Medicare, Part D

Every area is a little different so what’s a good choice in one area may not be the best in another.
I didn’t see it mentioned yet but be sure to check with your current doctors to make sure they except the plan you are leaning towards.
Where we live, United is frowned upon by a lot of doctors and 2 of the major hospital chains. Years ago we had United through an employer and I had to switch dermatologist and urologist and the hospital that is the best in the area because they were out of network. When we were shopping Medicare plans, they still were. Not sure if part D works that way, Advantage plan was the best way to go for us, and we also chose a ppo because we travel a lot. We found the free seminars offered at the local senior centers by the brokers that pedal all the plans to be very informative. No bias, no cost, then just go sign up yourself.
I have the Blues now (Highmark) and have been able to switch back to my old doctors who I like much better.
 
Hopefully when I get to that age I can afford anything other than aarp.

They think I have no right to defend myself or my loved ones, so they can go attempt an anatomical impossibility: IOW, they can go f themselves.
 
For what it’s worth… I went with AARP/Hartford auto insurance in spring, they were 60% less than Progressive who i had for ~20 years. Was a little concerned about service at that price.
Well let me tell you, this wreck of my wife, they have been wonderful. Paid off the car and money in my account in 2 weeks. The car was a 2021. They gave us value of replacing with 2023, so we got more than book value. Now paying all medical expenses.
I have changed the boat from Geico to AARP boat insurance, also cheaper.
All my friends have AARP insurance and convinced me to go with them.
I don’t know why anyone would have a problem with them; maybe some people just like to pay outrageous premiums.
 
Pirate Lady said:
For what it’s worth… I went with AARP/Hartford auto insurance in spring, they were 60% less than Progressive who i had for ~20 years. Was a little concerned about service at that price.
Well let me tell you, this wreck of my wife, they have been wonderful. Paid off the car and money in my account in 2 weeks. The car was a 2021. They gave us value of replacing with 2023, so we got more than book value. Now paying all medical expenses.
I have changed the boat from Geico to AARP boat insurance, also cheaper.
All my friends have AARP insurance and convinced me to go with them.
I don’t know why anyone would have a problem with them; maybe some people just like to pay outrageous premiums.
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Some people just have a problem providing money to entities that will use said money to try to infringe upon their rights.
And yes it is hard, If not impossible, to do so consistently but I at least attempt to spend my money with those I don’t disagree with.
 
TimW said:
Some people just have a problem providing money to entities that will use said money to try to infringe upon their rights.
And yes it is hard, If not impossible, to do so consistently but I at least attempt to spend my money with those I don’t disagree with.
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You could check out AMAC as alternative.
 
Pirate Lady said:
For what it’s worth… I went with AARP/Hartford auto insurance in spring, they were 60% less than Progressive who i had for ~20 years. Was a little concerned about service at that price.
Well let me tell you, this wreck of my wife, they have been wonderful. Paid off the car and money in my account in 2 weeks. The car was a 2021. They gave us value of replacing with 2023, so we got more than book value. Now paying all medical expenses.
I have changed the boat from Geico to AARP boat insurance, also cheaper.
All my friends have AARP insurance and convinced me to go with them.
I don’t know why anyone would have a problem with them; maybe some people just like to pay outrageous premiums.
Click to expand...

I think at times they become too much of a political organization. Here is an example from IL -- they supported a law to require insurance plans to cover maternity care, etc. even though their members are a just a touch past child bearing age.
https://www.aarp.org/health/medicar...0/aarp-supports-legislation-to-eliminate.html
 
I don’t do politics. I do what saves me money. That said….
This morning we found out the Railroad Retirement Board got us hooked up with A and B. They don’t do Part D.
called all our doctors and they all take United. So next step I think is to call some companies, get the price of adding D.
Then compare those costs to various Advantage plans.
Does it sound like i am on track?
And they wondered why i worked til 70 to keep company insurance.
 
Every organization has stupid people in it.

More so for the ones that lobby on their members behalf. There are things I wish AARP would stay out of and there are things I wish Trump would shut his mouth about. That said ..... there are things about both of them I like well enough to give them my money.
 
