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Medicare only, no supplement

Transplants | Last Active: Nov 6, 2023 | Replies (25)

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@hello1234

Hi @scottij 😊
It's so great to hear from you!! Thank you so much for joining in...
After my transplant, I also had COBRA for almost 2 years.
When my COBRA ended, I purchased a Blue Cross individual policy to replace the COBRA. I probably should have purchased a supplement at that time.
The price of the individual policy in 2024 is crazy high.
Also, the individual health policies have super high deductibles so it really didn't cover the 20%.
I looked at my health charges this year and mathematically I would be better off with Medicare only (unless I needed some major surgery, which I did not).
If I just paid the out of pocket directly like I ended up doing this year, and kept my high premiums, it would have been worth over $10,000 in my pocket.
I am being told that the Medicare supplement requires underwriting now since I didn't do it immediately after my transplant.
I am not sure if there is any guaranteed issue period for Medicare Supplement disability like there is at age 65.
Do you happen to know if there is a guaranteed issue period for a Medicare Supplement policy after a transplant?

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Replies to "Hi @scottij 😊 It's so great to hear from you!! Thank you so much for joining..."

Hmmm, I do not know about a guaranteed issue period nor about an underwriting requirement. My supplement plan is a United Health Care/AARP plan, and the cost is just short of $250 per month but it covers both my wife and me. So for us, the $3K per year in addition to Part D costs ($50/month for me in 2024 and, believe it or not $0/month for my wife) have been worth it to date as I have had a lot of minor issues post heart transplant. (Two new hips thanks to tacrolimus, right shoulder issues, and so on.)

Perhaps a catastrophic only plan just in case?

What a screwed-up health care system we have in the US. Greatest technology in the world but the system in which is administered and accounted (paid for) is a mess.

Also I do know Medicare plans vary in cost by state and county/zip code.
Sorry I was not much help. I do not seem to have the same issues in getting care or paying for it that others have.
Best always,
s!