Wellness

[Tadaki]

@conlt @gidgetgh @CelticCrafter Thanks so much for your responses.  The SHIP counselor was great.  Highly recommend.  It's just that I had so many questions and even though I wrote things down, it's a lot to take in and understand.  I have time to work on it.  It's great to read this thread and get the benefit of others' experiences.  

I am definitely getting a supplement.  Just trying to decide what will be the best choice but I'm leaning toward G.  I did forget to ask about D, but think I've read before to just get the cheapest one since I don't take prescriptions right now and then I can always change that one.  

Sounds like the supplement is the crucial component.   

[redstar8]

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@Tadaki wrote:

@conlt @gidgetgh @CelticCrafter Thanks so much for your responses.  The SHIP counselor was great.  Highly recommend.  It's just that I had so many questions and even though I wrote things down, it's a lot to take in and understand.  I have time to work on it.  It's great to read this thread and get the benefit of others' experiences.  

I am definitely getting a supplement.  Just trying to decide what will be the best choice but I'm leaning toward G.  I did forget to ask about D, but think I've read before to just get the cheapest one since I don't take prescriptions right now and then I can always change that one.  

Sounds like the supplement is the crucial component.   

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Yes, about 'D'.......the prescription portion of Medicare. If you delay, they will charge you for everyday, year you went without once you do decide to sign up in future. It's a percentage penality, and it's a lot. You should investigate before you make the decision to forego.

Medicare calculates the penalty by multiplying 1% of the "national base beneficiary premium" ($32.74 in 2023) times the number of full, uncovered months you didn't have Part D or creditable coverage. The monthly premium is rounded to the nearest $.10 and added to your monthly Part D premium

It boils down to pay now or pay later.

[Tadaki]

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@redstar8 wrote:

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@Tadaki wrote:

@conlt @gidgetgh @CelticCrafter Thanks so much for your responses.  The SHIP counselor was great.  Highly recommend.  It's just that I had so many questions and even though I wrote things down, it's a lot to take in and understand.  I have time to work on it.  It's great to read this thread and get the benefit of others' experiences.  

I am definitely getting a supplement.  Just trying to decide what will be the best choice but I'm leaning toward G.  I did forget to ask about D, but think I've read before to just get the cheapest one since I don't take prescriptions right now and then I can always change that one.  

Sounds like the supplement is the crucial component.   

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Yes, about 'D'.......the prescription portion of Medicare. If you delay, they will charge you for everyday, year you went without once you do decide to sign up in future. It's a percentage penality, and it's a lot. You should investigate before you make the decision to forego.

Medicare calculates the penalty by multiplying 1% of the "national base beneficiary premium" ($32.74 in 2023) times the number of full, uncovered months you didn't have Part D or creditable coverage. The monthly premium is rounded to the nearest $.10 and added to your monthly Part D premium

It boils down to pay now or pay later.

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Wow  . . . definitely a hefty penalty.

[Mimi NY]

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@Nuttmeg wrote:

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@Mimi NY wrote:

The past few months we were in the same predicament in deciding if we would join what the City of NY was offering exclusively for City of NY Medicare eligible retirees and their eligible dependents starting in September .It is the Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan.My husband once again leaves it to me to decide, I hope I made the right choice in going for the new plan,was wondering if  any others were in the same predicament in joining what NYC was offering their retirees.

My main  thought is too stay healthy so you don't have to use your plan,but if you do hope it's what they are saying  it is.

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Mayor Adams used. NJ retired teacher's plan as a model. I have had the plan since 2020. It's a cheaper than the BCBS plan it replaced.

Enjoy your new plan

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Thanks for reassuring that we or should I say I made the right  choice for changing our plan .Just reading your post is letting me not be worry as much,and it did seem to be cheaper.

[CelticCrafter]

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@redstar8 wrote:

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@Tadaki wrote:

@conlt @gidgetgh @CelticCrafter Thanks so much for your responses.  The SHIP counselor was great.  Highly recommend.  It's just that I had so many questions and even though I wrote things down, it's a lot to take in and understand.  I have time to work on it.  It's great to read this thread and get the benefit of others' experiences.  

I am definitely getting a supplement.  Just trying to decide what will be the best choice but I'm leaning toward G.  I did forget to ask about D, but think I've read before to just get the cheapest one since I don't take prescriptions right now and then I can always change that one.  

Sounds like the supplement is the crucial component.   

