Medicare only, no supplement

Hi, so I'm 62 and my Cobra ran out from my employer 7 months after my transplant (heart double lung), I saw the cost to get a supplemental in the premium was outrageous and then it doesn't cover prescription. I ended up after a lot of research using the AARP Medicare advantage plan their PPO plan. I can tell you that Mayo Clinic is in network and they are accepting that insurance and it was significantly cheaper when you add up all the max out of pocket and everything versus a supplemental. I know I'm going to revisit this when I turn 65 and probably switch to a supplemental then but right now I have a plan that covers Medicare a and b, prescriptions, dental, optical and the premium is 40 bucks a month now there are copays but I have not found them unreasonable at this point and I have biopsies and a lot of care that is done at Mayo. Be careful when people tell you that a Mayo does not accept an advantage plan it depends on the plan and it's kind of the other way around it's whether or not the advantage plan includes Mayo Clinic in their Network. Hope this helps best of luck.

Hi @chrisxkauffold 😊
It's so very nice to meet you! Congratulations on your DOUBLE transplant....how WONDERFUL!!
Also, thank you for sharing your positive AARP Medicare Advantage PPO experience.
I received a letter from Mayo alerting me that Mayo Clinic Florida is not "in-network" for most Medicare Advantage Plans.
It sounds like you were able to successfully research and identify an Advantage plan that is accepted by Mayo.
In the letter, Mayo included their TAX ID information to confirm with the insurance company that Mayo participates.
Thank you again for giving us a reminder that some Medicare Advantage plans are accepted by Mayo. That is very helpful information.
Is everything going well with your transplant? Are you starting to resume some of your activities now that you are feeling better?

Didn't think about other Mayo locations, I needed coverage specifically for Mayo Rochester and UW Health in Wisconsin, it was so hard, plus making sure the drug coverage was good for all the meds. I had help from the insurance company that manages my long term disability insurance, they referred me to a group that helps find additional insurance for Medicare.

The triple transplant is absolutely amazing, recovering will take a while but I'm here and wouldn't be without it.

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?

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!