Medicare Poll

[Gotadimple]

When I first retired, I signed up for my employer's retiree Medicare Advantage plan. Then they stop providing retiree health coverage to new retirees which made the plan a closed plan. When I compared the coverage to the same plan available to the public, I found my premiums were higher because the retiree plan had lower co-pays and out of pocket costs - significantly lower.

Over time, the insurer in the public plan started restricting certain optional coverage (vision/dental) and increasing premiums for that coverage. These optional plans were worth it as there was no charge for the office visits and $ amount limits on the total reimbursement. When the premium went up I was basically self insuring by paying the plan to pay the doctor.

I have recently moved to Aetna Medicare Advantage Preferred plan, a PPO. In Washington state this plan has:
$0 premium, $0 deductible, and $0 co-pay for primary care
$40 co-pay for specialists. Maximum out of pocket is $6,900, assuming you use in-network providers. Out of network providers have higher co-pays and maximum out of pocket expense
I can self refer to a provider, it does include dental, and vision at no added premium.

 

[Ian S]

I have traditional Medicare with UHC/AARP Plan G supplement. I'm in my eighth year of an AARP supplement - started with F for about a year then switched to G because even paying the deductible, G saved me money. Currently, I pay $209/mo for the supplement. I switched this year to Wellcare for Part D coverage and there is a $0 monthly premium for that. I'm reasonably healthy but have still had a number of surgeries and diagnostic procedures- all outpatient types - for which I'd have racked up some significant costs without Plan G coverage. Yes, I could have saved money by selecting a different Plan or even Medicare Advantage but I love the fact that not only can I see any doctor in the country that accepts Medicare but I typically get one billling near the start of the year that exhausts my deductible and I'm good to go for the rest of the year with little if any need to pore over billing statements to make sure my co-pays or some such are correct.

 

[Bigbass]

We are on AT&T's United Healthcare Advantage Plan. No cost for my husband (the retiree), $50/mo for me (spouse). $0 copay at PCP, $30 Specialist, $900 Out of Pocket.

How long have you been on this plan? Are you happy with it? Do you need referral to see specialist? Any issue with pre-approval? Thanks!

 

[Luvtoride]

I guess I'm in the 4th category: Medicare is my primary insurance; my supplemental plan is Empire Plan/UHC for retired NYS employees. Individual coverage is currently $175/mo., but I pay $0 since my unused sick leave was converted to an amount that will cover the premiums indefinitely. Nice plan, but no dental, vision or gym membership!

My wife and I are covered by Medicare and New York City’s Retiree plan (my wife worked for the city, but the plan covers us both) administered by Emblem Health called GHI. We pay zero for the Supplemental A/B coverage and pay $125 each/ month for Part D, drugs. With the numerous medications we both take, most of these have very low co-pays.

So far, the coverage of these plans has been very good even covering a 24 emergency room stay for a cardiac scare for me for which I had to pay less than $200 out of pocket.

In addition, this plan reimburses us for our Medicare Part B basic and IRMAA premiums on an annual basis.

 

[becca]

How long have you been on this plan? Are you happy with it? Do you need referral to see specialist? Any issue with pre-approval? Thanks!

It just started Jan 2024. I did have a bad case of bronchitis which required 3 visits to my PCP and my husband has had a physical...all of that no charge. Referrals or pre-approvals are not needed to see a specialist. It's too early to tell if we are happy with it. It sounds good on paper, but we will see.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

For 2024 DW & I both have Medicare with the AARP Plan G.

Medicare Part B for Both of us $349.40pm
Standard Medicare Deductible for both of us $480pa
AARP Plan G for both of us $379.22pm
Family Dental Plan with our Dentist for the both of us $720pa
WellCare Par D Drug Plan $0 (All Drugs are Tier 1 $0 Copays

Total: $9,943.44pa (Less than 6% of Income)

 

[Bigbass]

It just started Jan 2024. I did have a bad case of bronchitis which required 3 visits to my PCP and my husband has had a physical...all of that no charge. Referrals or pre-approvals are not needed to see a specialist. It's too early to tell if we are happy with it. It sounds good on paper, but we will see.

Thank you for your feedback!

It sure does look good on paper, with $900 max OOP, no network restrictions and no premium for the retiees. I was told that I can change to plan N without underwriting if I was not happy with it even after the trial period because it's consider a "employor" plan, but can't switch to plan G though. Were you told this?

 

[Rianne]

Original Medicare Part B DH: $174.7
Original Medicare Part B Me: $174.7
MoO Part G DH: $116
MoO Part G Me: $96
Silverscript DH: $9
Wellcare Me: $0
Total for both:$570.4/month or $6844.8 per year + the deductible of $240 for part B apiece.

We chose not to buy dental or vision. I had cataract surgery, vision is 20/20. DH has good vision, only reading glasses.
Dental OOP but we have a sizable HSA to cover dental.

 

[finnski1]

Not 65 yet but DW has traditional Medicare with a BCBS Plan G.

 

[becca]

Thank you for your feedback!

It sure does look good on paper, with $900 max OOP, no network restrictions and no premium for the retiees. I was told that I can change to plan N without underwriting if I was not happy with it even after the trial period because it's consider a "employor" plan, but can't switch to plan G though. Were you told this?

