@naturegirl5 This is a great conversation. Helen, I did just as you suggested and called the Mayo billing office to find out which Supplemental insurance plans (Medigap) were accepted at Mayo Clinic with Traditional Medicare. They are designated by the letters either "F" or "G", and are named after the issuing company such as Mutual of Omaha, etc. At lot of Medigap plans have local limits and don't allow a patient to travel out of their own state for medical care, but there are a few that may have nationwide coverage, such as Mutual of Omaha or a United Health Care that is purchased through membership in AARP. (that information subject to change by insurance companies)

You are correct in staying with traditional Medicare in order to have care available nationwide. If you take a Medicare Advantage Plan (not the same as Medicare), you are stuck with their local networks and it is very difficult to be able to get off them and on to Traditional Medicare after that. Unfortunately, the commercials for these advantage plans bombard us with aging celebrities and sports figures promoting them promising all kinds of things like cash back, gym memberships and dental plans that you can get if you call the number to check your zip code. If you accept these promotions, you will be giving up your right to chose care out of your state of residence and will be limited to doctors in their network only.

I want to be able to come back to Mayo if I need further care in the future, and I don't live in any of the 3 states where there are Mayo campuses. I just signed up for Medicare, and will be choosing the supplement insurance soon which is denoted as a "G" plan. Traditional Medicare is part "A & B." Part "C" is an advantage plan that I am avoiding. Part "D" is for prescription drugs. There is a part "F", and if you have "F" or "G" depends on some criteria. You can have one or the other. If you choose the Advantage plan, you only have "C". If you choose Traditional Medicare you will have "A" + "B" + "D" (if you select a prescription drug plan) + either "F or G".