Medicare what do you use?

[jsburger]

I do not see where that contradicts anything Ed posted.

I know for sure Supplement Plan F will only be available to those already participating starting 2020.

Because he said your plan F was going to be phased out. From what I read that is not true. The only thing changing is the companies that provide coverage under Advantage. I am sure that changes all the time so you have to change companies. The coverage didn't go away just your company. Dusty's refference says if your Advantage company goes away you can still get coverage with another company with Advantage or Selet Plan F among others.

And the military too? I don't think so. As Dusty said our coverage is great under Tricare as I said in a previous post.

[JPG]

I do not see where that contradicts anything Ed posted.

I know for sure Supplement Plan F will only be available to those already participating starting 2020.

Because he said your plan F was going to be phased out. From what I read that is not true. The only thing changing is the companies that provide coverage under Advantage. I am sure that changes all the time so you have to change companies. The coverage didn't go away just your company. Dusty's refference says if your Advantage company goes away you can still get coverage with another company with Advantage or Selet Plan F among others.

And the military too? I don't think so. As Dusty said our coverage is great under Tricare as I said in a previous post.

Dusty's link was about advantage plans.

Ed agreed with me re Plan F being phased out(for new enrollees - existing 'patrons' can continue).

Again extrapolation beyond what is said gets us into the twilight zone.

[Ed in Tampa]

Medicare supplement Plan F. Pays all deductables, co-pays and that 20%. Nothing out of pocket. Prescription coverage separate. Ain't cheap(monthly premium). Due to be phased out shortly. I am considering switching to Plan G.

I am fortunate my former employer has a annual 'benefit' that goes to reimburse any medical costs as well as dental ...

Yes plan F is going to be phased out but you are grandfather in. However I hear there is yet another shoe to be dropped. The best guess is supplement will go away completely to be replaced with advantage plans. Military too.

I guess I would have to ask "Just where do you get your False News", Ed? When you make statements like these, please provide at least references to your sources.

https://medicare.com/medicare-advantage ... hased-out/ Read more than the head lines. Avoid being likened unto today's Media.

Once again you did not read what I wrote. I never said the advantage plan were being phased out. In fact they are being reenforced.
What is said is the supplemental or gap insurers plan F is going to be phased out.

Also many discussions on Mecicare by experts all agree the government would be most happy if everyone was on a Medicare advantage plan. There are various reasons for this reduced costs, reduced paper work for the government reduced oversight by government and reduced drug costs. Now does that spell the end of the “ Gap” plans I do not know but we all know the cost of Medicare is killing the government and anything that promises cost savings is being looked at.

Right now I pay about $200;a month for plan F gap plus $134 to Medicare. There are advantage plans that are free and on or two of them actually refund part or all $134 I now pay.

That means they can give me health care for less than the government is now spending.
What does that say to you? That shoe is still in the air but it can drop any day.

[BigSky]

Medicare supplement Plan F. Pays all deductables, co-pays and that 20%. Nothing out of pocket. Prescription coverage separate. Ain't cheap(monthly premium). Due to be phased out shortly. I am considering switching to Plan G.

I am fortunate my former employer has a annual 'benefit' that goes to reimburse any medical costs as well as dental ...

Yes plan F is going to be phased out but you are grandfather in. However I hear there is yet another shoe to be dropped. The best guess is supplement will go away completely to be replaced with advantage plans. Military too.

This is one of those times when guessing can get us into deep dodo.

[Ed in Tampa]

Fact Medicare Gap insurance also known as supplemental insurance has an option called plan F which basically covers everything Medicare itself does not, including the Medicare copays and deductibles.

Fact the government has decided that plan F should no longer be offered. A new plan, plan G is being offered. It pays for everything plan F did with the exception of the deductible. I believe this takes place next year for 2020 insurance. Also anyone that has plan F now is grandfathered in and can keep the plan.

Fact I was thinking of moving from the plan F to an advantage plan which was much cheaper but surprisingly include part D drug coverage and dental and eye care. My agent said do not do that until at least next year. He gave me the reason that further changes were coming to Medicare and I needed to wait. I checked with another insurance seller and they basically said to wait. I then called the company that is provided for by my retirement company and they said best stay where you are at for this year.

That suggests to me that something is afloat. Internet news CNN, Fox, Time, US News, and many others that report on the internet are saying major changes are coming to Medicare. Not so much a reduction of service or benefits but in how it is administered. Most favor Advantage type of coverage as the likely winner.

I posed this question to satisfy my curiosity, as I said I have plan F which costs me $200 plus the $134/ deducted from my SS a month. I also pay that for my wife so between we are paying $678 then we still have to get plan D coverage for drugs. An advantage plan would give us all of that and many are free some even refund a portion of $134 deduction and most offer additional coverage such as dental and eye care. There are deductables and copay and that is where it gets dicey. Hence the reason for my poll. It was not to start a Medicare the sky is falling discussion.

