Social Security and Medicare

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

JLB, I agree it's quite complicated. We just went thru that in my household last year, attended a few "workshops" on it which had overwhelming amounts of info, and in the end, got more clarity from a phone call to our local SHIIP office - Senior Health Insurance Information Program. Here's a link to find your state's offices:
http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/...National/SHIP/

We didn't choose the Advantage Plan, instead went for straight-up Medicare parts A+B, and D, plus the supplement. There were some major disadvantages here in our state of the Advantage plans: many facilities don't accept it, and once you're on that, you're not guaranteed you can go back to the regular Medicare. This was the only decision which may not be able to be reversed. So the Advantage Plans aren't the best choice for everyone, and/or this may vary state to state.

So that's your first decision: to go the Advantage route, or not. If not, choosing the supplement has a dizzying array of possibilities.

Then we went for high deductible plans.(ie why spend $1000/yr extra for potentially worst-case scenario $1500 more coverage etc.) We'll see how this all plays out after awhile, because you can change your Part D, the Rx, 1x/yr, and on the supplement at least that often if not more often, I don't recall.

Hope that helps.

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

Laurie, what state do you live in? I also have an advantage plan and I can change it during the enrollment period. I have never heard that you can't switch from an advantage to a supplement.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

Can you be on a Medicare advantage plan if you live part of the year in one state, and the rest in another state? will you be covered in the second state (for non emergencies?)

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

Laurie, what state do you live in? I also have an advantage plan and I can change it during the enrollment period. I have never heard that you can't switch from an advantage to a supplement.

Pat, state is NC, and we weren't told that no one can ever switch back, rather that you can't necessarily switch back when you choose to - could depend on your medical condition, or something like that.

But googling I found this for the state of CA, and it's probably similar:
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/med...ur-rights.html

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

Here's a pretty good comparison chart between Medicare Advantage Plan vs Medigap Supplement - for state of CA but seems universal (scroll to bottom).

Traditional medicare + Medigap supplements seem more universally accepted at more facilities, and more stable year-to-year, in general:

http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/adv.../choosing.html

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

Can you be on a Medicare advantage plan if you live part of the year in one state, and the rest in another state? will you be covered in the second state (for non emergencies?)

Probably depends on the specific plan, and who is on their list of accepted providers - you'd have to ask.

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

Medicare Answers

Enrollment Periods

http://www.medicareanswers.org/medic...lment-periods/

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Somebody is on to you JLB.

... I think you are just trying to make it difficult to stir things up....

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

I want to sign up for that Medicare Advantage plan that John says he pays ZERO for. ZERO, NADA, NOT ONE THIN DIME for ANYTHING. What insurance company sells insurance for ZERO dollars? Somebody is paying for it somehow. But apparently not John. Must be nice.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Maybe it's a welfare program ?

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

Medicare Advantage costs are higher, but the government pays the difference. I thought Obamacare was going to do away with it, but it looks like it is continuing. I would like that plan too. My supplemental plan has raised our deductible to around $1500 in network, and only counts the percent that Medicare doesn't pay, so it will take most of the year to reach it. also raised the premium.

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

Medicare Advantage Plans from Health Net

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.

JWC

Which Health Net Plan are you in?

https://www.healthnet.com/portal/sho...lanList.action

With a Medicare Advantage Plan
You must live in the service area for the Medicare Advantage Plan.

You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

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

I left AARP when they supported obamacare. In my opinion, they are no longer working for seniors, but for their own bottom line.
I have joined AMAC. http://amac.us/join-amac?gclid=CKyjr...FYii4AodkWQAOA If it matters to you, they are a conservative alternative to AARP and offer comparable products.

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

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.

Medicare Advantage plans vary a great deal depending on where you live. I have my choice of 29 different Medicare Advantage plans of which most of them do not have co-pays.

The MA plans are very strong in Southern California due to a large population and provider base.

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

...you're not guaranteed you can go back to the regular Medicare. This was the only decision which may not be able to be reversed. So the Advantage Plans aren't the best choice for everyone, and/or this may vary state to state.

I have never heard of that one before. I can change back to traditional Medicare with no problem.