Comparing Medicare Insurance Plans
 

Does anybody know of a service of some sort that will compare a couple of Medicare health plans?

I will of course be looking at the plans I'm comparing through each company's websites. But that can be a bit daunting and difficult. The benefits and cost are displayed is much different ways on each site. I would gladly pay a reasonable fee to have a knowledgeable 3rd party compare the two.

Thanks for any input you may have. :)

SHINE - Home

You can get help here.

We have had success with UNITED HEALTHCARE The Villages Plan. It is a very fair plan. Perfect, no. My stay with an operation in The Villages Hospital cost up $225 a day for the room and a couple of bucks more for incidentals. I/We are very pleased with our coverage. Just like any plan you have to follow the rules. There is always someone who can help you at UHC headquarters! My wife has Florida Blue so I have a point of reference and UHC is infinitely more easy to deal with so far.

Either plan that you choose, from my experience be aware that the Villages Hospital treatment and care for me was exceptional. Also be aware that the care in the VILLAGES EMERGENCY ROOM is probably better at any local Veterinary Hospital. To be kind I would point out as a friendly neighborly reminder that they suck no matter which coverage you have. The only reason I didn’t lawyer up was because of my loyalty to my primary doctor and the possibility that he/she might be pulled into the case. I wouldn’t hurt him/ her for any amount of $$$ money $$$.

One would have hoped the Village Hospital ER would have improved after UF acquired them but apparently not.

we have them too. i'm pleased, my spinal sx was very well covered: a 150.00co-pay, & $500 on completion. my dr was excellent & covered by the plan.

SHINE is an amazing resource! It's dedicated staff/volunteers are so knowledgeable. If you have to wait to see a counselor, it is well worth the wait. Each of these people I have spoken with over the course of the last several years have been a wealth of information and helped me make a good decision.

I agree with above comments on SHINE, the other item you need to consider very carefully is traditional Medicare (aka insurance) versus Medicare Advantage pans (managed care). Villages health accepts only a very limited number of ADVANTAGE plans, while traditional supplemental plans allow you to go to any doctor and any specialist. SHINE will help in this area.

Thanks for the great replies. I will definitely be checking out Shine.

Just for clarification…I not really looking at all the available plans anymore. I have it whittled down to two, both Advantage plans. What I’m asking for is a service that would compare in detail just those two plans.

I would start with Shine

Be sure you understand what you get and WHAT YOU DO NOT GET, and also the limitations on going back to original Medicare, we had Advantage plans for a while, found them the be way too restrictive, went back to medicare and never looked back.

My experience was very different with shine. I had list of physicians and what insurance they accepted.

My person was brand new, and I left without any information on my questions, of cost, out of pocket, which plan would be best. Maybe they can’t give recommendations on different advantage or medigap plans.

So I am confused as to how shine helps navigates Medicare

Go back again. The rep we spoke to was very informative on what our options were.

The original way that I made my decision was to listen to villagetinker many moons ago. He has single handedly gotten my out of many jams over the years just by following his post. I'm very grateful to you villagetinker for so much guidance over the years. Always trying to pay it forward. Maybe not always.Most of the time. :loco:

Not so.
Medicare Advantage can be managed (HMO) or not (PPO) where you can go anywhere including The Villages Health.

go to see a SHINE ( serving health insurance needs of the elderly) representative. They are Medicare specialists, not insurance people. They meet at various rec centers around the Villages...different days and times. Check them out, the service is free. just walk in, no appointment necessary

Boomer Benefits

Against my better judgment I went to the Villages hospital for an emergency recently.NEVER AGAIN.

I have a good friend who sells Medicare Advantage Plans. He would be happy to compare the two with you. PM me if you would like his info.

Medicare
 

SHINE is great, but in reading this thread no one seems to have mentioned the obvious - there’s a great free plan comparison tool on the Medicare website. When I was a SHINE volunteer I used this tool to give plan comparisons to people. Most paid agents use this same tool.

We had a very good experience with our SHINE consultation for first time Medicare plan sign ups. I particularly liked that their consultants are not biased by financial incentive unlike many other sources of Medicare related information. Also, the scope of SHINE consultations has limits and one still needs to collect some information from other sources.

The SHINE program, sponsored by the FL Dept of Elder Affairs, and is a non profit. They do not sell anything-- just help you find a plan that suits your needs and preferences. They've been around for many many years. They meet throughout the Villages: SHINE - Sumter

Best way to go is SHINE. Free to Floridians and they don’t represent any insurance companies. Will give you the information you need to make the best decision for yourself.

Comparing Medicare Insurance Plans
 

Call the Villages Healthcare at the Brownwood location. They have reps there, on-site, who can explain everything to you about the United Healthcare and Florida Blue Medicare Advantage Plans. You can schedule an appointment to go in and talk with them.

We also did that but they will only tell you about those two plans. Lots of others out there.

Good thing about it is we walked away with nice beach towel and umbrella.:wave:

Advantage
 

We have UHC AARP Medicare Advantage PPO - NOT "The Villages." The Villages Health system DOES accept it but, since it's NOT an HMO where we can go ONLY to TVH, we can go wherever we want.

I have the same policy as you and am a snowbird. Works very well for me on the entire east coast of the good old USA. You are wasting your time with Mr jack of all trades. He posts the same misinformation every time this subject is posted. Also you can always go back to basic Medicare part a and b. The rub maybe you can be refused a supplemental or have to pay a much higher premium for it (the supplemental) if you would have got it day 1 rather than upon return.

I was told SHINE gears you to traditional Medicare. The villages Medicare Advantage UHC has been excellent for me , even when I traveled out of state. I have been looking into the BC Medicare advantage plan. More hospitals are included

Fl shine !
 

FL SHINE is probably the only source of unbiased information! Take some of their classes and then meet with them for 1:1 guidance. Always better to do this BEFORE you make a mistake.

Shine will not steer you to traditional medicare but will explain all of your options.

Better to meet with a shine rep than take advise from someone who does not know the options.

comparing insurance, medicare
 

True Wealth, a private person that will compare all insurance's for you. Mark

Call Pat Beduch. 352-348-7019. She is an agent for most of the plans. She will come to your house and explain all of the plans. She has helped many of the Villagers.

Call Yvonne Tepsick with Tepsick Insurance, 202-439-2530 (direct) or 352-350-6663 (office). Doesn't cost you anything and she can help you decide which Medicare plan is best for you (supplement or advantage). She's an independent agent. She was wonderful in helping both of us out on choosing plans. Really knows her stuff. She is located off 466 east of Rolling Acres.

It was announced a short while ago Medicare premiums will drop from $170.10 in 2022 to $164.90 in 2023.

It was announced a short while ago Medicare premiums will drop from $170.10 in 2022 to $164.90 in 2023.

How does one get rid of duplicate post?

Note that Medicare premiums are based on income. In 2023, they will range from $164.90 to $560.50 per month.

You cannot delete a post. Most people will edit the post by deleting everything and then adding "///".

Do not know of a company that does this. I chose Florida Blue due to the fact that I have an agent I can talk to(in person). This is a huge plus in this world where most companies have call centers. Most of the plans have the same doctors and prices are all competitive