UCARE coverage and MDS

@tinytwiggy I suggest you find an independent Medicare agent, who works with several insurance companies, to help you learn as much as you can about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and supplemental policies.
The person you work with needs to understand your financial situation, current health, chronic conditions, medications and possible coming issues. They also need to understand what providers you want to have access to, whether or not you need ready coverage while you travel, or if you are or might want to be "snowbirds". Many policies that hook you into a specific Network offer on dire emergency care away from home, and people with chronic conditions may need better options.

You also need to ask about requirements for "prior authorization" for treatment. Some insurers are better than others at handling this issue. This is especially important if a chronic disease progresses, and the doctors may advise trying newer or "off label" treatments.

Contact an independent insurance agency near you, or ask your friends, to help you find the right person. Be prepared to ask lots of questions and take a lot of notes!

Thank you for all this great information. My husband is 63, so a bit longer before he'll qualify for Medicare. We have talked to our local experts, some policies good but don't cover care at the Mayo clinic. He wants to keep the experts we have there. He can use his Cobra through work but higher cost and high deductible. It did cover well this past year though, once the deductible we met. For peace of mind, we might opt to go that route. Spent hours on the phone today. UCARE was less than half the cost and sounded good for most of all he needed. Less deductible and Mayo was in network there too. Only problem he said none of the companies he searched with us covered his epo shots. 😞 We did get prior approval for the shot through BCBS of MN this first time. If they covered it once, it should cover again. I would guess? I learned we can call/apply for patient assistance through the drug company too, if all else fails.
Just so much to figure out. We'll keep working on it. Thanks again.