Community Chat

[Carolm]

I am looking at medigap insurance, Plan F or Plan G and an agent has suggested Greek Credit Union Insurance.  GCU sells in several states including Illinois, but I have never heard of it.  Anyone familiar with the company and whether you've chosen them as your medigap carrier?

[NickNack]

I've never heard of them.  Before I chose them I would definitely check and make sure my doctors accepted their plan.

[Carolm]

@NickNack I absolutely agree about checking with doctors.  However, I have just had two different agents tell me that as long as a doctor accepts medicare they will accept any supplemental carrier.  I currently have BCBS so it hasn't been an issue for me.  Perhaps someone else will comment on whether the information about doctors accepting any supplemental policy is accurate. 

[gidgetgh]

I've never heard of them. My barometer for stuff like that, my first basic requirement, is that I have to be familiar with the company.  To at least have heard of them before. I use that for a lot of things, not just insurance. 

When my husband picked Plan F several years ago, the guy we were talking to on the phone started giving us choices of carriers. He named the first one  (I'd never heard of them) and I stopped him. Told him my requirement and to give me some known names. We picked Blue Cross of GA which is the carrier my husband's employer used (and still uses). We went with them for him because we'd always been pleased with them. 

[meem120]

I donot believe thats true.  Your provider is under no obligation to accept your supplemental insurance if they participate in Medicare.  Most do, but you must check with your providers.

[meem120]

Also, most carriers are doing away with Plan F.  It has proved to be to costly.  All those that have it , will be able to keep it, but they will not be adding newly insured.  Im not sure of the date, its late 2017 or early 2018.  I was notified by AARP, my supplemental.

[Kachina624]

@Hannahsgram  @NickNack Your agents are wrong.   My supplemental plan has the misfortune of having the Humana name on it.   They aren't the insurer but were just hired as administrators.   I've run across one hospital,  the state's largest group of orthopedists,  and a group of dermatologists that won't take it.   I call the insurance person,  get her to call our Humana group and then everything is okay,  but it's a hassle

[tansy]

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@meem120 wrote:

I donot believe thats true.  Your provider is under no obligation to accept your supplemental insurance if they participate in Medicare.  Most do, but you must check with your providers.

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I agree with you.  The clinic that my PCP belongs to sent me a letter indicating the three plans they will accept.  

[gidgetgh]

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@meem120 wrote:

Also, most carriers are doing away with Plan F.  It has proved to be to costly.  All those that have it , will be able to keep it, but they will not be adding newly insured.  Im not sure of the date, its late 2017 or early 2018.  I was notified by AARP, my supplemental.

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@meem120-  I know. I'm so thankful we were able to get Plan F for my husband. He has Parkinson's and had cancer last year which required surgery, but no chemo or radiation. We haven't paid a penny toward his care in several years. No co-pays of any sort. Nothing. Prescriptions are another story though. 

[NickNack]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@Carolm  @NickNack Your agents are wrong.   My supplemental plan has the misfortune of having the Humana name on it.   They aren't the insurer but were just hired as administrators.   I've run across one hospital,  the state's largest group of orthopedists,  and a group of dermatologists that won't take it.   I call the insurance person,  get her to call our Humana group and then everything is okay,  but it's a hassle

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@Kachina624  I didn't say that my agent told me anything.  All I told the OP was that she should check with her doctors to make sure they accepted the plan that she chose.

@Carolm  I believe your agent is wrong that your doctor has to accept your plan.  When I chose my plan recently I called my doctor to make sure they accepted it.  There was one plan that they did not accept.