MBC and Going on Medicare soon, any advice.

While I am inclined to agree, maybe you could post some text with links. This way members can decide if they want to read it or not.
Thanks to the scammers of the world we are rightly suspicious of unexplained links.
My experience is that Medicare advantage plans are typically not the best choice for most folks who have complex medical issues. There might be exceptions to that but I have familial experience with two. In the year that they were active, they paid exactly zero dollars, we found ourselves at the mercy of a private insurer that had a way out of every single charge. Two different plans in two different states, for two different relatives, and a complete waste of money, time, and paper.

Just adding I have several complex issues. My Medicare Advantage plan has a special program for people with five or more serious conditions and I qualify. I get home visits from a nurse periodically and can call them anytime for a home visit. They also do blood tests and mobile x-ray. For no charge.

Wow, thank you all for your input, I'm learning a lot from your posts. We live in SC, so I don't yet know what she can sign up for. But since she has been on disability for almost two years, she is being forced into Medicare, we only have until May 1st to pick her plan. We did just get something from AARP, but I poo-pooed at it thinking there were just trying to get us to sign up by offering us their free grab and go cooler ! I will look into that as a supplement, I didn't even know they handled supplements.
Thanks everybody !!

Few comments after reading others comments

A few people mentioned Medicare with a supplemental plan F, that is no longer available for new Medicare enrollees. I missed it by a year.

I was just finishing up my cancer treatment when turned 65. I took original / traditional Medicare with a Supplemental G plan (Blue Cross). It is higher premium and require separate drug plan, but low deductible then almost everything is paid for. I would rather budget for premiums and not have any surprise bills. It also gave me more options for where I could receive treatment.

Another reason I started with plan G, because the only time you can sign up for without medical questions is when first start Medicare. If start with something else and then try go with Plan G, you can get tuned down for pre-existing. Someone else commented that happen to them. I can always switch to something else in future if decide to.

As other have mentioned, when ask a clinic / hospital if take Medicare, make sure you understand if take traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, and which Medicare Advantage Plans they take. Even at Mayo, different locations have different policies.

Laurie

At 79 I am pleased with plan G on my supplement policy. I had plan F since 65 and about 4 years ago when changing ins. company I decided on plan G. I could have continued with F but cost was a factor. I have a deductible but when that has been paid then anything else is covered if covered by medicare. Have a separate drug plan for pennies a month. Given my health history, I feel good about my choices for coverage.

Just want to reiterate that almost 50% of those 65 and older- 48% in 2022- are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, a proportion not reflected in this thread. Many are PPO's that allow you to see providers in different systems, and many are managed HMO's. There is a variety of combinations of premium and co-pays. I am very happy with mine and feel this thread may dissuade others from doing an Advantage plan. In our state, hospitals and senior centers have financial counselors who can help with this decision. I consulted 4!
https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-in-2022-enrollment-update-and-key-trends/

Windyshores,
Thanks for the link, I skimmed over it while having my coffee. I am currently on hold for the doctor/hospital financial dept. to see which plans they may or may not accept. I'm with you, I am planning on consulting several different organizations before making a decision. I think I may just be starting to understand how this Medicare thing works!

This April I turn 65 I plan on sticking with Medicare Part A and B and having a medigap G to cover what Medicare does not. Bonus my G plan costs 114.00 but also covers a gym membership that would cost me about 80.00 a month out of pocket and it won't cost me a dime! Time to get in shape!!! I'm not taking any chances with the advantage plans. Also some hospitals/drs etc accept medicare assignment meaning they write off the balance, even if you don't have a supplement. I remember my parents never paying out of pocket for anything when they had Medicare and they never had a supplement. I'm done with private insurance!

My Advantage plan pays $150 for gym or Y membership, yoga etc. 🙂 My premium is $79/month.

My husband and I have Medicare plus AARP / United Health supplemental plan. We also have United Health drug plan. We live in SC.
We signed up when we were both quite healthy. Within a couple of years I started having medical problems- great Medicare coverage.
We did not want Medicare Advantage- I felt it would limit our access to care of our choice.