[handieman]

SO?? I retire and now call upon medicare to take care of medical needs. What are they going to take out of my SS check and what do I need to get to cruise along with my $15.00 co-pays, like nothing ever changed?? ALSO if supplementary insurance is required what is generally recognized in the TV area?

Handie :joke:

[carlent]

you might want to consider a Medicare Advantage Plan...fee for service....a new option for Medicare user's


Carlent

[Sidney Lanier]

We use a Plan F Medicare Supplement Plan administered by Mutual of Omaha that was an option. Monthly premium is about $67/month and so far has covered absolutely everything medical/surgical--copays, deductibles, and everything Medicare does not cover. Not sure if the Mutual plan is available in FL; we carry it from NY. Covers nothing toward prescription drugs; that's Plan D, which I've found to be a nightmare--an awful boondoggle created around 2002.

[Peazoup]

Hi Handie,
I am fortunate enough to have company retiree insurance (for which I pay at the group rate). If, as most, you don't have this, check out AARP Supplemental Insurance. You will have your choice of many options. AARP endorses United Healthcare Plan which is nationwide and very competitively priced. I know of several people who have this and are satisfied.
Hope this helps.

[efrahin]

I found United Health Care promoted by AARP to be good, but expensive, we have plan J and cost $267.50 a month each, not including the prescriptions which are $68.00 a month ad long as you get generics. There are other options, but the moment you choose them you run into copays, doctors who dont take it, etc. I dont know if there is any thing better in Florida, I am currently in NY and waiting to sell to move to TV

[JohnM]

This is a concern of ours as well and input from others would be appreciated...are the cost cited for a couple or single? Are they for a Medicare supplement or a full, pre-Medicare policy?

John

[Sidney Lanier]

The figure of $67/month I mentioned for our Mutual of Omaha is for a supplement plan for each of us, and that's at a group rate. Add to that the cost of Medicare which I believe is about $96/month each, give or take a dollar or two (can't remember exactly). Hope this helps....

[efrahin]

For each one and Medicare cost is additional, it gets deducted from your SS check.

[fraurauch]

We have AARP/United Health Care Plan J which costs $301.50 (the total for both of us), an additional $27.00 per month each for Plan D (the prescription coverage) and Medicare takes the $96.00 each out of our pension checks. So far the AARP has been taken by any doctor we have contacted. And we have paid nothing, no copays, nothing. Also, with the Plan D that we have with AARP, all but one of our prescriptions costs nothing. So far we have been very satisfied.

[chuckinca]

Why the two very different rates for the AARP Plan J???

Efrain: 267.50 x 2 plus 68 for drugs (times 2?) = $671 per month

Fraurauch: 301.50 for 2 plus 27 x 2 = $355.50



(turning 65 next year)

[fraurauch]

I don't know the answer to why the health care coverage is different. It could possibly be the plan within AARP that we each picked. Or possibly our ages. My husband will be 69 next month and I am 66. As far as the Plan D coverage, there are several plans to pick from within AARP as well.

[efrahin]

Most AARP plans cover the co-pays. The different with plan J is the amount of days in hospital (in case you need it). I dont recall the details but it is quite different. On the medications i think is the size of what they call "the donut", they pay up to certain amount a year and then you have to pay up to $4500.00 on a year basis, before they star coverage again. No matter how you look at it: They screw you one way or the other. It is a disgrace.