Oaktree
Super Member
I'd imagine not all plans are available everywhere. The one we have is only open to residents of Maine & N.H.
Didn't get the Joe Namath reference, is he shilling for some plan? Didn't even know he was still alive.
It's Time For Medicare (whether I want it or not)
- Thread starter Diggin It
- Start date
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Didn't get the Joe Namath reference, is he shilling for some plan? Didn't even know he was still alive.
Pixguy
Elite Member
Broadway Joe along with JJ Walker is hawking some agency on ME TV.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Truer words were never spoken. Don't ask your friends here or otherwise about Medicare and what they have and what they like. Do your own work, and consult with professionals THAT YOU TRUST. There are plenty of unscrupulous and low knowledge agents that you should not trust.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Don't forget William Shatner, and George Foreman. They are very hard to get away from. Even Patty Labelle has a spot. I find Joe Namath and JJ Walker both very irritating.
wdchyd
Elite Member
In July I signed up for A, B, D and G. When comparing price my new monthly costs to my previous BC/BS plan at work it’s a $800 month raise for me. And I won’t need the $3500 deductible out of pocket if the fit hits the Shan.
That’s more fishing money
That’s more fishing money
Oaktree
Super Member
Guess I've missed those, have seen Tom Selleck hawking reverse mortgages a few times. What I'm really tired of is the incessant stream of ads for one of our U.S. senators patting herself on the back for her support of startup tech companies I've never heard of. And it's still a year before the election!
Pixguy
Elite Member
I'm not going to get into much but it's only because politicians fear the competition if they're advertising already.
I have been on Medicare for 12 years. I strongly suggest that you go to a State Ins sponsored Medicare enrollment event or contact a State Cert. Medicare counselor. You did not mention you state, but the State Ins commission may be the best place to find who to contact. And No, I don't mean a licensed sales agent.
The commercials you see on tv all day do not tell lies, they just mislead and do not tell you the entire Medicare picture.
I was a state certified Medicare counselor in MO for 10 years. During your IEP - Initial enrollment period- you have options that Will Not be available to you after your IEP ends. You need a clear picture of all four parts of Medicare, how they work, and the co pays.
These are Part A -Hospital, Part B - Medical, Part C INCLUDES ALL Advantage Plans and Part D - Drug plans to use with Original Medicare. If you enroll in an Advantage Plan, you CANNOT sign up for a Medigap policy. Be aware, if you enroll in an Advantage plan, you must Still have Part and Part B. But when you enroll in part C - advantage plan - Do not give your MC card to providers. Medicare will deny claim because they are paying the Advantage company to represent your medical needs. You will no longer work with Medicare, but with the company you selected.
Advantage plans AND Part D drug plans change every year - That is why there is an annual Open Enrollment for Advantage Plans and Part D drug plans - Oct 15-Dec 7. I would also want you to understand what Medigap policies are and their benefits and cost during your IEP. As you look at Advantage Plans, be sure to look at the MAX Out of Pocket cost.
Enough for now. Please understand, Medicare options are encumbered by law and the options change with time. This is the time for you to understand ALL of Medicare, not just what you see on TV. Best Wishes. Larry
I should also mention - the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (at age 65) begins 3 months before you 65th birthday and includes the month of you 65 birthday and 3 months after your 65 birthday month.
The commercials you see on tv all day do not tell lies, they just mislead and do not tell you the entire Medicare picture.
I was a state certified Medicare counselor in MO for 10 years. During your IEP - Initial enrollment period- you have options that Will Not be available to you after your IEP ends. You need a clear picture of all four parts of Medicare, how they work, and the co pays.
These are Part A -Hospital, Part B - Medical, Part C INCLUDES ALL Advantage Plans and Part D - Drug plans to use with Original Medicare. If you enroll in an Advantage Plan, you CANNOT sign up for a Medigap policy. Be aware, if you enroll in an Advantage plan, you must Still have Part and Part B. But when you enroll in part C - advantage plan - Do not give your MC card to providers. Medicare will deny claim because they are paying the Advantage company to represent your medical needs. You will no longer work with Medicare, but with the company you selected.
Advantage plans AND Part D drug plans change every year - That is why there is an annual Open Enrollment for Advantage Plans and Part D drug plans - Oct 15-Dec 7. I would also want you to understand what Medigap policies are and their benefits and cost during your IEP. As you look at Advantage Plans, be sure to look at the MAX Out of Pocket cost.
Enough for now. Please understand, Medicare options are encumbered by law and the options change with time. This is the time for you to understand ALL of Medicare, not just what you see on TV. Best Wishes. Larry
I should also mention - the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (at age 65) begins 3 months before you 65th birthday and includes the month of you 65 birthday and 3 months after your 65 birthday month.
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OP
Diggin It
Super Star Member
I don't see that;
" Can You Switch? Yes, but There’s a Catch
It’s logical to consider enjoying the cost savings of a Medicare Advantage plan while you’re relatively healthy, and then switching back to regular Medicare if you develop a condition you want to be treated at an out-of-town facility. In fact, switching between the two forms of Medicare (or between Medicare Advantage plans) is an option for everyone during the open enrollment period. This Annual Election Period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year.
Here’s the catch. If you switch back to regular Medicare (Part A and Part B), you may not be able to sign up for a Medigap insurance policy. When you first sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B, Medigap insurance companies are generally obligated to sell you a policy, regardless of your medical condition. But in subsequent years they may have the right to charge you extra due to your age and preexisting conditions, or not to sell you a policy at all if you have serious medical problems."
It's not that you cannot, but that the companies might not offer a policy if you have had problems.
But, regardless, every Medigap plan I see has a premium of $50-$400 (some more) per month in additional to the Part B premium. That's just simply not possible for me. At all.
And none that I looked at offer the vision, hearing and dental coverage the plans I'm considering do, nor do they include the extras like OTC drugs/items and Flex Cards.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
here, I will nutshell if for you. The ONLY reason to want to bail out of an Advantage plan is because now you are sick and the money out of pocket is more than your budget will allow. Now the monthly premium of the Medigap (Supplement) plan is starting to really really look good. After all a lot of Advantage plans have very low or NO monthly premiums. Zero monthly premiums is hard to beat. So now you are sick. Your done for. You CANNOT and NEVER WILL be able to buy a Medigap (supplement) policy for the rest of your miserable life. All the flowery language about "rating you" or 'May" or other weasel words will not cover the fact you cannot pass underwriting. YOU are NOT going to make it. These are the hard and fast facts in the real world. Once you make the choice (and it may be the only choice you have due to financial reasons) to go down Advantage plan road, You are not likely going to be able to turn around.
