AARP Insurance?
 

Have my house in TV and am wanting to retire (quit) work. I am 54 and don't have enough years in the schools here to retire. I am researching and considering AARP health insurance. Checked and the hospital does accept it. I have a pre-exisitng condition that they will not cover for one year. AARP did tell me that I can use it as secondary insurance while I am still employed this year to get my one year waiting out of the way. Does anyone else have AARP and have they had any issues with it and doctors and the hospital? Anyone else have any ideas? Thanks!

Becky

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Good question as I too will have to provide my own health insurance, I look forward to seeing what experience and rates we might find out there for AARP or any other insurance..

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Becky Golfnut, Try looking at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida www.bcbsfl.com They have several different plans for Florida residents.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

I understand that if you continue on COBRA until retirement that no insurance company can refuse you if you have a preexisting condition. It's something in the COBRA law that mandates it. I'm not too sure on the details but it may be worth it to look into if you're working and on a company policy and you want to retire before 65. Picking up COBRA may be the way to go to protect yourself if you have a precondition.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

If you move from COBRA to a group plan, i.e. with an employer, you are covered for pre-existing conditions. If you move from COBRA to an individual plan, you are not covered for a year. That's what Blue Cross told us when we made the transition. As far as AARP, we have it as a medigap policy and the coverage between Medicare and AARP has been very good.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Did you go with Blue Cross, roughly what is the monthly premium?

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Talked to AARP. Was told I can buy the cheapest ins now with $5000 ded for $191 in Florida. Then after I get my waiting year in I can change and go to a lower ded and higher premium. Cobra is only for 18 months. Also with Cobra, I would have to pay the whole premium. Need to check to see what premium the school, where I work pays. I can't retire until I am 60 with the schools. Don't want to wait that long. My BIL is a pharmacist and says AARP is excellent ins. AARP was very helpful and sent all kinds of info. Very easy to talk to on the phone. Little more research and I think I will go with AARP.

Bama, BCBS won't cover me. But thanks!

Becky

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Golfnut, Go to the website for Blue Cross and you can input info and it will quote you a premium. The times I have done it my premium was 265 to 300.00 with a 1500 to 2000 deductable. They have several different plans. Bama

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Check out their Blue Options plan. That's what I bought.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Thanks, I'll check the website.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Speaking of AARP insurance... I have moved to TV approx 6 months ago from the state of Washington. I am on Medicare due to disability (not age, as I am 60 years old). Much to my shock and chagrin I am continually hearing that there is only one insurance provider authorized in Florida to offer Medicare Supplement (Medigap) to persons under 65! I forget the name of the company but I believe it is United Healthcare. I was so excited when I heard there was even one carrier. However, after meeting with their representative, I quickly learned that Multiple Sclerosis ( my primary disability) is an exempt group to whom they will not offer a policy. Other diagnoses include Parkinson's, etc. I am becoming increasingly angry; and what a group to discriminate against! But then I think that possibly I'm incorrect and there is something out there for me and others like me. Thank you all for reading this, and I do hope someone out there has some helpful information.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

When you can afford insurance are relatively young and don't really need it YOU CAN GET IT EASILY. When you get older and need it the most and can't afford to pay a small fortune YOU CAN'T GET IT. The government just does not get it. ::)

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

I have appreciated all this insurance discussion!

We are going through a lot of RIF's in my company. I have been there 19 years, want to retire by 55 (if I don't get RIF'd first) and I am investigating insurance possibilities, too.

I get a lot of information from AARP. The plan is through United HealthCare, which is my current PPO with my employer. I am considering getting it as a supplimental insurance. I guess I figure the sooner I get it (at a younger age) the easier it will be financially. I'm healthy as a horse *knocking on head*, other than smoking *sigh*, which I am working on mentally and hoping to quit soon. Stupid habit **as I puff away**.

I'm also going to check out the BCBS site. I have had BCBS in the past and was fairly happy.

BAMA-- you are SO right on about the government "just not getting it!" So frustrating...

Thanks to all for all the great input!

Rebekah

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

rebekah - I'm in a similar situation .... would like to retire (curently 55)...Health care is the big unknown right now... I can go Cobra out of my companies group coverage via BCBS for 18 months.. dont smoke but most plans consider me 'slightly heavier than I should be'... (to each there own!!).... I had a friend and ex-employee that retired at age 55 (spot on)... and moved to Winnifred TV... she researched heath coverage also and ended up with the right plan.. if you want I could look up what 'agent' she hooked up with in LadyLake and email you offline? ....I believe it was via BCBS...

(ripwho) Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Hi ripwho ... thank you for your response!

