1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

Best Medicare Insurance for MGUS and Multiple Myeloma?

Posted by agatha679 @agatha679, Nov 18, 2023

As it is time for Medicare insurance decisions I was wondering what kind of experience some of you have had with the Medicare Advantage plans versus original Medicare and a supplement when it comes to treating MGUS or Multiple Myeloma?
Do Advantage plans (Part C) give enough coverage for drugs and procedures, such as chemo or bone marrow transplants?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group.

barbdk | @barbdk | Nov 22, 2023
In reply to @agatha679 "Thank you so much you have given me a wealth of information! I appreciate you taking..." + (show)
@agatha679

Thank you so much you have given me a wealth of information! I appreciate you taking the time.

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Dr. Rajkumar just posted a Mayo Clinic Proceedings paper saying that Medicare with a supplemental plan & part D is superior to an advantage plan
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/pb-assets/Health%20Advance/journals/jmcp/Kantarjian-1700586506767.pdf

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2 replies
agatha679 | @agatha679 | Nov 22, 2023
In reply to @barbdk "Dr. Rajkumar just posted a Mayo Clinic Proceedings paper saying that Medicare with a supplemental plan..." + (show)
@barbdk

Dr. Rajkumar just posted a Mayo Clinic Proceedings paper saying that Medicare with a supplemental plan & part D is superior to an advantage plan
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/pb-assets/Health%20Advance/journals/jmcp/Kantarjian-1700586506767.pdf

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Good information! Thank you!

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agatha679 | @agatha679 | Nov 22, 2023
In reply to @gingerw "I am an active multiple myeloma patient, but also a kidney dialysis patient. For the last..." + (show)
@gingerw

I am an active multiple myeloma patient, but also a kidney dialysis patient. For the last 5 years I have been under a Plan F for my supplement, but premiums are getting outrageous. While looking into alternatives, my dialysis clinic told me they will only work with a supplement plan, not a Medicare Advantage plan.

So, I have a lot of things to look in to. sigh....
Ginger

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You can possibly drop to a plan G--premiums are lower and the only thing different than F is you have to pay the Medicare deductible--about $236. Once that is paid everything is like the plan F.

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1 reply
eileen11108 | @eileen11108 | Nov 23, 2023
In reply to @barbdk "Dr. Rajkumar just posted a Mayo Clinic Proceedings paper saying that Medicare with a supplemental plan..." + (show)
@barbdk

Dr. Rajkumar just posted a Mayo Clinic Proceedings paper saying that Medicare with a supplemental plan & part D is superior to an advantage plan
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/pb-assets/Health%20Advance/journals/jmcp/Kantarjian-1700586506767.pdf

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Agatha,
Thank you for forwarding this interesting article. It reinforces my husband’s decision to pay on his own for a Medigap and Drug plan in lieu of taking the free Retiree PPO plan being offered by AT&T. AT&T is dropping their $2,700 a year Health Reimbursement Account and offering only a Medicare Advantage PPO. This obviously saves them a lot of money.
Eileen

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njhornung | @normahorn | Nov 23, 2023

I am still chuckling over this statement that appeared in the report. "In 2023, the Medicare Advantage plans were at the top of the annual “Shkreli Awards”
list, which highlights health care’s most greedy and unethical behavior." That is sinking very low.

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1 reply
njhornung | @normahorn | Nov 24, 2023

My curiosity finally got the best of me and I found out that the Shkreli award is real and has been since 2017. How pathetic.

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agatha679 | @agatha679 | Nov 25, 2023
In reply to @normahorn "I am still chuckling over this statement that appeared in the report. "In 2023, the Medicare..." + (show)
@normahorn

I am still chuckling over this statement that appeared in the report. "In 2023, the Medicare Advantage plans were at the top of the annual “Shkreli Awards”
list, which highlights health care’s most greedy and unethical behavior." That is sinking very low.

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Now I get it! Shaneful!

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @agatha679 "You can possibly drop to a plan G--premiums are lower and the only thing different than..." + (show)
@agatha679

You can possibly drop to a plan G--premiums are lower and the only thing different than F is you have to pay the Medicare deductible--about $236. Once that is paid everything is like the plan F.

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@agatha679 Today I was able to change over to a Plan G, from my Plan F. I have been with United Healthcare through AARP since 2018. It was a very simple conversation [I had done my own research, also!], and for me there was no application needed. My new premium will be $82 less per month than if I stayed on Plan F. In 3 months I will have saved the Part B deductible amount. At my birthday month, the old plan would have gone up $26 per month. With Plan G it will go up $11.

Definitely worth looking into what plans might work for you! Definitely glad I decided to make that change!
Ginger

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1 reply
agatha679 | @agatha679 | Nov 29, 2023
In reply to @gingerw "@agatha679 Today I was able to change over to a Plan G, from my Plan F...." + (show)
@gingerw

@agatha679 Today I was able to change over to a Plan G, from my Plan F. I have been with United Healthcare through AARP since 2018. It was a very simple conversation [I had done my own research, also!], and for me there was no application needed. My new premium will be $82 less per month than if I stayed on Plan F. In 3 months I will have saved the Part B deductible amount. At my birthday month, the old plan would have gone up $26 per month. With Plan G it will go up $11.

Definitely worth looking into what plans might work for you! Definitely glad I decided to make that change!
Ginger

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Thanks! Yes I am in the process of getting into AARP/UHC plan G--I have some paperwork to complete (which I haven't yet received). Good to know you made that change and are saving $$. Every little bit counts these days!

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1 reply
eileen11108 | @eileen11108 | Nov 29, 2023
In reply to @agatha679 "Thanks! Yes I am in the process of getting into AARP/UHC plan G--I have some paperwork..." + (show)
@agatha679

Thanks! Yes I am in the process of getting into AARP/UHC plan G--I have some paperwork to complete (which I haven't yet received). Good to know you made that change and are saving $$. Every little bit counts these days!

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Hi @agatha679

Remember December 7 is the last day to enroll. If you do not get it today have them rush the application!

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