We weren't told anything about switching back, we were previously on Anthem BC/BS G plan and were quite happy with that.

 

[Dash man]

The two of us pay a total of $242.50/month for UHC/AARP Plan N and we’re both 67. She uses Aetna for a prescription plan at $9.00/month and I use UHC/AARP for a no deductible prescription plan at $107/month. It was my cheapest option for my medications.

 

[FI_RElater]

Option 4 ---

option #4
Medicare A/B with FEHB plan as secondary

so couldn't vote

 

[zl55lz]

The number I saw was that close to 20% of Medicare enrollees have no other coverage other than A and B.

That is an astounding number in my opinion, apparently somewhere around 6 million or more people?

Perhaps most of these are in the middle income levels, because it would make sense those with higher income could afford a secondary insurance, and lower income could possibly qualify for Medicaid as secondary and thus have their Part B premium paid for them? Likely other reasons as well.

Even so, a very high number in my opinion.

 

[Koolau]

The number I saw was that close to 20% of Medicare enrollees have no other coverage other than A and B.

That is an astounding number in my opinion, apparently somewhere around 6 million or more people?

Perhaps most of these are in the middle income levels, because it would make sense those with higher income could afford a secondary insurance, and lower income could possibly qualify for Medicaid as secondary and thus have their Part B premium paid for them? Likely other reasons as well.

Even so, a very high number in my opinion.

I wonder if everyone has access to a supplement to MC? IIRC all those years ago I only had one choice in my area. Of course, I could be wrong (that's 11 years ago.)

 

[zl55lz]

I wonder if everyone has access to a supplement to MC? IIRC all those years ago I only had one choice in my area. Of course, I could be wrong (that's 11 years ago.)

I read that Medigap plans are available in every State, among them AARP/UHC and BCBS.

No one has responded as to reasons why they choose Medicare A and B only so it is unclear whether it is a cost factor or a lack of knowledge of options or something else altogether.

 

[Koolau]

I read that Medigap plans are available in every State, among them AARP/UHC and BCBS.

No one has responded as to reasons why they choose Medicare A and B only so it is unclear whether it is a cost factor or a lack of knowledge of options or something else altogether.

Yeah, if anyone suggested it was a "cost saving" measure to skip a MC supplement, I would look at that as an intentional calculated risk. Someone with (previous) good health and little need for health care might roll the dice and skip a supplement. We went into MC KNOWING we needed a supplement. YMMV

 

[CincyDave]

Traditional Medicare
Supplemental UHC/AARP Plan G - $140 (Age 66)
Medicare Part D Wellcare - $0 and $0 OOP
Dental is Delta Dental. I think around $35/mo
No vision plan currently, but may get one.

 

[AudiDudi]

Wife and I are just under $700/mo for Part B, D and G. 71 and 72

 

[rodi]

Hubby is on medicare B, plus a Healthnet F* plan. I wish they still offered plan F and F* (high deductible.). He has wellcare for the drug plan - it's 40 cents/month. This is his third drug plan... we reevaluate whenever the price goes up too much. He only takes a statin, which is generic and cheap.

I have over 2 years till I qualify. I'll be signing up for plan G (or maybe G*) with the cheapest drug plan out there. Looking forward to the affordability of medicare + suppliment compared to my HDHP HMO. Should save several hundred $/month.

Edited to add: One of my reasons for wanting a supplement plan vs an advantage HMO or PPO is that I've observed these plans can change their networks dramatically. Locally one of our hospital systems, Scripps Health, just cut 100% of the HMO senior advantage patients for 2024. Last fall there was quite a tizzy among the regular folks I see at the beach in the morning. They can't see doctors they'd seen for years because of this change.

 

[Luvdogs]

I have UHC/AARP MediGap G and my husband has F. His has no deductible and mine has about $250-ish deductible. No copays.

We pay about $420 per month and another amount that is deducted from our SS check-don't remember how much that it.

We also get about $150 back per month (total for the two of us) from our prior employer as part of their retirement plan that they have long since eliminated. We both worked for the same company.

 

[AudiDudi]

I have UHC/AARP MediGap G and my husband has F. His has no deductible and mine has about $250-ish deductible. No copays.

We pay about $420 per month and another amount that is deducted from our SS check-don't remember how much that it.

We also get about $150 back per month (total for the two of us) from our prior employer as part of their retirement plan that they have long since eliminated. We both worked for the same company.

Part B as deducted from the SS amount this year is $174.90 each

 

[jpeter1093]

My Medicare Supplement plan is with Mutual of Omaha and the cost is going to $163.00 per month. I love it! Total knee replacement and my cost was $0. I do pay a medicare deductible of $240. for this year.

Which plan?

 

[mickeyd]

We have medicate A&B in addition to Tricare-for-Life (not one of the options here).

 

[Rustic23]

TraditiMedicare and Tricare For Life
Not sure what fits

 

[PointBreeze]

Plan G, UHC/AARP, $116/month (age 65).
Plus $174.70 Part B premiums.
Part D, Wellcare $0.50/month.
All starts in May.

Will replace my ACA Gold plan, $1.46/month, sigh.