Supplement Medicare plan questions

Sengsational, I may be a bit naïve on this fine point. How does the birthday rule "prevent" MOO's, and possibly others' business practice of closing the book. The way I see it, the birthday rule simply provides the insured a tool to escape the sick duck pool.
You're right..."prevent" isn't the right word. But if my understanding of the birthday rule is accurate, the business practice doesn't make economic sense in those states. If there's no underwriting when a person switches on their birthday, then, healthy or not, everybody gets the same price (in the same geography and age group). So there's no mechanism that groups higher utilizers and so no incentive for companies to open a new book that, in non-birthday states would fill with only low utilizers.
 
Check out medicareschool.com. I learned so much there by reviewing various videos that applied to my situation. Then set up a video appt with one of their specialists who answered any remaining questions. He then provided some options to fit my needs. They get paid when you select a product...no cost to you, the plan pays them a commission. They know their stuff and are up on any new changes coming up.

https://www.medicareschool.com/
 
You're right..."prevent" isn't the right word. But if my understanding of the birthday rule is accurate, the business practice doesn't make economic sense in those states. If there's no underwriting when a person switches on their birthday, then, healthy or not, everybody gets the same price (in the same geography and age group). So there's no mechanism that groups higher utilizers and so no incentive for companies to open a new book that, in non-birthday states would fill with only low utilizers.

Well, inertia. it's the same reason some people stay with their auto insurers or lenders for years and years, oblivious that they could find something better...
 
simpleanswer

Thanks,
Questions:
Go to Medicare to sign up for D?
Then the Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) you choose should have G?

To answer this one question...Yes, go onto the Medicare to look at different coverages for part D, and sign up. If you do not get a part D, then years altaer if you want it, they charge a much bigger premium for it, for life. So sign up now.
 
I was told by a person I talked to at Boomer Benefits that medicare will raise the Part D price 1.1% per month until you do get Part D....
 
I was told by a person I talked to at Boomer Benefits that medicare will raise the Part D price 1.1% per month until you do get Part D....

Actually it's much worst that that. they charge you based on the 'average' price for part D plan. But their avg is far more than my wonderful cheap plan. For ex, I pay $6.70 a month. But they deem the avg price plan is $35 a month. So they apply the 1.1% permonth 'penalty' against $35 vs $6.70. Forever, that will be your premium, so it's a huge function of $35. per month. forever.
 
I signed up for supplemental medicare today. Here is what I got. I went thru Boomer Benefits.

Anthem Blue Cross - Part G = $141.75
Mutual of Omaha - dentist = $31.82
Wellcare Part D = $8.30
Total = $181.87
Interesting. Did you not find advantageous pricing from State Farm?
The difference was about $4 from the state farm quote for part G.
The OP may take a prescription so this may be a coincidence, but Boomer Benefits put him on the lowest PDP that pays a commission (Wellcare Value Script $8.30) instead of the lowest PDP (Aetna SilverScript Smartsaver $4.50).

Anthem Blue Cross Plan G has a $25/month "new to Medicare" discount reducing the premium from $166.75 to $141.75 for the first 12 months. State Farm is $137.19 and USAA $143.14. The current Anthem rate for a 66 y/o male is $173.60. I hope he doesn't forget about the CA birthday rule next year.
 
The IL Birthday Rule is worthless if you are trying to move out of a closed book to the same carrier's open book. Refer back to posts #79 and #40. DW tried to move out of MoO Plan G closed book and into MoO Plan G open book. She was rejected because the new open book is a "different company" than the closed book and it requires underwriting.

Switching between different subsidiaries of the same parent company is NOT covered under the IL Birthday Rule.

Unless you can pass underwriting, or you try the Medicare Advantage in/out trick, you are stuck with the closed book DESPITE the utterly worthless IL Birthday rule.
 
^ I guess I don't understand the birthday rule.

If you can't switch to a different traditional medicare plan without underwriting, I don't see any utility in having the rule.

Sounds like you can switch to the same company, so may switch from a G to an N plan, but those are probably just different sick duck pools.

In order to be of value the rule would have to allow you to switch to a different company.
 
