I have to get busy to try to understand medicare,

[LuckyLib]

and the intersection of that with private health insurance. I HATE this stuff -- don't want to learn it, but have to . . . it's creeping up on me!

[femmocrat]

1. Same here.

I am totally ignorant about Medicare... and I keep on working just to hold on to my health care benefits. It's creeping up on me, too.
How did we get to be the older generation anyhow?!

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I am on Medicare..ask me anything.

[Ineeda]

3. I'm in the same boat.

DU should have a thread/forum/group with insight and tips from those who have already gone through this transition. I hate insurance issues. I get confused (and it's not due to my advanced age -- I've always been confused by it.)

[jwirr]

4. IMO the biggest part of the confusion is how to pick a good option

from the available private insurance companies that offer plans. How do I know what is best for my situation? It is like going down the cereal aisle in the store blindfolded and asked to pick the healthiest one.

[DURHAM D]

9. I understand that the majority of seniors who buy a Supplemental pick Plan F.

If you have health issues, however, that may not be the best plan.

Edit: Medicare terms - PART A (hospitalization), PART B (doctor visits and tests. It is taken from your SS check (~$115)) but if you are not yet drawing SS you pay quarterly in advance and PART D (drugs)

Under a Medicare Supplement private insurance option the different types of coverage are lettered PLAN A - J.

[Little Star]

13. There is no F in MA and some other states too. Just a fyi. n/t

[DURHAM D]

14. That is interesting.

When I picked my Plan I did a spreadsheet because I am based in one state but have homes in two other states. I picked an insurance company that offered Plan F in all three states.

[DURHAM D]

16. I am glad I don't own a home in MA.

I see that Minnesota and Wisconsin (plus MA) are the only states that don't have Plan F.

[Suich]

15. I don't understand why I pay $98 a month for Part A

and someone else pays $115.

:shrug:

[DURHAM D]

17. It goes up every year unless there is no SS cost of living increase.

But, every year the new enrollees pay more. So are you 68?

JFTR - if you make more than $85K (for a single person) for the years you are 63 or 64 you pay considerably more for enrollment.

[Suich]

20. Yeah, 68.

So whenever I get a cost of living increase, my rate will go up?

LOL! Doesn't surprise me at all! Will my rate increase=cost of living increase?

[DURHAM D]

21. Yes - it will go up.

I don't know if it will be equal to (or greater than) COL increase.

[Little Star]

12. LOL! How True! n /t

[blue neen]

10. That is an excellent suggestion.

Maybe you could ask the administrators how to start that forum!

:dem:

[DURHAM D]

5. Ask away...

[Little Star]

6. I'll join you guys, it is confusing. My MIL told me she chose her...

part (A&B?) by going eeny meeny miney moe.

I am on Medicare which is easy (no choices). I just hand over my Medicare Card and then my husbands insurance card from his work. They deduct from Medicare first, then it goes to the work insurance, then we pay any balance (we have never had to pay yet).

The problem is when he retires in a few years and we have to chose the supplement insurance (part A&B?)!!!

I've been researching because we may want to move south. Did you know that every state has different supplement insurance plans?

Yep! It is confusing and I keep dreading the day he decides to retire because of it!

We may end up staying in MA because our choices are much better here than many other states (especially red states).

[DURHAM D]

8. Medicare Supplement (medi-gap) is for Parts A & B.

Part D is separate and for prescriptions/meds only.

I have my Medicare Supplement from one insurance company and Part D from another insurance company.

Now, someone else will need to explain the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement/Part D coverage as it is a different animal.

[Little Star]

11. Thanks DURHAM D. I edited my post. n/t

[Paper Roses]

7. Hey guys, I'm on Medicare and I don't understand half of it.

I have a very basic supplement policy with no drug coverage. Yes, I know it is a crap game but I don't have the $$$ for the drug coverage.

I have Tufts Health Care Medicare Preferred plan. It is the basic plan, no bells and whistles. No drug coverage.
In the three years I have been on Medicare, I have been fortunate that I have not been sick. I did have a colonoscopy (fun) and ended up paying $165.00 to the hospital and a small amount to the doctor.
I am afraid if something major happened, I would be in $$$ trouble but I and can only afford this basic policy.
My doctor visits have been few. I had a co-pay of $25.00 but my just received 2012 info tells me it, along with other fees and services is going up.

