If you're Medicare age, did you choose a Medigap (supplemental) policy or did you choose to go with Medicare Advantage? And why?

I'm helping a friend who will be 65 in January make the choice. Any opinions would be helpful.

I chose a Humana Medicare advantage plan. It's an HMO but that hasn't been a problem so far. I explore new options every year at renewal time. My PCP office visit copay is $10 and specialist visits are $35. I also use their vision and dental plans.

Thanks, Granny, for being the only person willing to give me an opinion about this. I guess you and I are the only ones here who have made or are going to make this decision. Must be a bunch of whippernsappers here.

Bob, the AARP website has some good information as well as the Medicare website.

My husband and I both love the Medicare Advantage plans. (He's older than I and has been on one for years.) The biggest reason is SIMPLICITY -- one policy, one single insurer to deal with for everything including drugs. Soooo much easier to analyze and compare plans!
Because we always had HMO plans prior to retiring, it's been an easy transition, though the plan we most recently chose was the new BlueMedicare Regional PPO. The PPO (preferred provider organization) is similar to an HMO but also lets us choose out-of-network doctors, hospitals, labs, etc., at higher copays. However, since all of our docs and both Baptist and Sacred are in network, we've had no need to go outside, and thus we enjoy the low copays. There is also NO monthly charge for this plan other than the $100+ Medicare Part B we're required to maintain. (I was paying about $1,100 a month for my single policy health insurance before becoming eligible for Medicare last year, so this seems like HEAVEN to me and our budget!!)
There well may be more people who'd like to contribute answers; just give it a little time, why don't you? I, for instance, don't log on to PDF every day.
Hope this helps.

This is a terrible thing to say but I dont really know. Other than going to the VA for my eyes I have not been to a doctor for over 7 years for any thing serious. Maybe 3 trips to the Sacred heart mergy center on W st for the shingles and a cut. I will look at my paper work and reply later on. ps I forgot VA ran that Echo gram thing for my heart.

Also, when you have an HMO they couldn't turn you down for a pre-existing condition. As a cancer survivor and diabetic with other co-morbities, I didn't want to take a chance. Now I can look into a PPO or other options.

I went with Medicare Advantage which will go by the wayside with ObamaCare. For the time being, I kept my HMO, same doctor and I have been with them for many years and very happy.

AARP is nothing but an insurance company taking a huge chunk for pretending to be on the side of seniors.

Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

Granny4Peace wrote:I chose a Humana Medicare advantage plan. It's an HMO but that hasn't been a problem so far. I explore new options every year at renewal time. My PCP office visit copay is $10 and specialist visits are $35. I also use their vision and dental plans.

Humana has limited providers in Pensacola. Blue Medicare Regional PPO for me all the hospitals and 95% of the physicians are in network.

Granny4Peace wrote:Also, when you have an HMO they couldn't turn you down for a pre-existing condition. As a cancer survivor and diabetic with other co-morbities, I didn't want to take a chance. Now I can look into a PPO or other options.

There are no pre existing conditions clauses on any Medicare Advantage Plans.

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

Nope the payments to insurers to cover you on Medicare Advantage plans will stay in place at least for a few more years and then who knows as well as the donut hole for drugs will be slowly closed by 2020.

ButtMan wrote:Thanks, Granny, for being the only person willing to give me an opinion about this. I guess you and I are the only ones here who have made or are going to make this decision. Must be a bunch of whippernsappers here.

I thought you were going to let me help make that decision? Guess who?

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

It has to go, we do not have the money. We're BROKE.

Current Debt . . . $15.3+ TRILLION Plus the $1.3 TRILLION proposed by President Barack Hussein Obama for 2013. (No budget approved)

Unfunded Liabilities (money we have PROMISED, do not have, nor do we have it coming in)

Social Security. . . . $15.4 TRILLION (10,000 Baby Boomers RETIRE EVERY DAY) (How many workers are entering the job market daily?)

Prescription Drugs .$20.4 TRILLION

Medicare. . . . . . . . $81.0 TRILLION

Total Unfunded Liabilities $116.8 TRILLION!

Number of Households in 2010 = 112,611,029

Unfunded Liability Per household $1,037,198.00

PLUS ObamaCare and Untold TRILLIONS more in TAXES

reaper1948 wrote:

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

Nope the payments to insurers to cover you on Medicare Advantage plans will stay in place at least for a few more years and then who knows as well as the donut hole for drugs will be slowly closed by 2020.

Yep, a couple more years (2014) when massive cuts in Medicare go into effect.

Markle wrote:

reaper1948 wrote:

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

Nope the payments to insurers to cover you on Medicare Advantage plans will stay in place at least for a few more years and then who knows as well as the donut hole for drugs will be slowly closed by 2020.

Yep, a couple more years (2014) when massive cuts in Medicare go into effect.

No, I doubt even then will they end. So the government is paying approximately $10,000 per Medicare Advantage beneficiary now and say in 2014 or 15 they cut $500 for each beneficiary to the insurance company, the insurance companies then raise your co-pays. The money saved on the $500 (if that is what it would be) is astronomical.

The reason I don't think Med Advantages will go away is because: in near future the Medicare supplement plans the ones you pay a premium for right now are going to change a little and there are going to be 2 or 3 of the plans that are considered caddilac (C, D and F plans) that you may have to pay some kind of a tax on. It's not very clear yet about the tax or when it's going to happen.

When massive cuts are spread around sort of like spreading the risk they all of a sudden don't mean a whole lot to the individual.

Dr Gupta interviewed the head of large hospital yesterday I believe in N.Y. yesterday he said the the cuts hurt the hospitals a little but normally not the physicians.

I guess we'll all have to wait and see.

