Social Security and Medicare

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

If you are eligible for Medicare, you are eligible for SHIP Counseling


SHIP Counseling is free of charge.

Who are the SHIP Counselors?

SHIP counselors are people from your community who have volunteered to be a counselor and they are trained in Medicare eligibility, benefits and options, health insurance counseling and related insurance products.

SHIP counselors are NOT connected with any insurance company, nor are they licensed to sell insurance or provide any legal advice.

A SHIP counselor will NOT make decisions for you.

Their purpose is to assist you objectively and confidentially,
and to empower you to make your own wise health care decisions.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Thanks for the Heading Change.

[Brogers92026 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brogers92026]

-1

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

It would be polite to thank Marti for digging out information for you.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

I thought everyone got a supplement unless they got a Medicare Advantage plan.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Wow!

So many nice behavior lectures all on one website.

$$$riceless!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I thought everyone got a supplement unless they got a Medicare Advantage plan.

So, specific information. So, I need Plan B, but not the others?

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Medigap Plans


A- B - C - D - F* - G - K - L - M - N

Every Medigap policy must follow federal and state laws designed to protect you, and it must be clearly identified as "Medicare Supplement Insurance."

Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell, although state laws might affect which ones they offer.

Insurance companies that sell Medigap policies:

Don't have to offer every Medigap plan
Must offer Medigap Plan A if they offer any Medigap policy
Must also offer Plan C or Plan F if they offer any plan

Be sure to compare Medigap plans side-by-side

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Personal Questions

JLB Are you on Medicare
What plan do you have ?

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Medicare Advantage Plan Changes


Seniors:

Medicare Advantage plans will be mailing required notices of how their benefits and costs will change in 2014. Seniors can join, switch or drop health and drug plans for the coming year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7.

Remember to help family and friends learn about Medicare

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

if your supplement doesn't hae drug coverage, you have to decide about buying Medicare D. If you don't take drugs, you might not want to, but if you need it later the cost is higher.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

I'm just going through this and agree that it is utterly confusing. If you are 65, you should already have signed up for part A regardless of any other insurance you have. If you are 65 and are not employed, thus not receiving insurance from your place of work, you should have gotten information telling you that you must sign up for Part B. I get insurance at work and so I do not have to take Part B...yet. When I retire I will have a limited period of time to sign up. Those are the requirements, I think. The rest is up to you. Nobody has to sign up for a supplement. However, if you can, or if you have medical issues anyway, it is, in my mind, a good idea. Where you purchase that is the real confusion. If you haven't already, you are about to begin receiving a sea of mail from vendors to sign up with them. I had not heard of the group Marti mentioned, but it sounds good.

[M. Henley Class President Find all posts View Profile Close M. Henley]

My retirement furnishes my supplement. However my SIL and BIL have AARP supplement and have had fir several years and have been very satisfied with it. I do not like the organization, but apparently the aupplement insurance is good.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

So, specific information. So, I need Plan B, but not the others?

Why don't you just go to the source to get your info.

http://www.medicare.gov/

You can check on what Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans are available in your area. It is really quite simple. I think you are just trying to make it difficult to stir things up.

I have had a Medicare Advantage Plan from Health Net for 8 years and my wife just started on the same one last year. Our plan doesn't cost anything and it covers everything including prescription drugs and dental care. There are no deductibles and no co-pays.

We just received our 2014 plan documentation and it has gotten a little better yet.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

JWC, you have a medicare advanyage plan and there are no co-pays? I've never seen one without copays. I have one here in SC but the co-pays are hefty IMHO. $30 for Dr., $45 for specialist. I need cataract surgery but will probably wait until 2014 and switch to a regular supplement so it doesn't end up costing me a fortune.