Medicare Choices

[LARS]

Nothing to add to this thread other than I am not looking forward to wading through the Medicare selection process. Fourteen pages of comments pretty well says it all...

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by LARS Fourteen pages of comments pretty well says it all...

Sadly, not yet...

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrvlBug There is another error on the site. I plugged in my area code as I will be going on Medicare next year and it states that UHC/AARP does not offer G in my area. DH just signed up with them and they do offer G.

Interesting, I noticed it listed no Plan G available from UHC in our area, so maybe that’s wrong too.

[meierlde]

I wish the sites that provide options would say what date their information is valid on. I find lots of sites that are getting long in the tooth with their information, i.e. several years old.


Further the sites may be most accurate in the fall.

[John Galt III]

I'm grateful for this thread and others like it. I've finally hammered the buzzwords and phrases into my mind and understand them somewhat. I'm leaning towards a plan F or G (not HD) supplement via AARP using UHC as insurer. Still wondering why people sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. I know some of them and they say the supplement premiums are just too too high. One of these days I'll call SHIP (some organization that helps you with questions about Medicare) in my state. Already called then once just to make sure a human actually answered the phone. Someone did.

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by John Galt III I'm leaning towards a plan F or G (not HD) supplement...

You may already be aware of this but at the moment the only HD supplement plan available is F-HD. I understand in 2020 when F and F-HD plans are no longer open to new applicants, an HD version of plan G will be introduced.

[Another Reader]

My inclination is to sign up for Plan F now. If, when F closes, the premiums skyrocket, I will use the California regulation that allows me to switch across or down in benefits to move to Plan G.

It looks like I will have to pay through the nose for Part B, however. Have to go to that seminar coming up to see how One Exchange/Via Benefits will handle our $270 non-taxable reimbursement. If they will just pay my Part B, that would be best, but I don't know if that's possible.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another Reader My inclination is to sign up for Plan F now. If, when F closes, the premiums skyrocket, I will use the California regulation that allows me to switch across or down in benefits to move to Plan G.

I read a Medicare strategy blog a while back where, even before the 2020 closure of F was passed, California Medigap purchasers without major health issues were encouraged to purchase plan F-HD initially, then switch to a non-HD plan in later years when they started using more medical services.

[audreyh1]

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Originally Posted by REWahoo I read a Medicare strategy blog a while back where, even before the 2020 closure of F was passed, California Medigap purchasers without major health issues were encouraged to purchase plan F-HD initially, then switch to a non-HD plan in later years when they started using more medical services.

Wow - what an option!!

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by audreyh1 Wow - what an option!!

Actually that's what we are in the process of attempting to do - except we have to go through underwriting to make the switch. I've had F-HD since 2012 and DW since 2013 and neither of us has come anywhere close to meeting our ~$2k annual deductible. Unlike the CA strategy, we have to make the change prior to developing any health issues that would make underwriting a no go, so our potential savings by delaying changing plans are limited.

[Another Reader]

My understanding is that you can switch across insurers in the same plan or drop to a lower level plan, but you can't upgrade under the California regulation. Not sure how that would apply to Plan F-HD.

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by Another Reader My understanding is that you can switch across insurers in the same plan or drop to a lower level plan, but you can't upgrade under the California regulation. Not sure how that would apply to Plan F-HD.

Good point. Don't recall where I saw the strategy I mentioned above and, like so many things you read on the Intewebs, it might be totally wrong.

Edit: A little research reveals that California, Oregon and Missouri allow you to change plans once a year without underwriting, but the rules differ for each state.

[MBSC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo I read a Medicare strategy blog a while back where, even before the 2020 closure of F was passed, California Medigap purchasers without major health issues were encouraged to purchase plan F-HD initially, then switch to a non-HD plan in later years when they started using more medical services.

The CA Birthday Rule allows changes to plans of equal or lessor benefits without underwriting. HD-F is considered to have the lowest level of benefits so a person can only lateral to another insurer's HD-F under the rule. The person has to pass underwriting to upgrade to a non-HD plan unless the carrier has an internal exception or if Guaranteed Issue rules apply due to loss of coverage.

I have seen suggestions to start with regular F and downgrade to G then D, if needed. (I didn't say I agree.)

NY, CT, and WA allow upgrades without underwriting.

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Because of the California Birthday Rule I recommend anyone new to Medicare start on a plan F. This way, you have the option to change to a plan G or N in the future regardless of your health. Source: https://sandiegomedicareplans.com/me...plement-plans/

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Originally Posted by REWahoo Edit: A little research reveals that California, Oregon and Missouri allow you to change plans once a year without underwriting, but the rules differ for each state. Oregon does allow an insured to change from F-HD to F, but not to any other plan.

Check your link again, please. Oregon F-HD can only lateral to another "high F".

The following site also includes the rules for NY, CT, WA and Maine. https://gmiainc.com/medigap-birthday-rule-applies/

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by MBSC Check your link again, please. Oregon F-HD can only lateral to another "high F".

Oops, you are correct, no upgrade without underwriting in Oregon.

[Another Reader]

When the ACA was implemented, I could not understand why the law was written and implemented with so many bizarre rules and "gotchas." From what I have learned about Medicare in the last year, Medicare is also a minefield.

As a pre-Medicare retiree, my insurance choices required me to live in the Bay Area. If what I read is correct, it looks like Medicare and the Medigap policies might get me out of that prison!

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another Reader As a pre-Medicare retiree, my insurance choices required me to live in the Bay Area. If what I read is correct, it looks like Medicare and the Medigap policies might get me out of that prison!

Yes, one of the nice things about going the Medicare/Medigap route is the ability to use the healthcare provider of your choice anywhere in the US.

[Corporateburnout]

In MA there are only two Medigap plans, supplement one and core. DW has been on BC/BS supplement one plan since she became eligible last year and it pays for everything. She had a couple of procedures with an overnight stay in the hospital and the plan covered 100% of what Medicare did not cover.

Later this year I will be on Medicare and plan to sign up for the BC/BS core plan which does not pay for part A and B deductibles and does not cover skilled nursing beyond the 20 days covered by Medicare. They both cover International emergencies up to 50K.

State law allows participants to switch between the two plans as many times as they need to with the only stipulation that coverage starts the first of the month.

[Ian S]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another Reader My inclination is to sign up for Plan F now. If, when F closes, the premiums skyrocket, I will use the California regulation that allows me to switch across or down in benefits to move to Plan G.

I found that the total annual premiums for Plan F were more than the total annual premiums for Plan G plus the annual deductible. So why would I ever sign up for Plan F?

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by Ian S I found that the total annual premiums for Plan F were more than the total annual premiums for Plan G plus the annual deductible. So why would I ever sign up for Plan F?

Good question - those of us who bother to figure that out wouldn't, but many either lack the skills to run the numbers or don't think to do so.

I have heard that some insurers in some locations actually have Plan F priced so that the annual cost is less than paying for Plan G and the deductible. Haven't looked to see if that's the case in my location since I'm not going to purchase either F or G.

[Another Reader]

If someone else is paying, as may be the case for those of us whose employers contribute, that's a choice for convenience over cost. Also a choice of the highest level of benefits, in case things change down the road. I won't decide until I see all the numbers and what the employer will pay.