tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post2227713906120429908..comments2024-03-28T18:11:40.841-04:00Comments on Sightings Over Sixty: I Apply for Medicare, Part IITomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08611148987085476580noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-13575146464255789162017-07-21T20:35:00.217-04:002017-07-21T20:35:00.217-04:00I just was automatically signed up for Medicare si...I just was automatically signed up for Medicare since I will turn 65, but I had to sign a form to decline part B because I'm still covered by my husband's insurance. It was a little scary as I'm not sure what we're doing down the road. But for now this is the best plan till he fully retires at 70!<br />It's all very confusing and on top I have extraordinary expense drugs for myeloma( once I relapse) which I hoping is not for a while!<br />Keep us posted so we can learn from you!tahoegirl.bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018956654761369565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-5304047744842011672013-07-11T21:46:19.921-04:002013-07-11T21:46:19.921-04:00I think I'll wait until you figure all this ou...I think I'll wait until you figure all this out and in 10 months when I'm eligible I'll ask you how your decisions are working out.<br /><br />I want a PPO, also. HMO's are just too restrictive.Bob Lowryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843991725692979189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-25829711962732491152013-07-11T15:00:49.232-04:002013-07-11T15:00:49.232-04:00You welcome and I hope it will be helpful. To answ...You welcome and I hope it will be helpful. To answer to your question, why they make is so complicated. Our health system is very complicated, and if they made it any simpler, some of us we will be screaming “Socialism”, without understanding what’s at stake. First time it’s tedious, but after that it’s a lots less work. <br />Here is another mind boggling thing: My friend found out that, some of the generic Rx ordered through the Plan was being billed to Medicare for over $1000 per year after the copayment. Switching those Rx to another Reputable National Online Pharmacy, and filling these RX without any mention of Insurance coverage, the cost was same as the co-pay to insurance plan, but Medicare didn’t get billed for this extra $1000 a year. The reason is, according to my understanding, that congress has prohibited Medicare to negotiate the Rx prices with the pharmaceutical companies. Now imagine this, millions of Medicare recipients being pro active and saving Medicare a small amount on their Rx (getting the same medicine for the same copay from another pharmacy without insurance) can add up to billions of saving. After all it’s our Medicare and Our Government, and trying our part might help to prolong the health of the program. It’s important to realize that the Medicare Advantage Plan is jut managing the Plan D for Medicare, they are not implementing anything new. I’m well over a decade away from Medicare, but learned a lot by helping a friend in this process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-74536421427967589702013-07-11T12:40:46.807-04:002013-07-11T12:40:46.807-04:00Anon. -- Thanks for this good advice. But I repeat...Anon. -- Thanks for this good advice. But I repeat ... why do they have to make it so darned complicated?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08611148987085476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-19027333569827862312013-07-11T12:20:08.682-04:002013-07-11T12:20:08.682-04:00The comment’s section doesn’t restricts the number...The comment’s section doesn’t restricts the number of characters, so this a an abridged version of what I did to help a friend who had three sever strokes, and had to go on early retirement, disability and eventually Medicare. I’m not a insurance agent, or a solicitor but a just my experience helping my friend.<br />1) Research, the internet, read any good reference books, blogs. Cross check the info, do not believe everything you read on the internet. Medicare Official site is an excellent resource, though confusing and overwhelming initially<br />2) Register and enter the personal information on the Official Medicare site ( hold off the RX info to minimize the confusion). Compare the plans for your area and narrow the choices. I selected three PPOs which had existing doctors and Hospitals in network.<br />3) Now add the RX information and re-compare the selected plans<br />4) Prepare a spread sheet, and fill in as much information as you can, Max out of pocket, RX, procedures, cost for docs visit, PT, ambulance etc.<br />5) Go to the insurance web site for each plan to fill in the hole, or look for extra information and complete the spread sheet. <br />6) Write Pros and Cons of each plan<br />7) Call the your Primary docs nurse and ask her opinion (not recommendations).<br />8) My friend selected a PPO plan, includes the Rx , and basic dental ( two cleaning and ex ray) and one eye exam and one pair or glasses per year. Doc and specialist Co pay are very reasonable.<br />9) First try will take some time, but break it into small pieces and don’t get overwhelmed, work through one small piece every day.<br />10) Subsequent years, it’s much easier, as you update the existing spread sheet ( less than a couple of hours) with new info or a new plan and compare, if you didn’t like the existing plan, you can change it the next time during open enrollment.<br /><br />My opinion, and YMMV, the Medicare Advantage Plan which my friend is on, is much cheaper, and superior than what I’ve at my employer ( which I consider to be an excellent plan)<br /><br />Hope it helps.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-52223831586263705862013-07-09T22:37:07.777-04:002013-07-09T22:37:07.777-04:00Mary ... lung biopsy? That's got to be scary. ...Mary ... lung biopsy? That's got to be scary. Best of luck with it; I'll be rooting for a good outcome. Olga, you're certainly right that the best medical plan is to stay healthy; unfortunately, a lot of that is out of our hands. I myself don't blame the insurance companies for keeping our money -- I think the doctors and the medical establishment get most of it. And June, take heart. I think in the end we'll find out that Medicare is a good program. It's just . . . why do they have to make everything so damn complicated?!?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08611148987085476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-24596749399877080052013-07-09T18:26:11.266-04:002013-07-09T18:26:11.266-04:00Oh lord....