Don't make it a priority, but any info you give would be greatly appreciated. I too, should be able to use COBRA, but that may depend on if I would get RIF'd. I may still get to use it, but would still have to wait until 55.

First time I ever wished I were a couple years older! *LOL* And I was so disappointed in February of this year when I thought I was 53 and I was only 52! LOL How bad is that?! *sigh & a chuckle*

It will all work out. I'm an optimist.

Thanks again for your input/help!

Rebekah

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

rebekah - sent you a 'private message' re BXBS nedical...

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Ok eujaynia, what is RIF?

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

In the military RIF stood for Reduction In Force :(

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

In the corporate world, RIF also means reduction in force, or loosely stated, you're fired.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

JJ & DickY are right on! A nice way to tell us where I work ... your job is going to India at less than a quarter of we pay you! Bye bye, now... have a good life...

Since I have volunteered to be RIF'd if someone in our unit must 'get it' ... I hope to get the severance package of 2wks for every year worked. That would equal 38 weeks. Better to get out now, while they are still offering these packages. Rumor is (which all rumors I have heard have been proven truth) no more as of Jan 1 2008.

Also--it would get me off my butt and make me do what I'd like to do but am just scared sh**less to do, because I like my comfort zone--even if it isn't what I truly want/need. :o

It will all work out how it's suppose to. That I'm sure of ... :bigthumbsup:

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

I believe you're doing the right thing, if that's what your company is doing, get while the gettin' is good and move on.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

When you are under 65 AARP insurance stinks. I handled all my mother's insurance issues in the many years sh lived with us and she barely collected $200 in claims from them. Once she turned 65 the plan was better but it is not written for anyone under 65 and without MEDICARE. You would be better off to check with Blue Cross/Blue Shield or one of the major insurance companies that sell health coverage to individuals. You might have better luck.

Is there any possibility of you taking your COBRA health coverage continuation while you look for a job here that provides health benefits?

I am fortunate. I retired at 58 but had enough years with my employer that I was able to continue my group plan, paying the full rate each month. I pay $300 a month for myself and husband. When I turn 65 it will become a MEDICARE supplement for me but Joe will remain on the current plan until he turns 65.

Some people work for the Villages because they have health coverage for many of the positions. You could also check with the Villages Charter Schools to see if they have any positions in which you might be interested.

Good luck!!!!!

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Fran, Thanks for your prespective. I will be checking into it more. Also am planning on checking out the schools around when I come down. Cobra is a possibilty except the premiums would be $1017 a month! :edit: BCBS will not cover me due to pre-existing. Did the hospitals where your Mother was accept AARP? What was the problem with them not paying? Don't mean to get "nosy" here- just trying to get all the info I can! If you would like, PM me. Thanks so much!

Becky

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

The issue with AARP coverage is that, like MEDICARE it is really not that great unless you are IN a hospital. I really don't know any hospital that specifically denies acceptance of AARP. The big problem is that you have little or no prescription coverage if you are under 65 and not on MEDICARE. Your best bet would be to hit the job market and find something with insurance coverage. I know COBRA is espensive but with a pre-existing condition, you should try to keep it at least for a few months or until you get a job with coverage.

Many people down here work only because of health coverage, sad but true. Even the gal who sold us our home was working as a sales rep only until her 65th birthday when she would get MEDICARE because she and her husband had no other coverage.

Try to do a search for individual health plans on google. You might luck out and find something but I really believe that you need to do the COBRA thing for a while.

Best regards and much good luck to you.

Re: AARP Insurance?
 

Fran, Thanks! Will do more research! Good to know your input!

Becky

Problems with AARP
 

We presently have a serious problem with AARP Prescription plan. My wife has the plan and has been getting the drugs at Walmart. You know how the plan is supposed to work. For the first Approx $2500, they pay a portion of the drugs and you pay the Copay, After that you go into the doughnut hole where you pay it all until your out of pocket costs hit $4000+. You are then supposed to be in catistrophic care where they pay almost all of the costs. My wife who is on multiple drugs seemed to be in the doughnut hole forever. In Nov AARP said she still had $700 to go to get out. Her November order was in excess of this amount. But AARP said Walmart only showed 1 drug received in Nov. In further investigations Walmart said they entered her drugs under 2 codes per AARP instructions, But AARP only recognized the one code. For over 3 mo. AARP has refused to recognize these legitimate costs. They get a different rep on the phone each time and never resolve anything. They have promised to call back but never do. I am considering legal action.Everyone with AARP should check to see that all their medicines are recognized, I am also contacting Medicare re their fraud conditions. Please let me know if you have similar problems with AARP. Tom F