← Return to Roadblock to Medical Care? Medicare Advantage Plans

Discussion

Roadblock to Medical Care? Medicare Advantage Plans

Just Want to Talk | Last Active: Sep 28 9:46pm | Replies (21)

Comment receiving replies
@sueinmn

I'm unsure what you mean when you say "Do I switch to straight medicare,? "
As far as I know, unless you have End Stage Renal failure, and maybe a few other diseases, you cannot sign up for Medicare until the month when you turn 65. For you that would be October 2025.

Here is what I suggest - find an INDEPENDENT - not tied to one company - insurance agent who specializes in Medicare or Health insurance. Start looking now, reading and asking questions of friends, neighbors and family members. Then, next year about 6 months ahead of your birthday, sit down with that person and find out what your options are, and the costs for each one.

In the mean time figure out what you need in an insurance policy
1) whether you have specific doctors you want to continue seeing,
2) whether you travel or plan to and will need coverage while away from home,
3) whether you have conditions that may worsen with age and require surgery or expensive care
4) what you can afford to pay for premiums and copays.
Sometimes the "zero premium" policies end up costing far more than one with a monthly premium. For example, if you need a joint replacement followed by a short rehab stay and then PT - if there is a $1000 hospital copy, then $50 copays each for physical 12 therapy sessions, and $200/day copays for a week in rehab, your out-of-pocket expenses for that one procedure are $3000. But if theses costs are all (or mostly) covered by a policy that costs $250 per month and gives you good coverage the rest of the year, you are way ahead.
My friend showed this calculation to a group of seniors in our winter community and they were amazed.
Do you live in/near a town or city where you can find a good agent?

Jump to this post


Replies to "I'm unsure what you mean when you say "Do I switch to straight medicare,? " As..."

Straight Medicare is the best( imo). I am living proof, any of my friends or family that have advantage plans have problems. To me it’s simple there is no “free-lunch”! When other plans offer things “better than Medicare” other things have to be cut/minimized.