Medicare--about to scream

[palomalou]

I applied for part A and part B to start 2/1/2020. Was going to apply for the state of TN retiree supplement and a part D. Recently I have been put on two new drugs and the part D coverages are not great. It is possible that a surgery could eliminate the need for those drugs, but maybe not. So I was trying to find out about other possible supplement plans or even Medicare Advantage. My internist and hospital take the Empire Mediblue. But when I try to get info, people won't even talk to me because I don't yet have my Medicare card. State of Tennessee says I have to have the card before applying to the supplement and I have to do that 30 days prior to start of coverage, yet I couldn't apply to Medicare until this month. I have been screaming at the computer all morning. How is one supposed to make this scheduling work? If I have applied to part A and B already for 2020, I could not change to Advantage until 2021, right? The application cannot be modified, I think it said? Help!

 

[Z3Dreamer]

You don't have your card yet. Should take 3 weeks. So any day now?

I am assuming that you turn 65 in February 2020. Right?

When you get your card it will be easy to set up an account at mymedicare.gov and look at the options, including Advantage for 2020.

Not familiar with the "state of TN retiree supplement". Does this mean you are a retired TN employee? If so, a whole different ballgame.

 

[palomalou]

Thanks, Z3. Yes, state of TN retiree.

 

[Z3Dreamer]

IME state retirees do NOT sign up for open enrollment Part D or supplements or Medicare Advantage plans. Instead they deal with the HR or Personnel department for the state. These HR or Personnel departments are staffed with humans who sometimes get things wrong, but generally will let you know your options. Some states have a Medicare Advantage plan just for state employees. This MA will also have a drug component.

Your first call should be to this dept or educate yourself first on the TN retiree website.

Just a thought...

 

[Bamaman]

You might want to check with your doctors and your local hospitals they use to make sure Medicare Advantage is accepted where you live.

One hospital chain now dominates Tennessee and some of the surrounding states, including central KY, western NC, NW SC, N. GA, etc. And they have over 1700 doctors and CNP's working for them in their clinics that are not allowed to accept any Advantage program.

Better to do your due diligence prior to signing up for Advantage and not have your local hospital and doctors not accept Advantage.

We have chosen to go with Plan F, and a separate Plan D, as my wife is high maintenance and wants to choose any specialists required for her ailments.

 

[aja8888]

You might want to check with your doctors and your local hospitals they use to make sure Medicare Advantage is accepted where you live.

One hospital chain now dominates Tennessee and some of the surrounding states, including central KY, western NC, NW SC, N. GA, etc. And they have over 1700 doctors and CNP's working for them in their clinics that are not allowed to accept any Advantage program.

Better to do your due diligence prior to signing up for Advantage and not have your local hospital and doctors not accept Advantage.

We have chosen to go with Plan F, and a separate Plan D, as my wife is high maintenance and wants to choose any specialists required for her ailments.

My emphasis above....smart choices. We have the same for my DW and we would have never been able to choose her specialists without that Plan F. She had a Mitral valve replaced in her heart by a specialist that used his minimally invasive approach by an incision in her side and doing the work from under her lung. That way her sternum was not needed to be broken as she has severe osteoporosis and that would have been very high risk method.