[Ed in Tampa]

So far it looks like a tie between Gap and Advantage plans for guys that do not have access to millitary option.

I wonder why each made the choice? Was it money consideration? A favored doctor? Access to care needed? Or something else?

I have buddies that swear by Advantage plans and some that only consider Gap plans.

Which are you and why please vote and tells us why you made the choice you did.

[db5]

About Plan F and G - what you should know.

For the first year of Medicare anyone who wants Plan F is accepted. This has driven up the annual premium price and the cost to the insurance companies. Thus it goes away in 2020. If you want to switch to that plan now you can be denied based on your health. Plan G is essentially the same plan but is more difficult to get. However, once in you are IN. My wife has Plan J (gone years ago) but the annual cost is much less than F or G. All 3 are essentially the same. With her health issues we have saved much more than the annual premium in the past 15 years.

Each state has it's own plan options. I put together an extensive spreadsheet comparing AARP Medicare Advantage and Aetna/Coventry which are the two best plans in Oklahoma. It is color coded and easy to read as well as update annually. If you want a copy PM me and I'll email it. The insurance agent I'm with (who sells all plans)said it was the most comprehensive and easiest to understand she had ever seen and asked for permission to use it.

[dickg1]

db5 writes: "For the first year of Medicare anyone who wants Plan F is accepted. This has driven up the annual premium price and the cost to the insurance companies. Thus it goes away in 2020."

I am a Medicare Coordinator for a county in New Jersey and have been certified as a SHIP (State Health Insurance assistance Program)counselor for 15 years. The quoted statement above is not 100% correct.

First, we will assume you are turning 65 and have not been on Medicare for disability or not on an insurance program offered by an employer. In this instance you have seven months to enroll in Medicare - three months prior to your birth month, your birth month and three months after your birth month. You have the same period to enroll in a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. You have six months after your Medicare Part B date to enroll in a Medigap (supplement) plan. These periods are a guaranteed issue time. No company may refuse you, EXCEPT an MA plan will not accept you if you have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

The reason plan C and plan F will no longer be available for enrollment starting in 2020 is because, currently, these are the only plans that pay your Medicare Part B deductible for you. You actually pay the deductible because 1/12th of the deductible is added to your premium PLUS an administrative charge for paying bills incurred in the deductible period. Consider that none of your payment is returned if you did not use the full deductible it is free money that the insurance company keeps. Since everyone pays the deductible it is much better to pay it as you use it rather than paying the full deductible plus the admin charge.

Plan J was discontinued for enrollment June 1 of 2010. It was discontinued because it became obsolete. The plan pays $1600 for a private nurse in the home after Medicare stops paying. At $200 (or so) per visit it does not seem a reasonable option. Plan J also pays $250 for an annual physical but it has to be claimed. It is not automatically paid. Since Medicare now includes an annual Wellness check which is paid by Medicare that feature of Plan J is also obsolete.

Dick

[Ed in Tampa]

Dick can you offer any perspective on advantage plans?

[dickg1]

Dick can you offer any perspective on advantage plans?

Ed,
Medicare Advantage(MA) plans are regional specific. Since I am in New Jersey and you are in Florida the only thing I can offer is a generality.

The purpose of an MA is to induce a person to transfer from original Medicare to private Medicare. The goal is to use the private sector to assume the liability of Medicare and presumably do it at a lower cost. Consequently, many MA plans include a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and coverage for hearing, dental and vision (optometrists.) Plans (HMO.PPO, etc.) may be offered at a zero (0) or a low premium. This coming year (at least in New Jersey) there are plans that will cost nothing ($0) and provide a credit toward the Part B premium. One plan we have in my county credits $32 to the Part B premium. This lowers the 2019 $135.50 premium for most of us to 103.50 with the $32.00 increasing the SSA deposit to your checking account.

The positives of an MA are that it provides the same coverage as Medicare and adds PDP coverage as well as, in many plans, hearing, dental and vision coverage that Medicare otherwise does not cover.

The negatives are that you must use the medical facilities that are in the plan's network and that Medicare will not pay for any services provided outside of the network.

In conclusion, an MA plan is a viable alternative to original Medicare. A vital criterion is the medical history, current and potential for an individual. If there are significant issues, an MA plan may not be the best choice because the copays for services may become excessive, The current limit for medical service copays is $6500 (plans may be lower, but that is the max). If you reach that maximum number the plan then pays the copay so your bills are zero. (I have had only two that have reached that limit, and that was in November.)

Ed, I hope that gives some insight into MA plans. I am sorry that I cannot offer specifics for your area, but hopefully this offers some information.

Dick