Pirate Lady said:
I don’t do politics. I do what saves me money. That said….
This morning we found out the Railroad Retirement Board got us hooked up with A and B. They don’t do Part D.
called all our doctors and they all take United. So next step I think is to call some companies, get the price of adding D.
Then compare those costs to various Advantage plans.
Does it sound like i am on track?
Click to expand...

Just make sure to understand the difference between "Advantage" versus "Supplemental" plans before you make the decision. Hope the wife is doing better......
 
PD, i got that. Supplement is a gap insurance that covers the 20% deductible.
Advantange is Part C, a bundle of A B D dental and vision.
Got it.
Not interested in Supplemental, price is ridiculous to cover 20% gap.
People up above said Advantage is cheaper than A B and D alone. will see.
 
When I enrolled the Part C would not cover out of network or foreign travel. The risk was that If I traveled to Montana which had no network participation (for example) I would have no coverage and be subject to the full cost of the service. The Part B Supplementals come in all flavors and costs / deductibles. So, don't discount the Supplementals until they are all looked at and compared. When I owned the engineering firm we brought in an insurance specialist to discuss the various paths forward (many of the employees were once retired and closing in on SS/Medicare). It was an eye opener to decode the spaghetti bowl.
 
JayhawkCurtis said:
I have a good 10-12 years before I retire, so I am reading this thread closely. However I wonder how much of todays rules will be relevant by then.
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I would bet it will be more complicated not less. Social Security and Medicare go hand in hand together and the population that they represent is growing year over year. The structure makes sense once you understand it.....but taking the time to really understand your options and make thoughtful decisions requires some help as @ttmott noted.

As with so many things......taking away benefits from such a large voting block is political suicide. To the uneducated ......"Medicare for All" sounds like a great thing but then the government decides who gets what care ...when. You want something different? You pay for it out of your own pocket. Certainly Medicare, Medicade and Obamacare already make up 46% of the Federal spending and it is on course to be over 50% of the Federal budget next year.

It isn't sustainable with all the other giveaways and entitlement programs. Eventually.....kicking the can down the road with Continuing Resolutions will meet reality.
 
JayhawkCurtis said:
I have a good 10-12 years before I retire, so I am reading this thread closely. However I wonder how much of todays rules will be relevant by then.
Click to expand...
Probably none. thread above said plans coverage can change each year. So come October every year, you have a choice. Spend a month on phone / computer; or just grab that pistol and be done with it all.
Kidding! Don’t spend every October on phone/computer.
 
JayhawkCurtis said:
. . . However I wonder how much of todays rules will be relevant by then.
Click to expand...
Can't help with that, but will expand on something eluded to earlier about having to pay a penalty later for not securing Part D coverage on the front side. I am not quite there yet, but everyone else that is not either, should be aware that is true for Medicare in general (across the board), that is not just applicable to part D. If you don't apply when you are eligible (read '65'), the 'penalty' is lifelong and won't go away.

This is especially important to know, and be considered by those considering working until your full retirement age (so as to not suffer the hit you'd take by retiring 'early' at 65). No matter your chosen retirement age, you need to apply and play the game when you turn 65 or you will be levied that penalty FOR LIFE.

While I'm sure a lot will change over ten years, I don't really expect that will be one of them as it benefits them when or if you fail to exercise that option.
 
Pirate Lady said:
I don’t do politics. I do what saves me money. That said….
This morning we found out the Railroad Retirement Board got us hooked up with A and B. They don’t do Part D.
called all our doctors and they all take United. So next step I think is to call some companies, get the price of adding D.
Then compare those costs to various Advantage plans.
Does it sound like i am on track?
And they wondered why i worked til 70 to keep company insurance.
Click to expand...

I retired this year at the age of 67. It was so painful setting up insurance, I told my wife it would have been easier to keep on working.
 
JayhawkCurtis said:
I have a good 10-12 years before I retire, so I am reading this thread closely. However I wonder how much of todays rules will be relevant by then.
Click to expand...
Medicaid will be gone or close to gone by then…..it’s already been spent on other programs.
 
Sorry but that is just not true. You are welcome to believe it, but when you preach it in public you will have to deal with people who know better. We can expect it to be around as long as voters elect representatives who will support it.
 
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