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Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,846
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup

I also got the regular Medicare plan with supplemental

 

I signed up in May.  Fortunately for me my neighbor who we're friendly with does supplemental Medicare insurance. 

 

He came over and explained the different plans as well as the different companies that offer the plans.  He was a huge help because I had no idea what I was doing.  He did mention several plans that had been discontinued.

 

Maybe you could find someone who specializes in Medicare supplemental insurance to explain the different plans?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,889
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup


@on the bay wrote:

@gidgetgh -

I like to think I'm an intelligent person

but I agree with you that there is not a really good comprehensive comparison chart. So many options.

If you have a senior center near you, they have medicare specialists who are wonderful about breaking it all down and making it very clear and offering suggestions as to which plan is best for you.

Saves quite a headache!

The srs program btw is called SHIPP-

Seniors Health and Information Program. Many Senior Centers have this.



@on the bay - we have senior centers in our county and I actually walk there every day, but it's really more for bridge playing and fun stuff like that. They wouldn't have anything like that. 

I will look for my husband's Medicare 2020 book but I don't think I kept it because in the 12 years he's been on Medicare, we have never ever looked at it.


When his former employer changed from their company insurance being the secondary and buying supplement plans instead  several years ago, they had us work with a company. I was an absolute whiz on the phone with them and I'll be fine when the time comes. I just wish they'd remove F and C from all the charts I'm looking at as you can't sign up for those anymore. Just give me the choices that ARE available. And then an absolutely quiet room with no distractions and I'll be fine, LOL. 


Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,755
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup

Personally I would go with regular Medicare and a supplement. You need to sign up for the supplement in time and never drop it or you could be subject to insurance questions. They have to take you regardless when you are eligible  to sign up. I am an RN administrator in home health care and we deal with Medicare, Medicare advantage and Medicare HMO's everyday. I would only take straight Medicare and a supplement, then the Part D RX program.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,846
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup


@conlt wrote:

Personally I would go with regular Medicare and a supplement. You need to sign up for the supplement in time and never drop it or you could be subject to insurance questions. They have to take you regardless when you are eligible  to sign up. I am an RN administrator in home health care and we deal with Medicare, Medicare advantage and Medicare HMO's everyday. I would only take straight Medicare and a supplement, then the Part D RX program.


This is exactly what my neighbor who explained the different polices told me.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,889
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup

[ Edited ]

@conlt wrote:

Personally I would go with regular Medicare and a supplement. You need to sign up for the supplement in time and never drop it or you could be subject to insurance questions. They have to take you regardless when you are eligible  to sign up. I am an RN administrator in home health care and we deal with Medicare, Medicare advantage and Medicare HMO's everyday. I would only take straight Medicare and a supplement, then the Part D RX program.

 


@conlt - that's what I plan to do. on that, I am crystal clear. 

When we had to sign up my husband and worked with the broker or whatever, the rep on the phone  started in with the first plan and I thought can't handle going through every single plan. I had some notes so I stopped him. My husband has a major health issue so I just said "what's the best plan out there" and he said F and that agreed with my notes and that's what we picked. Then we chose Blue Cross of GA because we were used to them. When I looked at one site tonight, Blue Cross/Anthem wasn't even listed as a choice. 

If F were still available, that's what I'd choose. 


Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,660
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup

@gidgetgh -

I forgot to say that SHIPP operates in different places. Mine rented a room in a church. They aren't there all the time.

But if you get sick of looking at it all, search for SHIPP near your zipcode.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,889
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup


@on the bay wrote:

@gidgetgh -

I forgot to say that SHIPP operates in different places. Mine rented a room in a church. They aren't there all the time.

But if you get sick of looking at it all, search for SHIPP near your zipcode.



@on the bay - I did look at the SHIPP site earlier this afternoon. When you click to look at the plans, it sends you to the Medicare site and the choices listed there, and the details and costs are as clear as mud.


Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,660
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup

@gidgetgh -

I think you really have to go in person.

I agree that none of these websites nor the medicare book which I think is especially bad,help at all, just make it more confusing.

It is ridiculous.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,578
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup


@gidgetgh wrote:

@jackthebear wrote:

medicare.gov

 

 

look for plans in yr state

 

 


@jackthebear - I looked there. It's just really not very straightforward. And the list of companies they have for selling the different plans doesn't seem very comprehensive. 

I'll figure it out. I just felt like posting.  I have a little trouble with attention span sometimes so if I see a lot of information all at once sometimes it takes me awhile. 


it certainly isn't simple

but you have time to research

 

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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,419
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Almost time for my Medicare signup

@gidgetgh

Medicare has a tool on the front page of the site to help decide which plan to select. I would recommend taking regular Medicare with a Medigap insurance and Part D prescription plan.

I a0m not a fan of Medicare Advantage plans. They maybe in today , but they can be very pricey . The deductibles and co-pays can be expensive. 

I like MAP for two groups. A person getting a plan in a retirement package or someone who is on Medicaid and can get assistance paying. 

The Medicare 2020 booklet can be found on the site as a Pdf to download. 

Kasier Family Foundation Kff. org has a nice website with Medicare information.