The OP may take a prescription so this may be a coincidence, but Boomer Benefits put him on the lowest PDP that pays a commission (Wellcare Value Script $8.30) instead of the lowest PDP (Aetna SilverScript Smartsaver $4.50).

Anthem Blue Cross Plan G has a $25/month "new to Medicare" discount reducing the premium from $166.75 to $141.75 for the first 12 months. State Farm is $137.19 and USAA $143.14. The current Anthem rate for a 66 y/o male is $173.60. I hope he doesn't forget about the CA birthday rule next year.
Thanks for doing that research. I'm not surprised that somehow "the best thing for the client" at Boomer Benefits also happened to include a commission, or a higher commission rate.

How did you figure out what the commission was?

Is the California birthday rule as limited as the Illinois one?
 
^ I guess I don't understand the birthday rule.

If you can't switch to a different traditional medicare plan without underwriting, I don't see any utility in having the rule.

Sounds like you can switch to the same company, so may switch from a G to an N plan, but those are probably just different sick duck pools.

In order to be of value the rule would have to allow you to switch to a different company.

Exactly. You can switch to a Plan with lower benefits in the SAME closed sick duck pool (e.g. G to N), but you cannot switch out of the sick duck pool to an open company without underwriting. The IL Birthday Rule is completely pointless if you want to switch out of the sick duck pool without underwriting.
 
Add I just went on in May. I used Medicareschool.com to help guide me through the G & D plan. There is no cost to use them.
I just watched the video. I entered through the web site, so they extracted my email address... hopefully they won't spam me (I'll report if they do).

The video is a great introduction to Medicare enrollment, but I think it glosses over some important details that people need to know. Nothing about the three pricing models for traditional Medicare; they only say "stability of premium" and leave it there. And they say "no cost to you" lots of times, but nothing about the different incentives of the "guides" when it comes to uneven commissions.

I'd need to call and see if they're pushing anything to see if they suffer from the same problems as Boomer Benefits, but I suspect they do.
 
I watched a few Medicare school YouTube videos that explain the three pricing models. They do not mention the sick duck pool problem, which is troubling, when the topic of the videos was price stability. They talk about how having a larger group is more stable than a smaller group, which is true. But they don't talk about how and why people leave the group. Their conclusion is big is best, as far as the conclusions given in the videos. It probably differs by state, but I imagine there are plenty of big groups run by companies that are book closers. Not mentioned, but I think important.

Also, the videos downplay community policies. They say they are uncommon and twice the price. I would be very surprised if the "guide" at medicare school even mentions AARP/UHC, based on the content of the videos I watched. So much for unbiased help. Or maybe I'm missing something. Hard to tell without calling in and seeing what they recommend.
 
Is no medical underwriting for Advantage plans (Part C) a federal statute? If so, maybe we need the same federal statute for Medigap (supplement insurance). Paul
 
Is the California birthday rule as limited as the Illinois one?

Not sure about CA, but here in MO it is not nearly as limited:
You have the right to switch insurance companies each year during the 30 days before or after your policy’s anniversary date
(the date on which your policy first started). For example, if your policy expires June 30, you can switch policies between June 1 and July 30. You can call the insurance company to get your anniversary date.

If you change to the same-lettered plan – for example, from Plan F at Insurer XYZ to Plan F at Insurer ABC, the new insurer cannot deny
you coverage and cannot impose a waiting period based on pre-existing conditions.

https://insurance.mo.gov/seniors/documents/2019MedigapBook.pdf
 
In those states with good birthday rules I wonder what group got the birthday law through? Maybe a senior group or a consumer group?
 
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Is there a way to set up monthly billing?

I just received my first Medicare Premium Bill today...
$659.60 due by 7-25-23
For period: 07/01/2023 - 10/31/2023
That is $164.90 per month.

Is there a way to set up monthly billing so I do not get a big bill all at once like this?
 
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I just received my first Medicare Premium Bill today...
$659.60 due by 7-25-23
For period: 07/01/2023 - 10/31/2023
That is $164.90 per month.

Is there a way to set up monthly billing so I do not get a big bill all at once like this?
Check out the EasyPay service on the Medicare website.
 
