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08-02-2017, 09:25 AM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,671
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Medigap Pricing
Question: Is the pricing for Medicare supplemental plans independent of age (all other things equal)?
The reason I ask is that I am using an online navigation service provided by my former employer for pricing plans for next year (I turn 65 in January, 2018). There is a glitch in their system that blocks you from "shopping" if you are under 65 ("not eligible"). Their tech support line tells me just to change my age in my profile by changing my birth date temporarily to 1952 while I use their comparison tools.
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08-02-2017, 09:37 AM
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#2
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 380
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If you are on medicare under age 65 you are getting ssdi and thus disabled. Under 65 medigap plans are generally much more expensive because they are covering people who are known to be ill. Yes just pretend you are already 65 while browsing.
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08-02-2017, 09:38 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,671
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarah S
If you are on medicare under age 65 you are getting ssdi and thus disabled. Under 65 plans are generally much more expensive because they are covering people who are known to be ill. Yes just pretend you are already 65 while browsing.
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This will be for regular medicare - I will be 65 when the plan is active. It is just that the system won't allow me to see pricing because I am 64 now.
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08-02-2017, 09:41 AM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 380
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Exactly. I was explaining why you have to call to get under 65 prices ( which are irrelevant to you fortunately). You got correct advice from tech support
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08-02-2017, 11:44 AM
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#5
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 883
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I suggest contacting your state's Department of Aging for good information on Medigap plans: Maryland Department of Aging
I used my state's similar department when facing Medigap questions and found them to be very useful.
__________________
"It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating". Oscar Wilde
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08-02-2017, 12:03 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,172
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08-02-2017, 12:28 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaneohe
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Arghhhh...I'm trying to get quotes as DH received notification that his Medigap policy will increase by 9% for next year (69 to 70 years old) and I wanted to see if it's still in the range. Can't get detailed pricing w/o having someone call you. Minutes after I entered info, we've already received 4 calls .
I am assuming that like Part D, we can switch companies each year. Am I correct in this assumption or is that only the case if our carrier ceases writing coverage? Calls 5 and 6 just came in!
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08-02-2017, 12:37 PM
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#8
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrvlBug
Arghhhh...I'm trying to get quotes as DH received notification that his Medigap policy will increase by 9% for next year (69 to 70 years old) and I wanted to see if it's still in the range. Can't get detailed pricing w/o having someone call you. Minutes after I entered info, we've already received 4 calls .
I am assuming that like Part D, we can switch companies each year. Am I correct in this assumption or is that only the case if our carrier ceases writing coverage? Calls 5 and 6 just came in!
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Sorry. You only have guaranteed issue when you turn 65 or if your insurer stops offering the policy. Otherwise you are subject to underwriting and potential insurers can refuse coverage.
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08-02-2017, 01:05 PM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Sorry. You only have guaranteed issue when you turn 65 or if your insurer stops offering the policy. Otherwise you are subject to underwriting and potential insurers can refuse coverage.
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Thank you. We're happy with our insurer (1st year on Medicare) so not really looking to change. Quick calculation I did was that his age 70 new costs are comparable to AARP's United Healthcare costs at 69.
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08-02-2017, 01:41 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Gosport, IN
Posts: 1,218
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My DW turns 65 in October so we are in this process now. Found online website that listed prices for plans without having to give out phone number, name or other identifying info.
www.bestmedicaresupplement.com
Then for us it is a matter of finding A rated companies within the list
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08-02-2017, 02:05 PM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmc1000
My DW turns 65 in October so we are in this process now. Found online website that listed prices for plans without having to give out phone number, name or other identifying info.
www.bestmedicaresupplement.com
Then for us it is a matter of finding A rated companies within the list
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Thank you. I turn 65 in 2 years so will be going through the process at that time. May or may not go with the same insurer as DH.
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08-02-2017, 02:11 PM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Gosport, IN
Posts: 1,218
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When you go through the process check to see if the selected company gives a household discount. Some, like Mutual of Omaha give a 12% discount if you live with another person 60 or older even if they are not on Medicare. Others like Continental Life Of Brentwood Tennesee, (owned by Aetna), give a 5% discount when both persons are insured by them.
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08-02-2017, 02:13 PM
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#13
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by racy
I suggest contacting your state's Department of Aging for good information on Medigap plans: Maryland Department of Aging
I used my state's similar department when facing Medigap questions and found them to be very useful.
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To compliment this, in the past year I have searched for policies for DW (Florida) and DB (Illinois). Both states have a web site with Medicare resources, including a list of all the available MediGap policies, by insurer, with prices for all age groups for the current year. You can see the current price and also the age based rate of increase. To have all that info in one PDF report is extremely helpful.
Here's the list for Maryland (OP state of residence according to the profile) http://insurance.maryland.gov/Consum...Rate-Guide.pdf
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08-02-2017, 02:14 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Gosport, IN
Posts: 1,218
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Also, in following years if there is a significant price increase you can go through an independent agent to see whether even with medical questions that have to be answered there might be a less expensive choice of insurer.
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08-02-2017, 02:48 PM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,671
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Thanks for those MD links, folks.
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08-02-2017, 03:29 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Gosport, IN
Posts: 1,218
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Went thru the MD rates and glad we live in IN! Didn't realize how much pricing variation there was between different areas of the country.
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08-03-2017, 05:23 AM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,181
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrvlBug
I am assuming that like Part D, we can switch companies each year. Am I correct in this assumption or is that only the case if our carrier ceases writing coverage?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Sorry. You only have guaranteed issue when you turn 65 or if your insurer stops offering the policy. Otherwise you are subject to underwriting and potential insurers can refuse coverage.
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There is no federal annual open enrollment period for Medigap plans but some states have them. The poster's profile indicates they reside in CA which has a "Birthday Rule" for Medigap plans. The person can make a lateral change (or downgrade) without underwriting within 30 days of their birthday each year.
California Birthday Rule: https://www.senior65.com/medicare/ar...hday-rule-work
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08-03-2017, 11:20 AM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MBSC
There is no federal annual open enrollment period for Medigap plans but some states have them. The poster's profile indicates they reside in CA which has a "Birthday Rule" for Medigap plans. The person can make a lateral change (or downgrade) without underwriting within 30 days of their birthday each year.
California Birthday Rule: https://www.senior65.com/medicare/ar...hday-rule-work
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! We do live in CA so have this option if needed . As we are new to Medicare and know that there are some nuances to be aware of, I got the 'Medicare for Dummies' book but have not dived in yet...need to do that asap.
We've already had issues, coding with DH's colonoscopy as well as deceased MIL's coverage for doctor-type services performed during her stay in a skilled nursing facility.
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08-03-2017, 11:28 AM
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#19
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Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14,212
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We went through this exercise last year - DH turned 65 in January 2017 but I started researching in August 2016... Here's a thread of all the questions (and answers I got) from my investigation last year.
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ons-83717.html
We ended up with a f+ plan. 7+ months in... no regrets with the choice.
__________________
Retired June 2014. No longer an enginerd - now I'm just a nerd.
micro pensions 6%, rental income 20%
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08-03-2017, 11:31 AM
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#20
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 200
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Was surprised when I recently checked that AARP was basically same price as Aetna in my state. Thought they'd be much higher. My mom has AARP for 20+ years as Medigap insurance and hasn't had even one issue ever with them. And she's at drs regularly.
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