7% Saline Success Story that warmed my heart.

I have great Medicare. I retired with the state of GA and they provide our Medicare meds and Dr care. I pay the $177.00 per month out of my Medicare check to the feds but never use Federal Medicare program. I give my Dr.s , hospitals, and pharmacy my State of GA Medicare card. They pay for everything.

Amthem (old Blue Cross Blue Shield) Medicare pays for my 7% saline.

It appears you are on a State Plan that is an Advantage Plan and not a Supplement Plan.
It appears you are in a State Advantage Plan and chose not to be insured with the Original Medicare Plan and it appears that is why you do not need to show your Original Medicare Plan Card.
Those of us on a State Plan in OK can be on the Original Medicare Plan they choose and have the Supplement Plan at the same time or they can be on the State Advantage Plan and no longer have the Original Medicare Plan coverage. In other words the Supplement Plan keeps you in the Original Medicare Plan of your choice ( I have plan G). The Supplement with the Original Medicare Plan works together. The Original Medicare Plan as the primary plan and the Supplement plan as the secondary plan. One of the big differences is who gets to chose where you can go for medical help and who you can see as a doctor, hospital or clinic etc.
The Original Medicare Plan allows you to go anywhere. to see any medical professional in the US that accepts Medicare and in many cases you don't need referrals from a primary doctor if you want to see a specialist. Generally one of the other big differences that usually comes into play is the costs of a hospitalization and the deductible costs for the hospital stay.
There is so much to really understand when it comes to insurance, as we know.
The costs, as with almost everything, of insurance plans are also a big factor when it comes to deciding.
Hope this and Sue's reply has helped anyone who needs to decide at age 65 when it is time for Medicare sign up.
Barbara

From what I understand with the regular Medicare system you pick a plan. There was a discussion on a group about Medicare Advantage Plans not paying and denying coverage for certain things. It must be cheaper, I have no clue. Maybe you should check into other plans. Somebody who used Medicare said they picked Group G and it was fantastic. All I know about the Federal Medicare system is what I see on TV ads. My SHBP Medicare program pays for all of my drugs. Never been denied coverage. Now I might have to jump threw a few hoops to get what I need but it has always worked out.

I made the mistake of doing one of those 'supplement' plans and it almost killed me! I needed to get on tobi and the rx plan I was under did not cover it! Took me 6 weeks of fighting with the all kinds of offices to get off of it and then finally I got my meds!

I made the mistake of doing one of those 'supplement' plans and it almost killed me! I needed to get on tobi and the rx plan I was under did not cover it! Took me 6 weeks of fighting with the all kinds of offices to get off of it and then finally I got my meds!

The Advantage Plan, as you know, is not a Supplement Plan...
The Advantage Plan stands on its own and is also known as Plan C....
The Supplement Plan supplements Original Medicare, as you know.
Original Medicare with Medicaid, as you know, is a third health plan arrangement.
1, the Original Medicare Plan with the Supplement and Plan D (Plan D being the drug plan)
and
2. A pure Advantage Plan alone.
3. Original Medicare with Medicaid.
Three different types of arrangements.
The problem is any of the plans will have the same type of "fight' quite often. Somewhat like Home Insurance some times. Insurance carriers/plans make you go through hoops and you have to fight for what you need and what is best etc. As we know there is much that needs to change with how health care is handled.
Hope we have helped others with our discussion, Beejenigma
Barbara

I had to RUN back to original Medicare and Medicaid. I will never again use anything else.

It appears you are on a State Plan that is an Advantage Plan and not a Supplement Plan.
It appears you are in a State Advantage Plan and chose not to be insured with the Original Medicare Plan and it appears that is why you do not need to show your Original Medicare Plan Card.
Those of us on a State Plan in OK can be on the Original Medicare Plan they choose and have the Supplement Plan at the same time or they can be on the State Advantage Plan and no longer have the Original Medicare Plan coverage. In other words the Supplement Plan keeps you in the Original Medicare Plan of your choice ( I have plan G). The Supplement with the Original Medicare Plan works together. The Original Medicare Plan as the primary plan and the Supplement plan as the secondary plan. One of the big differences is who gets to chose where you can go for medical help and who you can see as a doctor, hospital or clinic etc.
The Original Medicare Plan allows you to go anywhere. to see any medical professional in the US that accepts Medicare and in many cases you don't need referrals from a primary doctor if you want to see a specialist. Generally one of the other big differences that usually comes into play is the costs of a hospitalization and the deductible costs for the hospital stay.
There is so much to really understand when it comes to insurance, as we know.
The costs, as with almost everything, of insurance plans are also a big factor when it comes to deciding.
Hope this and Sue's reply has helped anyone who needs to decide at age 65 when it is time for Medicare sign up.
Barbara