---

Yes, about 'D'.......the prescription portion of Medicare. If you delay, they will charge you for everyday, year you went without once you do decide to sign up in future. It's a percentage penality, and it's a lot. You should investigate before you make the decision to forego.

Medicare calculates the penalty by multiplying 1% of the "national base beneficiary premium" ($32.74 in 2023) times the number of full, uncovered months you didn't have Part D or creditable coverage. The monthly premium is rounded to the nearest $.10 and added to your monthly Part D premium

It boils down to pay now or pay later.

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Yes, and that penalty is for the rest of your life and keeps increasing.

[kismet]

gidgetgh,

My supplement is through my husband's ex employer.  It's Blue Cross for medical and for the RX prescriptions.  It's been good for mail order prescriptions but now it seems they seem to change the generic company on some pills.  Some haven't agreed with me.  He passed two months ago and it looks like most bills have been paid.  Have to pay very little.     

[Pink123]

@CelticCrafter  It's 50.00 for every emergency room visit.  My girlfriend has plan "N".

Her late husband had cancer and also had some bills to pay after he passed sadly.

My bill was way over a million in 2021, maybe pushing 2 and she said your going to have bills.  I didn't pay a dime.

[Pink123]

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@Tadaki wrote:

@conlt @gidgetgh @CelticCrafter Thanks so much for your responses.  The SHIP counselor was great.  Highly recommend.  It's just that I had so many questions and even though I wrote things down, it's a lot to take in and understand.  I have time to work on it.  It's great to read this thread and get the benefit of others' experiences.  

I am definitely getting a supplement.  Just trying to decide what will be the best choice but I'm leaning toward G.  I did forget to ask about D, but think I've read before to just get the cheapest one since I don't take prescriptions right now and then I can always change that one.  

@Tadaki  good choice and please take plan "G".  It's such a no brainer and once you paid your yearly deductible it's done for the year.  No bills in the maill.

lol.  

It'a important to feel comfortable and know everyone accepts it.  It's "peace of mind".  Good luck. 

I hope  everyone read's these comment's. Many are very good.  Good luck.

You will rest easy.

Plan D is for the drugs.  I picked Humana.  But that one you can move around to whatever if your not happy.  Part D is simple. If your not happy, change it.

[CelticCrafter]

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@Pink123 wrote:

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@Tadaki wrote:

@conlt @gidgetgh @CelticCrafter Thanks so much for your responses.  The SHIP counselor was great.  Highly recommend.  It's just that I had so many questions and even though I wrote things down, it's a lot to take in and understand.  I have time to work on it.  It's great to read this thread and get the benefit of others' experiences.  

I am definitely getting a supplement.  Just trying to decide what will be the best choice but I'm leaning toward G.  I did forget to ask about D, but think I've read before to just get the cheapest one since I don't take prescriptions right now and then I can always change that one.  

@Tadaki  good choice and please take plan "G".  It's such a no brainer and once you paid your yearly deductible it's done for the year.  No bills in the maill.

lol.  

It'a important to feel comfortable and know everyone accepts it.  It's "peace of mind".  Good luck. 

I hope  everyone read's these comment's. Many are very good.  Good luck.

You will rest easy.

Plan D is for the drugs.  I picked Humana.  But that one you can move around to whatever if your not happy.  Part D is simple. If your not happy, change it.

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Medical professionals don't "accept" Supplemental plans.  They either accept Original Medicare or they don't.  Supplements pay the co-insurance that Medicare doesn't pay.  Most offices don't even deal with the supplement carrier, Medicare does it all and when all is said and done and paid people with Plan N will get their $20 co-pay bill or $50 bill from the ER if they so choose to use that as their source of primary care.

[conlt]

@CelticCrafter All Medical Providers who accept Medicare accept the supplement plans. That is a condition for providers to be able to accept Medicare patients. Whether they chose to bill the supplement of not, is up to them.

One more note about the part D Medicare Drug Coverage. It is easy to sign-up and there is open enrollment each year. You may change plans depending on your needs. Go to Medicare.gov and search for the Part D plans. There you can add your medications and see how much they will cost, if your pharmacy is in network etc. Then you can add up all your costs to see which is the best for you.

For me, I am on 2 of the newer diabetes medications that are very expensive. I was lucky to find a couple of plans that actually cover my drugs pretty decently. In October, during open enrollment, I will look again. That is how part D works.