which insurance plan to chose ?

[LouNY]

When I was actively looking and checking the various plans,
many of the advantage plans accepted the Part B premium as their payment and some even "gave" back a bit.

My supplement which is a plan "G" is $292 in addition to my Part "B" premium which is $185 per month,
so $477 per month for medicare plus $38.70 for my prescription coverage, so a bit over $515 per month.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

The more I look at it, I believe they are trying to bait people into an advantage with the “we will reimburse part B”, while listing it under the Traditional Medicare.

I have to keep traditional insurance for my wife’s coverage. Looks like I’ll have to pay both.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

On a related subject, was watching the latest MedicareSchool video today on the SS Fairness Act just passed, eliminating the WEP and GPO reductions.
He explains the formula for calculating your SS benefit.
So I ran his method on my numbers that I downloaded today from SSA. MedicareSchool method (based on 2025 numbers) is almost $700 month lower than what the SSA statement says for my FRA amount. Gotta figure out why the difference.

SSA statement says I can claim today, at reduced rate, and it's still higher than the amount MedicareSchool calculation gives.

 

[WM75Guy]

I started receiving SS this month at FRA. My benefit was within $3 of what the SS website estimate was showing. My application was processed prior to the signing of the bill. Fortunately, the cities I worked for paid into SS so my amount wasn't reduced, avoiding that hassle. My Medicare premium is deducted from my SS check starting this month.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I started receiving SS this month at FRA. My benefit was within $3 of what the SS website estimate was showing. My application was processed prior to the signing of the bill. Fortunately, the cities I worked for paid into SS so my amount wasn't reduced, avoiding that hassle. My Medicare premium is deducted from my SS check starting this month.

did you calculate yourself using the MedicareSchool guys formula? That's where my difference lies. I hope SS site estimate is right, it is $700 higher value. lol

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Medicare School say they will review your medicare options for free, has anyone done that? There has to be a catch somewhere....

 

[WM75Guy]

Medicare School say they will review your medicare options for free, has anyone done that? There has to be a catch somewhere....

Commission sales according to their website. They are free to you, paid by the insurance companies for signing you up with one of the plans they represent. I tend to be wary of those type of folks. They may be limited in the plans they can recommend, if they cannot get a commission.

Working at the hospital as an RN I learned which ones were good and the ones to stay away from concerning hospital visits. My wife was a primary care Family Nurse Practitioner so she had insight on which ones to steer clear of for care coordination, mainly any HMO plan. My wife and I went with the United Healthcare AARP Advantage PPO plan. We can see any doctor without a referral. No copay for PCP visits, $45 for specialist visits. We get $40 each quarter for OTC drugs and supplies, plus more if we earn rewards. Never have had a claim denied. We did have to start paying $54/mo this year for a dental rider, was included last year.

 

[WM75Guy]

did you calculate yourself using the MedicareSchool guys formula? That's where my difference lies. I hope SS site estimate is right, it is $700 higher value. lol

No, just went by the SS website.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

WM75guy, thanks for info
UnitedHealthcare PPO is my current plan, that can be used as a supplement plan. Or I can go with their advantage PPO.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Commission sales according to their website. They are free to you, paid by the insurance companies for signing you up with one of the plans they represent. I tend to be wary of those type of folks. They may be limited in the plans they can recommend, if they cannot get a commission.

The latest MedicareSchool video (Best medigap plans for 2025), he claims they are Independent Brokers.

 

[kenmbz]

My MIL had an advantage plan, covered glasses etc.
When she went into the hospital and was on a ventilator for months, we had to negotiate the price as after the advantage was done, it was $60,000.

Hospital told us if we did not have advantage, most of it would have been covered by Medicare.
(we got it down to $20,000 after many months of back/forth).

I have 2 years to go before I need to decide.
Who knows what will change by then.

See some good info here on this thread.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My MIL had an advantage plan, covered glasses etc.
When she went into the hospital and was on a ventilator for months, we had to negotiate the price as after the advantage was done, it was $60,000.

Hospital told us if we did not have advantage, most of it would have been covered by Medicare.
(we got it down to $20,000 after many months of back/forth).

I have 2 years to go before I need to decide.
Who knows what will change by then.

See some good info here on this thread.

My conundrum is, My wife is on my plan, and won't take medicare for 3 years, so I need to keep her covered until then. It looks like I'll be paying for Part B, in addition to my existing Health ins. My current plan UnitedHealthcare does not have an allowance to cover any of partB

 

[kenmbz]

My conundrum is, My wife is on my plan, and won't take medicare for 3 years, so I need to keep her covered until then. It looks like I'll be paying for Part B, in addition to my existing Health ins. My current plan UnitedHealthcare does not have an allowance to cover any of ,partB

I might be in the same boat, my wife is 5 years younger than me.
This stuff is too complicated for what it is.
I hope this works for you and doesn't cost too much, but healthcare is only going up with the insurance companies taking such a huge bite of the cost.

 

[WM75Guy]

My wife retired 7 months before she was eligible for Medicare. We did COBRA thru her old employer for those 7 months. Was actually the same price as her Medicare premium. Only because we pay the Medicare penalty for having too much income.

 

[kenmbz]

My wife retired 7 months before she was eligible for Medicare. We did COBRA thru her old employer for those 7 months. Was actually the same price as her Medicare premium. Only because we pay the Medicare penalty for having too much income.

That's an interesting solution.
Glad it worked for you.

Seems to be a common issue, another variable.

 

[kenmac]

My wife retired 7 months before she was eligible for Medicare. We did COBRA thru her old employer for those 7 months. Was actually the same price as her Medicare premium. Only because we pay the Medicare penalty for having too much income.

I keep my income under that threshold, so I only pay the part B min. I believe $187.00 per mo.