NHS sounds awfully good to me! Would i...Oh lord....<br />NHS sounds awfully good to me! Would it be too too dramatic to wish for death prior to Medicare age?Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11710135137635433217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-32598816081723024332013-07-09T17:37:17.124-04:002013-07-09T17:37:17.124-04:00Once you figure it all out--- let me know!
We have...Once you figure it all out--- let me know!<br />We have been in socialized military medicine for 30+ years. My husband turns 65 in two years and he gets thrown to the wolves---lol. He will no longer be able to go to the military hospital. AGGGG! Janettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10054888725603183006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-54372728388831225222013-07-09T17:05:07.102-04:002013-07-09T17:05:07.102-04:00I started Medicare last month. I just stayed with...I started Medicare last month. I just stayed with the same insurance company I had for the drug coverage and supplemental stuff. I have not had to use any of it yet so I can't say I made the right decision. Mike has the AARP insurance and it has worked okay for him except for that donut hole thing. I guess the key is to stay healthy and just let the insurance companies keep our money.Olgahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692441479616299920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-46376531748660778092013-07-09T16:43:58.440-04:002013-07-09T16:43:58.440-04:00As I suffer from migraine headaches, I try not to ...As I suffer from migraine headaches, I try not to think about all these confusing medical insurance issues too much. I went through the whole shebang when I added Medicare to my existing insurance policy, but had to drop David's United Health Care Advantage plan because it confused everything else. Besides, the ACA removes the incentive for companies to offer the Advantage plan. I sure hope the ACA doesn't screw up everything. I am afraid it will. Dianneschmidleysscribblins.wordpress.comhttp://schmidleysscribblins.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-32339909189410882912013-07-09T14:48:12.256-04:002013-07-09T14:48:12.256-04:00I got my card the other day. It takes effect on A...I got my card the other day. It takes effect on August 1st. I'm still working, retiring this Friday and my work plan will cover me up to the 31st of July. After that I am totally lost. I have blood pressure medications that I have to take for the rest of my life, thyroid meds, and gosh knows what they will find when they do my lung biopsy on July 22nd.<br />Marymxtodis123https://www.blogger.com/profile/13583200601379394225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-31100140448675445972013-07-09T14:46:54.395-04:002013-07-09T14:46:54.395-04:00I am currently on a Group Health HMO that is offer...I am currently on a Group Health HMO that is offered in Washington State. Last year I was on that AARP Medicare Advantage plan, and it was lovely. Last year it was no longer offered in this state. When I first got on Medicare, I paid $200/month for a supplemental plan, and I only went to the doctor once. It was way too expensive for me, although there were no other costs, no co-pays for anything. My current plan costs $43/month with co-pays, and the $106/month that is deducted from my Social Security for Medicare Part C. I've been very happy so far with Group Health, but I pay $20 to see my doctor and need a referral for a specialist, which costs $45/visit. Not cheap, but it's good coverage.DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-37450934741705169382013-07-09T13:53:47.646-04:002013-07-09T13:53:47.646-04:00Oh, how I wish we had Friko's NHS!
My husband...Oh, how I wish we had Friko's NHS!<br /><br />My husband and I got a Medicare Supplement Plan from Mutual of Omaha. It offers very comprehensive coverage and is not an HMO. We have Plan F which covers a lot. We've been very thankful for it as Bob has had some neurological tests for his worsening epilepsy that cost up to $18,000 per test and with the coverage we have, we didn't have to pay a penny out of pocket. We DO pay a $304 premium to Mutual of Omaha every month, but it feels worth it, particularly given his medical issues.Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-85555142154897701332013-07-09T13:00:06.680-04:002013-07-09T13:00:06.680-04:00Just join the NHS and be done with it.
Oh, I forg...Just join the NHS and be done with it.<br /><br />Oh, I forgot, you can’t, you have a much better system acc. to some . . . . .Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-5567465164500341382013-07-09T11:46:44.974-04:002013-07-09T11:46:44.974-04:00This is quite an education. I'm reading this a...This is quite an education. I'm reading this and taking notes since I'm not that far away, age-wise.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-1313651519538225332013-07-09T10:32:37.840-04:002013-07-09T10:32:37.840-04:00I signed up for Medicare just yesterday! My decisi...I signed up for Medicare just yesterday! My decision was easy, though. We've had an excellent HMO for over 20 years, so I'm just moving between the one from my husband's former employer to Medicare. It did take some time, though, to review the other options.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.com