I guess it is better than nothing but I cannot tell you what it really costs. There is an annual deductible for Medicare and the same applies to the supplementary insurance.
You have to be Einstein to figure it out. The packet I just received in the mail for 2012 is 2 inches thick. Gave it a once over, will try again next week.
Advice? Don't get sick!

[Little Star]

18. Medicare is the same for all in the country. BUT...

the supplements are different in each state.

I think this is PART of the reason we get so confused. We talk to people in other states that have different options then that ones that our state offers.

Like it's not confusing enough! :silly:


Feel free to correct me if you know different but my research showed each state is different for supplements.

[DURHAM D]

19. The thing I discovered is that -

Insurance Company A might offer Plan F in one state but not another state. However, dozens of other insurance companies offer the Plan F in the state that Company A does not offer it in.

IOWs (w/ the exception of the 3 states already mentioned) Plan F is available everywhere but Insurance Companies pick and choose which states they write it in.

[Little Star]

22. Are you trying to confuse me more than I already am? LOL...

Just kidding. Thanks for the info.

[DURHAM D]

23. You might enjoy this story.

When I was 64 I began to ask my sister who was 65 questions about Medicare. Her response - I don't know anything about it, my husband takes care of that. I didn't want to ask my brother-in-law who was 67 because he is a Fox News watchin' rightwing Repub. So I asked my brother who was 66 and his wife was just 63. He didn't know anything about Medicare because he retired from a corporate job and they had enrolled him in a Medicare Advantage program. He, however, did not even understand that he wasn't in regular Medicare.

So, I was getting ready to make the trip home and I finally asked my brother-in-law if he would spend a little time with me during my visit to explain Medicare. Like any good wingnut he really knows a lot about New Deal programs and how to extract everything possible from the system. I might add that he hates FDR. Anyway, he was flattered (because he knows I think he is stupid) and delighted (because he loves to hold court).

The reason I was headed home was for a memorial service for my Mother. That meant that both sides of the family would be there. I mentioned to my sister that we had 9 first cousins between the ages of 61 and 64 and perhaps we should include them in our Medicare class. We scheduled the class and issued the invitations to cousins and spouses.

My BIL went to the church and picked up several folding tables and chairs. He also went to the SS office and picked up booklets for each of us. The BIL set up the tables/chairs in the garage. He brought in extra lighting and two large dry-erase board. He provided everyone with booklets and pads to write on. We came from 7 different states and he was able to get some additional information for us out of state people. Altogether there were 17 "students" present. It was fun and to this day the cousins still talk about it. One thing the younger ones came to understand that night was that Medicare is just 80/20, the amount goes up each year that is taken from your SS check, everyone who can afford it needs a supplemental, and Part D is a mess. Everyone was shocked to learn at how much it was going to cost them each month for medical protection after they turn 65. Several of us decided to delay retirement after the reality set in.

It was great and my Mother would of been so pleased to see us all laughing together about becoming senior citizens.

[Little Star]

24. What a nice story....

I have a right wing SIL. For many years I had no idea that she was a R, I thought she was apolitical. Her whole birth family is D. Then along came the primary between Hillary & Obama. She hated them both and for the first time gave her political opinion at every chance. It was strange.

She now sends me RW email almost daily but in person never talks politics. I liked her much better when I thought she was apolitical,LOL.

[LuckyLib]

25. Thanks for the information, everyone. I'm forcing myself to spend 1 hour each week

studying this stuff. Ar-r-r-g-gh! I blame the 50's/60's culture with WWII parents who raised girls to have no skills whatsoever in mechanical, technical, or financial endeavors. I'm paying the price now!

[Little Star]

26. Good Luck LuckyLib! n/t

[Paper Roses]

27. Do you have a Senior Center in your town?

Our town has a counselor available to help people understand things like the Medicare sign up and the options available. I saw ours and found it helped me understand a little more.

Good Luck