Medicare what do you use?

[JPG]

Well Ed in Tampa, all this discussion has become moot now.(for us at least)

[edflorence]

all this discussion has become moot now.(for us at least)

How come? I just re-read this thread and it all seems to be relevant still. The wife and I have had traditional Medicare with a supplemental plan since retiring over a decade ago. I have Plan F and she has Plan G. Switching to a MA plan would save us about $400 per month, which is a meaningful amount ( read "new truck payment", well part of anyway). Whenever the open enrollment period comes around I wonder again if we should switch. I have not so far because A) we really like the coverage we have...no bills, no hassles, see any doctor and B) I have heard that since MA plans are run by businesses versus the government, bean counters are more prone to deny claims and make you have to file an appeal. I don't know if that is true and would love to hear if anyone has experienced that. I had a pacemaker implanted about 10 weeks ago...the final bill came to a bit over $40,000, on which I had to pay zip, zero, nada. Finally, C) I heard, but have not looked into it so am not sure if it is accurate, that some physician groups are not taking patients with MA plans because it is too difficult to get payments. The example I heard was the Mayo Clinic...supposedly not taking MA plans. Does anyone know for sure?

[JPG]

Re the discussion being moot - Ed and I were formerly employed by the same corporation. Said corporation up until recently provided significant funds which allowed us to chose our third party health insurance provider and apply for reimbursement. Recently that was abandoned by the corporation and was replaced by a MA plan. So we no longer have a viable option.

[edflorence]

Ah...that clears it up for me...thanks JPG. I would be interested in hearing how you like the new plan after you have had a chance to get used to it.

[dusty]

Hope you never know for certain how you like the new plan. All to often one learns what they don,t like when the denial letter arrives.

[JPG]

Ah...that clears it up for me...thanks JPG. I would be interested in hearing how you like the new plan after you have had a chance to get used to it.

Well it has been an adjustment period this year(and last year). Most notable has been the elimination of monthly payments and the reimbursement process. Secondly has been the inclusion of prescription drug coverage. Lastly the requirement of co-pays and determination of who can supply health services covered.

Since both my wife and I are in fairly decent health our annual out of pocket spending on health care has decreased. That said what the effect will be if major care becomes necessary remains to be seen. Under the previous arrangement(plan F...) we went through major health issues with no hit beyond the monthly plan F payments.

Time will tell.