Medicare?

[coffeeman]

Is medicare as good as coverage from a regular med insurance company? Assume that one buys the supplemental extras for med care and the best offered. Also, the medical insurance now is a very good coverage. The supplements that I'll buy will be from private insurance. I seem to be admitted to hospital about two times a year. I'm also taking a blood pressure pill, stomach pill and blood thiner. I need blood tests about ever 2-3 weeks.

I know this is a hard question. I'm looking for ideas and suggestions. In addition, every case is different. Therefore, again, I will take into account the answers will be idea input only.

Cheers....Coffeeman

 

[300UGUY]

Is medicare as good as coverage from a regular med insurance company? Assume that one buys the supplemental extras for med care and the best offered. Also, the medical insurance now is a very good coverage. The supplements that I'll buy will be from private insurance. I seem to be admitted to hospital about two times a year. I'm also taking a blood pressure pill, stomach pill and blood thiner. I need blood tests about ever 2-3 weeks.

I know this is a hard question. I'm looking for ideas and suggestions. In addition, every case is different. Therefore, again, I will take into account the answers will be idea input only.

Cheers....Coffeeman

I'd check in the AARP programs. My parents are on that, and they seem to like it.

 

[rekees4300]

I'm no expert on Medicare but I think the general concept is to provide basic health insurance for senior citizens at a cost that is lower than private insurance for similar coverage? Supplemental insurance is for coverage not provided by Medicare. I suggest you discuss your options with your doctor and the folks at Medicare since this is a very complex, important topic.

 

[Bird]

Before I reached the age of 65, our health insurance was $1,000 deductible for each of us and then 80/20. Medicare is similar; i.e., a deductible (not as high as a thousand), then roughly 80/20.

I'd check in the AARP programs. My parents are on that, and they seem to like it.

I think UnitedHealthcare now owns AARP. Since our health insurance is through my old employer, the AARP supplements are my only choice. However, there are Plans C, F, and K to choose from, in addition to Secure Horizons (HMO type plan). We're on Plan F. Prescription drug coverage is a separate plan. Plan F alone costs us $298 a month. The good part is that we have no deductible and no copay, so no medical bills at all as long as it is something Medicare covers. If Medicare doesn't approve and cover it, then the supplement also pays nothing.

Walmart employees have much better coverage at less cost through Blue Cross.

So, as rekees4300 said, it's a complex topic, and a gamble whichever way you go.

 

[radioman]

So, as rekees4300 said, it's a complex topic, and a gamble whichever way you go.

Isn't that the point from the insurance companies? keep us guessing and thinking we have better coverage if we are working? When we retire," its too bad for us ?"

On the other hand- Problem is with medicare, you MUST get part a and b to get D to pay for your pills. or a and C with D. I dont see the point of having insurance broken up into parts. there is no savings. Its either you have coverage, or you dont.

 

[coffeeman]

On the other hand- Problem is with medicare, you MUST get part a and b to get D to pay for your pills. or a and C with D. I dont see the point of having insurance broken up into parts. there is no savings. Its either you have coverage, or you dont.

Hi there

I pay 700.00 a month for total coverage. (actually $696.15 per month) No deductable for hospital, $20 copay doctor and $40 copay specialist, no having to check in with primary doc. Perscriptions are $20 generic and $40 branded.

On medicare, I have heard that some are paying as much as $400.00 a month for supplements and the amount deducted from ss account. I am wondering if I will get less coverage on medicare and more out of pocket $$ than regular coverage. The blue packet is at least on inch thick and our competition here is just as thick. I believe the medicare $$ for health will go to the private comppany, should I choose private contracted company.

About talking with my doctor, he tells me he knows nothing about how things work. In fact, he says, it's impossible to make a decision based on facts because the rules haven't been made on new pending plans.

Once I make decision I'll post my results in event someone may be interested.

Still looking for ideas....Coffeeman

 

[brin]

coffeeman...You would be surprised at the number of folks that believe people on medicare get FREE HEALTH INSURANCE - I was speaking to a friend of mine the other day who is63 yrs. old and he was shocked to find out that Medicare would cost him as much as I told him it would.....Decent coverage for a couple on medicare will easily cost up to $900.00 a month ...But what I want to stress here is that most folks out there in this country think Senior Citizens are not paying anything ..and are getting health care for free and I think the politicians want folks to think the senior citizens get health care for free...

 

[Bird]

I pay 700.00 a month for total coverage. (actually $696.15 per month) No deductable for hospital, $20 copay doctor and $40 copay specialist, no having to check in with primary doc. Perscriptions are $20 generic and $40 branded.

folks out there in this country think Senior Citizens are not paying anything ..and are getting health care for free

Well, I've posted this before, but . . . we're paying $280 a month for Medicare Part D, prescription drugs . . . and we still pay a co-pay of $10 for Tier 1 drugs, $25 for Tier 2, and $50 for Tier 3 drugs (and that's for a 30 day supply; double that for a 90 day supply), $298 for Medicare Supplement (AARP Plan F), $48.76 for dental (and we pay the dentist 3 or 4 times as much as the insurance pays), $10.29 for vision (annual eye exam and lenses; new frames every 2 years, if needed), $96.40 taken from my wife's social security for Medicare Part B, $110.50 taken from my pension for Medicare Part B (it went up this year, but if it's taken from your social security, which did not go up, then your Part B stayed the same). In other words, we're paying $843.95 for pretty good medical coverage, fair to middlin' drug coverage, and sorry dental and vision coverage.

 

[brin]

Well, I've posted this before, but . . . we're paying $280 a month for Medicare Part D, prescription drugs . . . and we still pay a co-pay of $10 for Tier 1 drugs, $25 for Tier 2, and $50 for Tier 3 drugs (and that's for a 30 day supply; double that for a 90 day supply), $298 for Medicare Supplement (AARP Plan F), $48.76 for dental (and we pay the dentist 3 or 4 times as much as the insurance pays), $10.29 for vision (annual eye exam and lenses; new frames every 2 years, if needed), $96.40 taken from my wife's social security for Medicare Part B, $110.50 taken from my pension for Medicare Part B (it went up this year, but if it's taken from your social security, which did not go up, then your Part B stayed the same). In other words, we're paying $843.95 for pretty good medical coverage, fair to middlin' drug coverage, and sorry dental and vision coverage.

Bird...I could not believe it the other day when I spoke to a friend of mine in Ca. and he asked me how I liked Medicare since it was free...I exclaimed .." Free ? " Wherever did you get that idea ? and he said he always had heard Senior Citizens got free health care through medicare that the govt. always called someone's hand when they talked about the new health care bill being socialized health care and the government would say ..." what about medicare..that is socialized health care.." so he said he assumed it was free and when I told him what it cost he was literally stunned since he will be on it in 2 yrs...I since found that many folks think seniors are on the dole...Folks are misled !

 

[Bird]

Medicare Part A is "free" if you are eligible for social security, but if you didn't have enough social security "credits" (also referred to as "quarters"), you can buy it for about $244 to $443 a month, depending on how much or how little you paid into social security. The answers to some questions about premiums, deductibles, and co-pays can be found here.