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• any advice on picking a medicare supplemental insurance policy and drug coverage
• Posted: 2008-01-13 19:45:36 By mary o
• Hi everyone! I haven't posted on here for awhile but I read this everyday. I will be eligible for medicare in March of this year due to drawing disability for my rp. I would like to know what companies, policies, benefits, drug coverage, etc. people have chosen. Or did you stay on your present insurance coverage and take the medicare. I'm on my husband's insurance now but it is quite expensive. I've also heard that if I turn down the medicare now, it will be more expensive later. Does anyone have any advice on this matter? Thanks in advance!

• Re: any advice on picking a medicare supplemental insurance policy and drug coverage
• Posted: 2008-01-13 22:59:12 By Darran Z
• Mary,
  
  Just to clarify a point here. You are covered by your hubby's insurance, therefore, if you turn down medicare now, you WILL NOT be charged the penalty. That is the exception to the rule. The penalty fee applies to those who do not currently have coverage and turn it down and then later want to sign up for it. So you are in the clear on this. Read the FAQs at Medicare.gov and read upon "Special Enrollment".
  
  Also, the FAQs state that if you already have a private coverage through a spouse, then Medicare benefits will be extremely limited. I don't know how true that is. However, if your monthly out of pocket medical expenses are higher than what it would cost you to pay for Medicare premiums, then it might be worth it (you'd be saving a few bucks and having less out of pocket expenses) otherwise, you are paying more and getting less.
  
  Darran

• Re: Re: any advice on picking a medicare supplemental insurance policy and drug coverage
• Posted: 2008-01-14 09:25:04 By mary o
• Thanks Darran! I had a Blue Cross Blue Shield agent tell me just the opposite. I've been trying to educate myself but man, it's confusing! Here's my situation in a nutshell...our health ins. premiums now are around $450/mos. (just for me). I have a $1,500 deductible, $20 office co-pays, and great drug coverage. Is there anyone out there, that's on Medicare (Part A and Part B) and has a medicare supplemental plan or medicare advantage plan, that does better than that? If so, what's the name of the company. I can't even imagine how elderly people sort through all of this mess!
  mary o.

• Re: Re: Re: any advice on picking a medicare supplemental insurance policy and drug coverage
• Posted: 2008-01-14 09:34:19 By Darran Z
• Have you considered trying to find a Social WOrker who is a Certified Benefits Specialist? You may want to start with the Worker at the agency that services the blind. They should know where to direct your path. That's how I understood it to be was talking with a Benefits Specialist.
  
  But yes, it is quite confusing at best! From what I gather, Medicare is not as good as private coverage. Since Part A (hospital stay) you won't pay a premium on this. Only on the other parts (B,C and D). When you buy Medigap (or Medicare Advantage) you pay the regular monthly premium of Medicare plus your Medigap coverage. So depending how you havei t set up you are still likely to pay atleast $150/month. While that is lower in monthly premiums, you still have quite a bit of out of pocket expenses because I don't think you have copays on Medicare. You would have co-ins pays, deductables and that sort. Since most visits to any doctor is paid 80% you pay the rest. Finding out what is and what is not covered, then that is the biggest issue. That is why talking to a Benefits Specialist is important.
  
  Darran

• Re: any advice on picking a medicare supplemental insurance policy and drug coverage
• Posted: 2008-01-19 21:15:43 By CHRIS B
• MARY, I JUST WENT THROUGH THE MEDICARE SIGN UP PROCESS. I FOUND THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE IS TO TAKE THE MEDICARE AND ADD A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN AND A PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN. i PAY ABOUT $300.00 A MONTH FOR ALL THREE COVERAGES. mY SUPPLEMENT PLAN PAYS FOR EVERYTHING MEDICARE DOESN'T PAY. tHE TOUGH PART IS THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE, THEY ONLY COVER UP TO $2510 IN PRESCRIPTIONS A YEAR AND THEN YOU PAY 100% OF THE COST UNTIL YOU PAY $4000 OUT OF POCKET, THEN THE PLAN STARTS UP AGAIN AND THEY PAY NEARLY ALL THE COSTS. $2510 A YEAR IN PRESCRIPTIONS IS BASED ON THE RETAIL COSTS OF YOUR MEDICINE, SO IT ISN'T TOO HARD TO REACH THAT LIMIT.
  
  i WENT WITH BCBS PLAN F, IT COSTS ME ABOUT $158 A MONTH AND COVERS MY MEDICARE DEDUCTIBLE ON PART A AND ALL CO-PAYS ON PART B. IT IS SET UP AS A PPO. MANY OF THE PLANS ARE CALLED "FEE FOR SERVICE" PLANS. THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO FIND A DOCTOR THAT WILL EXCEPT YOUR INSURANCE. THAT CAN BE A PAIN IN THE BUTT AND VERY TIME CONSUMING.
  
  IF YOU WANT MORE INFO EMAIL ME AT BIRCHFAMILY1@HOTMAIL.COM
  
  CHRIS

• Re: Re: any advice on picking a medicare supplemental insurance policy and drug coverage
• Posted: 2008-01-24 20:32:01 By mary o
• Chris,
  Thanks for the information. I've studied alot since I last posted and have come to learn that it's going to be better for me to stay on my husband's insurance (even tho it will be more costly). I'll still get Medicare Part A (for what it's worth!!!). And Darran was right...I won't be penalized if and when I do decide to take Medicare Part B. Where I live, I've been told that I could only get the medicare supplemental plan "A". It was a PPO too. None of my docs were on it and the benefits were not as good as my husband's insurance. The drug plans that were available to me in my state were not as good either. I'm fortunate and very grateful to be able to stay on my husband's insurance for now.