Social Security and Medicare

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

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?)

It depends whether your MA plan is an HMO or PPO. The vast majority of MA plans are HMOs thou PPOs do exist. A MA HMO plan limits you to the area where your primary residence is except for something requiring immediate attention.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

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.

There are only 3 MA plans offered for my area in NorCal (all Blue Cross affiliated) and all have hefty co-pays. Health Net is unavailable in my region. Living in a densely populated area has an advantage for health care. We only have one hospital in the entire county and it is a private for-profit. It accepts Medicare but many local doctors do not. Fortunately, we have an employer provided plan with good coverage & reasonable co-pays.

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

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.

You haven't a clue what you are talking about. Mine is nothing special. It is available to any senior living in Riverside county. There are many other MA plans that are very similar.

The Medicare Advantage Plans receive a payment from the federal government for every subscriber. I don't know what they get this year but a couple years ago Health Net received $1100 /mo. What it boils down to is you have the option to get private insurance in lieu of the Government Medicare and the government pays your premium.

If you are interested in learning something instead of making idiotic comments, you can check it for yourself at:

http://www.medicare.gov/

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

Maybe it's a welfare program ?

No, It is not a welfare program. My income is far too high ot qualify for any governemnt assistance.

You guys should learn something before making ridiculous comments.

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

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.

My wife and I did exactly the same thing a couple years ago and for the same reasons.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

No, It is not a welfare program. My income is far too high ot qualify for any governemnt assistance.

You guys should learn something before making ridiculous comments.

John said"The Medicare Advantage Plans receive a payment from the federal government for every subscriber. I don't know what they get this year but a couple years ago Health Net received $1100 /mo. What it boils down to is you have the option to get private insurance in lieu of the Government Medicare and the government pays your premium."

Sounds a lot like a welfare program to me. So you claim you don't get ANY gov't assistance yet you state the gov't pays your insurance premium. Does the payment stop if the government shuts down?

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

why does the government pay this?

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

The Medicare Advantage Plans receive a payment from the federal government for every subscriber. I don't know what they get this year but a couple years ago Health Net received $1100 /mo.

No, It is not a welfare program. My income is far too high ot qualify for any government assistance.

Seriously? The federal government is paying $1100/mo or so per month for you, and you don't consider that government assistance?

"Welfare", at least around here, refers to getting money from the government you didn't pay in first (Social Security and unemployment are generally not considered welfare even if people take out more than they paid in). That's why people refer to "corporate welfare" -- those corporations aren't getting any money from AFDC (or whatever they call it now), but they're still being subsidized by the government.

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

John said"The Medicare Advantage Plans receive a payment from the federal government for every subscriber. I don't know what they get this year but a couple years ago Health Net received $1100 /mo. What it boils down to is you have the option to get private insurance in lieu of the Government Medicare and the government pays your premium."

Sounds a lot like a welfare program to me. So you claim you don't get ANY gov't assistance yet you state the gov't pays your insurance premium. Does the payment stop if the government shuts down?

You people are impossible. I don't know why I even respond to you. If Medicare Advantage Plans are welfare than traditional Medicare is also welfare. MA plans are just another Medicare option,

You are just jealous because you choose to live where good health care is not available.

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

Seriously? The federal government is paying $1100/mo or so per month for you, and you don't consider that government assistance?

"Welfare", at least around here, refers to getting money from the government you didn't pay in first (Social Security and unemployment are generally not considered welfare even if people take out more than they paid in). That's why people refer to "corporate welfare" -- those corporations aren't getting any money from AFDC (or whatever they call it now), but they're still being subsidized by the government.

You people should learn something about Medicare and Medicare advantage plans before spouting off. It is all part of Medicare so if you consider MA plans to be welfare than traditional Medicare is. The money comes from Medicare to fund these programs.

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

why does the government pay this?

How many time does it have to be explained. The government pays for it because MA plans are a Medicare option that is paid for by Medicare.

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

We pay for Medicare and the supplemental plan, you don't ? Sounds like welfare to me. Of course it seems you always seem to have something better than anyone else. I have a name for that---maybe a few names. So, explain to me why everyone else seems to either have to pay for a supplemental plan or pay a co-pay under one while you don't.

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

It is all part of Medicare so if you consider MA plans to be welfare than traditional Medicare is. The money comes from Medicare to fund these programs.

Correct. Medicare is also considered Welfare. If someone didn't directly pay for the program, then it's welfare. Social Security and Unemployment are considered government-run insurance plans that you have no choice but to contribute to, so you have a right to those. Welfare is money the government gives you that you never "paid for".

Why are you so upset that people see that as welfare?

So, explain to me why everyone else seems to either have to pay for a supplemental plan or pay a co-pay under one while you don't.

My question is, if JWC is so good at working they system when it comes to health care, why can't he get rid of a few measly Timeshares? They involve similar skills.

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

If I could have deleted it, as OP can do on other forums, I woulda.



Let me ask this way, if it's not too much trouble. Of course, if it is for anyone, just don't answer.

For those who do, thanks.

For those on Medicare, what do you have, and why, or why not what you don't have?

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

I have a Medicare Advantage program because 1) I am healthy and rarely go to the Dr. 2) I only take 2 prescriptions, neither of which is for a life threatening problem. 3) I am cheap.

That said I will probably change to a traditional supplement/drug program for 2014. The reasons for that is 1) I need cataract and eye lift surgery and I will pay a lot less under the traditional plan. 2) The copays for Dr's is $30/$50. The problem I am having is most don't cover 1 prescription.

If you don't take parts B & D when you are first eligible, you will be penalized when you do.