Midpack
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I'm eligible in May, so I was planning to apply in Feb, and planning on meeting with a local broker. I've read quite a bit, though I'm still confused. Medicare for Dummies has been the best resource for me, but hopefully there's a complete but more concise resource I haven't found yet? But that's another topic.
We're planning to relocate to another state in 2019. Could be by May, but I'd guess it will be later this year. Maybe I missed it, but I haven't see Medicare "portability" as it will apply to me addressed very clearly in what I've read so far.
I'd prioritize more choice in doctors/hospitals slightly over lowest premiums/costs. I think I'd be happier with a Supplement/Medigap Plan G over Medicare Advantage even if I wasn't moving, but...
Question 1: Is Medigap more portable than Advantage, e.g. we'd be more likely to find medical services here and another state later this year (where I know nothing about providers yet)? Or will I be forced to sign up for Medicare all over again once relocated anyway (I was hoping to avoid "enrolling" twice in the same year, I'd expect to be living in NC when it's time to enroll for 2020)?
Question 2: I'd ask a broker there, but no contacts yet and no certain date. We plan to move to the Charlotte NC area, but there are suburbs on our radar that are SC addresses. I would not want to be limited to SC doctors/hospitals knowing there will be far more/better choices in Charlotte NC proper if I need a specialist. Am I correct in assuming Medigap (vs Advantage) would probably give us more choices around Charlotte even if we have an SC address? Or asked another way, would a Medigap, or (more likely?) Advantage plan for an SC resident exclude providers just across the border in NC? If so, that might actually influence our decision, e.g. we might just rule out looking in SC at all.
Thanks in advance...
We're planning to relocate to another state in 2019. Could be by May, but I'd guess it will be later this year. Maybe I missed it, but I haven't see Medicare "portability" as it will apply to me addressed very clearly in what I've read so far.
I'd prioritize more choice in doctors/hospitals slightly over lowest premiums/costs. I think I'd be happier with a Supplement/Medigap Plan G over Medicare Advantage even if I wasn't moving, but...
Question 1: Is Medigap more portable than Advantage, e.g. we'd be more likely to find medical services here and another state later this year (where I know nothing about providers yet)? Or will I be forced to sign up for Medicare all over again once relocated anyway (I was hoping to avoid "enrolling" twice in the same year, I'd expect to be living in NC when it's time to enroll for 2020)?
Question 2: I'd ask a broker there, but no contacts yet and no certain date. We plan to move to the Charlotte NC area, but there are suburbs on our radar that are SC addresses. I would not want to be limited to SC doctors/hospitals knowing there will be far more/better choices in Charlotte NC proper if I need a specialist. Am I correct in assuming Medigap (vs Advantage) would probably give us more choices around Charlotte even if we have an SC address? Or asked another way, would a Medigap, or (more likely?) Advantage plan for an SC resident exclude providers just across the border in NC? If so, that might actually influence our decision, e.g. we might just rule out looking in SC at all.
Thanks in advance...
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