Searching for info about supplements to Medicare. Anyone

[yy4me]

buy one of the policies offered by AARP? I have a 2 inch thick packet of material that was sent by Blue Cross but I need to do some comparing with other suppliers.

I will not be buying part D. By the time they take dollars for part B plus $ for the supplement, I will have very little left. If I buy drug coverage, I might as well just hand the whole check over to insurance companies.

Any one spot you might know on-line that has some good comparative info? Most that I have found will not mention dollars, just benefits. You have to call and I can't give the time or effort to call every one. Any guidance would be a big help.

I'm in Massachusetts, I don't know if that would be a factor.

Thanks in advance.

[Bitwit1234]

1. Some states pay for medicare if you make under a certain amount a month.

[shraby]

2. My mother had Blue Cross/Blue Shield and

had horrendous medical bills before she died and all that the family had to come up with was $26. I can't remember what it was for because my brother took care of her finances.
The place my husband retired from had a policy but it was an HMO group thingy that still left us with a portion to pay as well as the "in and out" of area stuff, so when I became 65 a year later, we both left it and went with our local insurace agency because then if we have any problems, we can go right into the agents office and talk to a real person face to face.. It costs us between 1-2 hundred dollars each, but no deductibles at all and we also were sent a drug discount card. I just turned 65 so I haven't checked it out yet to see what it pays on drugs. The only drug I need is a blood pressure one and my husband takes none at all so we are going to sign up for Senior Care which the state provides for $30 a year apiece if we qualify. The cost for an insurance policy for you will probably be between 1 and 2 hundred per month.
I believe my mother paid between 1 and 2 hundred..the number $129. a month sticks in my mind.

edited to add.

[monmouth]

3. Humana seems to be the choice amongst my elderly neighbors...

[juajen]

10. My hubbie and I have Physician's Mutual.

We pay $266 a month for both of us. We have never paid a dime and they are lovely. We were told by an agent at one time that they never cancelled a policy on the elderly without giving them every opportunity to catch up if they were behind. This impressed us. We forgot to pay one month, and were at least two weeks behind. They were marvy.

On edit: We have the policy that pays everything Medicare doesn't. This is a pleasant surprise for doctors, etc.

[nancyr]

4. Try United World Life.

This is a Mutual of Omaha company out of Omaha. I got a supplemental for $81.88 a month. This is the best price I found anywhere. I am quite happy with their service. You might give them a call at 1-877-617-5587 for information.

[FooFootheSnoo]

5. the medicare website has a comparison tool

It includes general premium information for your area. Here's the link



Most people I've talked with are pretty satisfied with AARP, but they complain about the premiums. The medigap policies are standardized, so if you know which plan you want, you'll only need to compare premiums(I think it ought to be required by law that the premiums be listed in plain sight on their webistes). One money saving option is a high deductible F plan. You'll have a high deductible (I think it's around $2000 per year), but your monthly premium will be lower.

[FooFootheSnoo]

6. ok, the link isn't showing up

here it is.

http://www.medicare.gov/MPPF/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchOptions.asp

[grasswire]

7. I've recently done a lot of research on this.

There are two kinds of vehicles you can buy.

Supplementals sometimes called "advantage" plans. These are managed care plans with many variables in care and rules, as well as cost.

Medigap. This is a set of plans where the benefits are defined strictly by Medicare so that Plan A is the same everywhere in the country, as is Plan J, etc. These plans are not HMOs. Not managed care.

I decided that a Medigap plan F is the best value weighing everything, and will eventually get it with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

It's important to remember to select a plan within the first six months after turning 65, as the insurers MUST accept the member without a medical exam during that time. Otherwise, preexisting conditions and so on will complicate matters.

I urge you to carefully examine the Medigap plans, and compare them carefully to the Advantage or supplemental plans. Don't fall for any smooth talk, either, from any salesperson.

A DU-er wrote here a while ago that her husband has a part F Medigap plan and paid nothing for a brain surgery.

[trof]

8. I have the F plan with United Health Care through AARP.

I believe F is most popular cost/benefit package.
Works for me.

[grasswire]

9. Pogo!

Geez. I forgot Pogo. I have some old books somewhere. Must be time to read them again. Nobody will "get" them these days, though.