Medicare Store-- BUYER BEWARE
 

I went to the Medicare Store at LSL last week as I'm turning 65 soon. I wanted info on both the Medicare Advantage and Supplement Plans offered by United Health Care. What I got was a hard sales pitch for their advantage plan that was filled with misleading and at time totally false info. I was shocked by their sales tactics and misrepresentation. Here are some of the things the sales rep told me that I have since learned is simply not true: 1) "no one in the Villages ever meets their annual $4500 out of pocket maximum" (I must live in an unlucky neighborhood because 2 neighbors shared with me they met their $4500 and 3 paid over $2500 last year). 2) "the only people who buy a supplement are those who have it paid for by their employer as a part of a retiree benefit" (this is simply not true. I personally know of many people who have a supplement who pay for it themselves). 3) "A supplement plan and Part D plan will cost you $3500/yr". (fact: a F plan costs $2200/yr and a N plan will cost only $1800/yr. A part D plan start at $18/mo and the average premium people pay is $30-35/mo. This equals far less than the $3500/yr the rep quoted) 4) " a Part D plan with $O deductible will costs you $80/mo". (fact: Silver Script costs $26.40/mo for a $0 deductible plan). I'm so glad I went to see a SHINE counselor. They don't sell anything. They just gave me the facts about all the various plans/options and costs. If you go to a "Medicare Store" just remember they are sales people, just like those at your local car dealership. And like at a car dealership there are sales people who will say or do anything, including lie, to get that sale.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

They were just trying to help you. Advantage plan is best for 95% of people on medicare. I would worry if they tried to sell you a suplement

I prefer Medicare plus a supplement because I can choose my doctor anytime anywhere. I am not stuck with whatever doctor is in their plan. Remember half the doctors graduated in the bottom half of their medical school class. I do not want a foreign trained doctor either but one from a first class US school who was accepted based on how smart he or she was as evidenced by their college grades and testing.

Try SHINE - Home for better advice. They do not sell anything just explain medicare.

My brother-in-law's wife had problems finding a doctor in the network in her area and had to go 300 miles to a specialist. United Health Care cut out hundreds of doctors in its network in the recent years.

I chose the Supplemental Plan F when I turned 65. The premium payments are my total cost per year. So when I tripped in the garage fracturing my shoulder which required a total reverse shoulder replacement I paid nothing for a $65,000 procedure.

The supplement F plan is the ultimate insurance your yearly costs are fixed no matter what happens!

I think that's what she did, as stated in her post.

Good work, Barb! And I detect some of your humor in there too.:ho:

:agree:

That is the one I use. I have yet to be out of pocket for anything other than a couple of blood tests which I opted to have knowing they were not covered. This is a great plan.

I travel so Plan F was my choice also.

We had Villages advantage for 50 weeks, during that time my wife had multiple problems with specialists. The straw that broke the camels back was when her pacemaker needed replacement, and they could not get a specialist for almost 2 MONTHS. We were able to go back to a supplemental, get a specialist at Monroe Regional, and had the pacemaker replaced in less than a month.
As stated above IF you are in good health, advantage plans are great, if not..................

But, but, their name sounds so...paternalistically benevolent you just want to sit down with them and trust everything they say. You’re smart.


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I also have Plan F and would never do a Medicare Advantage Plan. Horror stories abound, get approvals for everything you need other than your primary provider. Not for me. I want the best doctor, not the one on "their" list

This is why you NEVER go to an insurance company to get advice on insurance. Those medicare stores are owned by United Healthcare. What insurance do you think they are going to promote and recommend....Aetna? It's like going to a Ford dealer to get their advice on a Chevy....

And, I would personally never buy anything with AARP associated with it. AARP takes a cut for everything sold with their name on it. And, they lobby for political views that are opposed to my own.

I do appreciate the comparisons of Advantage vs Type F. We are moving this spring to the Villages and I will be shopping for a new plan. I currently have an Advantage PPO with Florida Blue and have never had any of the issues others are complaining about in this thread.