I believe value penguin is an independent review of original Medicare policies. I suggest reading the entire review.

https://www.valuepenguin.com/mutual-of-omaha-medicare-supplement-review

"Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement insurance is competitively priced. When compared to providers like Cigna, AARP/UnitedHealthcare and BlueCross BlueShield, Mutual of Omaha has midrange prices for plans A, G and N. If you’re eligible for Plan F, Mutual of Omaha is one of the cheapest providers.

Monthly cost of Mutual of Omaha Medigap plans
In states where age cannot be used to determine rates, residents can expect more stable pricing. At age 65, overall prices across the industry will be higher than what's available in other states, but the regulations protect against the shock of large annual price increases. Prices may still fluctuate based on inflation or industry changes.

Costs in states where age affects price
In these states, Mutual of Omaha offers some of the cheapest plans available and has slower price increases than other providers.

It’s common for Mutual of Omaha’s Medigap policyholders to complain about rising costs. But this issue exists across all Medigap providers in states where it's legal to use age to determine prices.

Mutual of Omaha plan
Age 65
Age 75
Age 85
Age 95
Plan A $111 $131 $203 $260
Plan F - $169 $256 $328
Plan G $111 $132 $205 $262
Plan N $85 $105 $162 $207
High-Deductible Plan G $40 $49 $71 $88
Sample monthly quotes for a female nonsmoker in Dallas, Chicago and Charlotte, N.C.

When compared to other providers, Mutual of Omaha is the cheapest company for Plan G across all age brackets. This consistently low pricing is a rare advantage. In contrast, we see BlueCross BlueShield offering good rates for those aged 65 and then becoming the most expensive insurer for those aged 85.

Medicare cost increases from Mutual of Omaha Medigap
Mutual of Omaha Medigap prices usually increase between 2% and 3% for each year of age. These increases add up, and those aged 85 may pay twice as much as a 65-year-old. Rate changes can vary, and those with other risk factors may see bigger increases.

Even though age-based price increases are unavoidable in these states, how quickly rates rise will affect your total lifetime costs. We recommend requesting multiple price quotes for different ages so you can see how your costs may change.
 
The value penguin review of Mutual of Omaha does not take into account that fact that every few years or so they quit selling under the name of Mutual Of Omaha and jack the rates up for those who cannot change to another company. They then start selling in the state under a new name like Omaha Insurance Company. To compare real rates, DH and I are both the same age (72) and have the G plan which was originally with Mutual of Omaha because it was recommended and was cheapest (about $100 per month each). After about 3 years MofO started increasing rates 30-50% per year. DH is stuck with Mutual Of Omaha because he cannot pass underwriting to go to another company and now is paying $380 per month . I was able to switch to AARP UHC and pay $120 per month for the same G plan.
 
I read the valuepenguin's MOO review.

Bad for
• Those who want fitness perks or add-on benefits
• Those seeking top-rated plans
• Precise shoppers looking for Plan J, C or other less popular plans

Mutual of Omaha isn't a good fit for those who are looking for a high-rated insurer. If you're interested in top-tier performance, consider one of our best-rated Medicare Supplement companies.

Surprise! When you follow to their linked article, AARP UHC is the first on the list for top rated Supplement. If one removes the healthcare option from the traditional AARP plans, they have even lower premiums. There are a lot of fine details that simple review articles do not mention. The difference between male and female plan prices, multi-insured discounts, etc. AARP has different age discounts between their standard(traditional) Plan G and their newer no frills Plan G. I'm sure that some other insurers have similar fine details that are not mentioned in the typical internet reviews.

My point is to first figure out the Plan you want. Create a short list of supplement providers that are well-reviewed. Then go thru the process of getting a real quote from them all and compare how their prices typically increase for various aged insured. Never select an insurer based solely on the age 65 price. Based on various states and even locations within a given state, MOO may be a good fit. They still are not a top-rated company by valuepenguin (and many here).

Of course, if one lives in a state that allows freedom of changing insurers & plans (both up and down) annually without underwriting, your risk of being locked to a company & Plan is very low and can be rectified in short order.
 

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