetings in the villages and provide unbiased information. We have AARP United health care supplemental policies and have had no reason to change. We do tend to change the drug coverage which is a real pain but these change their formularies yearly.
I will send you a PM also.

[Luggage]

Many doctors charge if you miss an appointment. You should send him a bill

[craigrmorrison]

Originally Posted by jswirs

Just recently my PCP cancelled my appointments because it was decided that patients with my particular Medicare Advantage Plan are no longer being accepted, unless I pay "out of pocket" cost. (For personal and financial reasons I decided not to pay "out of pocket"). This information was not given to me until I called the office one week before my appointment.
I understand a doctor's decision to do this, however, I was not informed by my insurance people, Medicare, or my doctor's office. If I did not happen to call the office I would have shown up for an appointment that no longer existed.
I know I am not the only person this has happened to, so, my question is: "Why can't the doctor's office inform patients when the decision is made to drop those patients who have a particular insurance plan?"
I was told that the responsibility to do this falls on the insurance company. But the insurance company may have tens of thousands of people on their books, leaving the possibility of overlooking someone.
The way I see it, if a doctor can confirm every appointment by texting, why couldn't a simple "FYI" text be sent to patients when their appointments are cancelled because of an insurance decision? (There are some states that require a doctor's office to inform patients with a 60 day notice before any existing appointments are cancelled.)
I know there are a few MD's, as well as insurance folks, on this forum, and I thank them and anyone else who may reply.

Yes, it is a shame considering that provider probably had a contract with your insurance company when you renewed your Medicare Advantage plan. Whether they had an obligation to do this or not, the insurance company has a record of your PCP and your agent. There could have been a proactive notice sent to you and the agent. Thank goodness that you checked before you faced an embarrassing moment at check out. Remember to change your PCP of record, when the new one is located, with your insurance company.