Granny4Peace wrote:I chose a Humana Medicare advantage plan. It's an HMO but that hasn't been a problem so far. I explore new options every year at renewal time. My PCP office visit copay is $10 and specialist visits are $35. I also use their vision and dental plans.

Are you on a Alabama plan since Lillian is your location?

Plans vary from state to state.

reaper1948 wrote:
I thought you were going to let me help make that decision? Guess who?

T,

My friend wants me to bring her in to talk to you tomorrow after noon.
What is a good time for us to come in?

ButtMan wrote:

reaper1948 wrote:
I thought you were going to let me help make that decision? Guess who?

T,

My friend wants me to bring her in to talk to you tomorrow after noon.
What is a good time for us to come in?

Between 2 and 3 pm just stroll on in.

reaper1948 wrote:

Between 2 and 3 pm just stroll on in.

see you then

ButtMan wrote:

reaper1948 wrote:

Between 2 and 3 pm just stroll on in.

see you then

OK

reaper1948 wrote:

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

Nope the payments to insurers to cover you on Medicare Advantage plans will stay in place at least for a few more years and then who knows as well as the donut hole for drugs will be slowly closed by 2020.

Reaper, not sure why you're saying "Nope." I said the insurers have long been aware that the federal subsidy of Advantage plans will "soon" end. "Soon" is a very relative term and I certainly didn't mean tomorrow. In any case, as indicated in another post I don't believe the end of subsidies will necessarily -- or even most likely -- kill the Advantage system, though costs of coverage may go up.

Markle wrote:

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

It has to go, we do not have the money. We're BROKE.

Current Debt . . . $15.3+ TRILLION Plus the $1.3 TRILLION proposed by President Barack Hussein Obama for 2013. (No budget approved)

Unfunded Liabilities (money we have PROMISED, do not have, nor do we have it coming in)

Social Security. . . . $15.4 TRILLION (10,000 Baby Boomers RETIRE EVERY DAY) (How many workers are entering the job market daily?)

Prescription Drugs .$20.4 TRILLION

Medicare. . . . . . . . $81.0 TRILLION

Total Unfunded Liabilities $116.8 TRILLION!

Number of Households in 2010 = 112,611,029

Unfunded Liability Per household $1,037,198.00

PLUS ObamaCare and Untold TRILLIONS more in TAXES

In your hurry to repeat your continuing mantra, Markle, you're obviously not reading what I wrote. I said that, even WITHOUT federal subsidies, insurers might still offer Advantage plans, "perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act," and/or, btw, as mentioned in my last previous post, through higher costs of coverage -- i.e., higher monthly premiums (currently zero in some plans like mine) and/or higher copays. None of these sources of funding -- not greater numbers of members in all plans providing a bigger pool for the insurers, not higher charges for Advantage coverage -- come from government coffers. None. They all come from -- wait for it -- operation of the free market system in the health insurance segment.

On the other hand, if by chance you're implying that Medicare, period, "has to go," you're dreaming.

[quote="RealLindaL"]

reaper1948 wrote:

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

Nope the payments to insurers to cover you on Medicare Advantage plans will stay in place at least for a few more years and then who knows as well as the donut hole for drugs will be slowly closed by 2020.

Reaper, not sure why you're saying "Nope." I said the insurers have long been aware that the federal subsidy of Advantage plans will "soon" end. "Soon" is a very relative term and I certainly didn't mean tomorrow. In any case, as indicated in another post I don't believe the end of subsidies will necessarily -- or even most likely -- kill the Advantage system, though costs of coverage may go up.[/quote

I said nope because they will not end soon, may be reduced a tad in 2014.

RealLindaL wrote:

Markle wrote:

RealLindaL wrote:Markle, I wouldn't be so sure that the Advantage plans will die under the Affordable Care Act. The reason I say that is this: All the insurers offering these plans have known full well for some time that existing government subsidies will soon end (or at least be decreased drastically) -- and yet they've continued to press for new members, spending huge amounts of money on ads, trying to increase the size of their member rolls. Blue Cross even built new local service facilities all over the place, not in small part to deal with Medicare-age clients. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would do all this if they didn't have confidence that they'll still be able to service us -- perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act.

It has to go, we do not have the money. We're BROKE.



Current Debt . . . $15.3+ TRILLION Plus the $1.3 TRILLION proposed by President Barack Hussein Obama for 2013. (No budget approved)

Unfunded Liabilities (money we have PROMISED, do not have, nor do we have it coming in)

Social Security. . . . $15.4 TRILLION (10,000 Baby Boomers RETIRE EVERY DAY) (How many workers are entering the job market daily?)

Prescription Drugs .$20.4 TRILLION

Medicare. . . . . . . . $81.0 TRILLION

Total Unfunded Liabilities $116.8 TRILLION!

Number of Households in 2010 = 112,611,029

Unfunded Liability Per household $1,037,198.00

PLUS ObamaCare and Untold TRILLIONS more in TAXES

In your hurry to repeat your continuing mantra, Markle, you're obviously not reading what I wrote. I said that, even WITHOUT federal subsidies, insurers might still offer Advantage plans, "perhaps because of the large number of additional non-Medicare-age members they may well see under the new Act," and/or, btw, as mentioned in my last previous post, through higher costs of coverage -- i.e., higher monthly premiums (currently zero in some plans like mine) and/or higher copays. None of these sources of funding -- not greater numbers of members in all plans providing a bigger pool for the insurers, not higher charges for Advantage coverage -- come from government coffers. None. They all come from -- wait for it -- operation of the free market system in the health insurance segment.

On the other hand, if by chance you're implying that Medicare, period, "has to go," you're dreaming.

Let's just say for argument that all the subsidies stop for Medicare Advantage the insurance companies would scrap them in a heart beat or they would have to charge you approximately $1000-$1200 per month in premiums.