Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Aug2019. No physical therapy. There is a lot of push for a quality of life hip replacement, but given the penchant for infection, I'm reluctant

@rwinney

We found a good financial advisor who takes care of finding the best secondary. He's been a big help. Our secondary medical insurance is with IAC (Individual Assurance Corp.), and prescription is with Humana. I like the 90 day mail order pharmacy at Humana. Of course a couple of meds are controlled substances so they can't do more than 30 days on them. But they mail out prescriptions a week ahead of the refill date so we don't run out of anything.

Jim

Going on 3rd year of Medicare with a Plan G supplement. Its around $100 a month and after an annual deductible of $149 it covers everything (that medicare covers). I never pay a cent over the initial deductible. EnvisionRX is my Part D - its around $15 a month. I think all Part D's are pretty much the same. If you know you are going to have a lot of medical you need either F or G, F covers everything but premium difference is much more than the $149 deductible with G. Of course premiums vary based on gender and the state you live in. Good luck.

Going on 3rd year of Medicare with a Plan G supplement. Its around $100 a month and after an annual deductible of $149 it covers everything (that medicare covers). I never pay a cent over the initial deductible. EnvisionRX is my Part D - its around $15 a month. I think all Part D's are pretty much the same. If you know you are going to have a lot of medical you need either F or G, F covers everything but premium difference is much more than the $149 deductible with G. Of course premiums vary based on gender and the state you live in. Good luck.

If your concern is network, get a Medicare Supplement, NOT an Advantage Plan. For Advantage, the feds give your Medicare premium to a private company like United Healthcare, and it operates like an HMO with a network and a huge interest in keeping the cost of your care below the "capitated" amount they are paid by CMS.
As far as the prescription costs, when you are looking at a Part D provider, check their formulary to see if it is covered and what your costs will be. Its a bizarre system, you can't count on a steady monthly cost because you go through different phases. You might pay a $250 copay in January because it includes your deductible and $50 in February then suddenly in June it goes back up and then goes way down again in Sept depending on what phase you are in and your overall (not individual drug) out of pocket costs are. Honestly, I haven't cracked that nut, and I use GoodRX for my pain meds because they arbitrarily cut them on me earlier in the year.

@rwinney

We found a good financial advisor who takes care of finding the best secondary. He's been a big help. Our secondary medical insurance is with IAC (Individual Assurance Corp.), and prescription is with Humana. I like the 90 day mail order pharmacy at Humana. Of course a couple of meds are controlled substances so they can't do more than 30 days on them. But they mail out prescriptions a week ahead of the refill date so we don't run out of anything.

Jim

@jimhd As I approached Medicare age, I went to an ombudsman in the Area Agency on Aging in the county where I was living. My situation was a bit different, as I knew I was moving the same month as turning 65, to another county. We researched based on new county, and was advised to consider a secondary coverage that would allow me to choose my own drs. Coming from an HMO coverage, I went to a PPO plan with United Healthcare, as offered through AARP, and have been very happy with them. Dues to health issues I went with a Plan F, and am so glad I did, as my health has declined. I went with Humana for my prescription plan, and again have been very pleased. ** I am not employed by either of them, and receive no compensation from them for telling you this. Do your homework, make informed decisions. When I moved to another state two months ago, I was able to bring all my coverage with me.
Ginger