Medicare Plans

[daver]

Regarding vision --my traditional Medicare and supplement seems to pay for most all my vision appointments and I buy my reading glasses from Zenni, very inexpensive. Regarding dental --I have searched for dental insurance and asked my dentist and I have not found any dental insurance worth having so I pay dental out of pocket and get reimbursed from my HSA.

Thanks for the Zenni tip.

Starting this year, the AARP/UHC supplement plans include dental discount program at no extra charge thru Dentegra. For Vision, I use the Walmart vision center for testing and Zenni for the glasses. I have never had dental or vision insurance, I always have self-insured. I didn't feel I needed them now.

It appears Dentegra might be associated with Delta Dental but not an insurance just a discount service. Also Costco members have access to Delta Dental insurance discount in certain states. TBD if cost effective..

For vision, Original Medicare covers the medical part of visits. I go to an Ophthalmologist, everything gets covered except for Refraction. Original Medicare DOES cover the first Refraction after cataract surgery. They also cover the basic spherical-correction IOLs (Intra Ocular Lens).

For Dental, I pay OOP. Many of the dental plans I have seen were laughable, seem to be targeted for people who do not like to pay some $ at a dentist office, but are happy paying a monthly premium for limited benefits. Accent the word "limited".

Good to know on the medical aspect. Thanks!

 

[CRLLS]

It appears Dentegra might be associated with Delta Dental but not an insurance just a discount service. Also Costco members have access to Delta Dental insurance discount in certain states. TBD if cost effective..

Yes it is a discount, as I mentioned in my post. For us, the dental insurance has never been cost effective. We never carried dental insurance except for 1 or 2 years that DW's employer covered it. IF we can get a Dentegra discount on what we are already paying, that's a plus for us.

 

[Sue J]

We just got our annual rate change statement for AARP/UHC Medicare Supplement Plan G. They update the rate in June. I expected an increase of a few dollars because insurance always goes up, doesn't it?

Our rate is changing from $224.64/mo to $224.37, a drop of $0.27 which is surprising!

This is the rate for both of us in a combined bill including the $2.00 for autopay by EFT.

Nice, I'll take it.

 

[RetMD21]

I am not a big fan of Advantage plans but the billing from the providers seems to be simpler. I have helped relatives with Medigap plans and have faced a lot of problems with providers claiming that they didn't get payment from the supplement. In the cases that I looked in to it turned out that it was just failure to properly post payments received. I am not sure that the billing departments know much about the Medicare crossover process. I confirmed payment with the supplement, provided dates and amounts etc. and got them to admit their error but then they would do it again. I had one radiology biller tell me that it was their policy not to contact the supplement. The supplement that the relative was using would not contact the biller at our request. It wasn't ideal.

 

[nwsteve]

Just used Boomer Benefits to change providers for our MediGap Plan G policies. We were looking at a 40/mon increase from State Farm and kept it to 18 with a shift to Mutual of Omaha as recommended by Boomer Benefit. Enrolling both spouses reduced rate from 197 to 184/mon.
Interesting side note is rep's comment that they would no longer write policy with Premera due to frequent premium changes (had that happen) and poor service to clients (had that happen).
Rep said Mutual of Omaha had been much more stable and changes not common.
Best part agent filled out all the forms and navigated system.
Put us in the Boomer Benefit fan club. ;-)

 

[CardsFan]

Just used Boomer Benefits to change providers for our MediGap Plan B policies. We were looking at a 40/mon increase from State Farm and kept it to 18 with a shift to Mutual of Omaha as recommended by Boomer Benefit. Enrolling both spouses reduced rate from 197 to 184/mon.
Interesting side note is rep's comment that they would no longer write policy with Premera due to frequent premium changes (had that happen) and poor service to clients (had that happen).
Rep said Mutual of Omaha had been much more stable and changes not common.
Best part agent filled out all the forms and navigated system.
Put us in the Boomer Benefit fan club. ;-)

I suggest you look at previous posts in this thread about MOO's habit of "closing the book" and raising premiums. I think I would avoid them, but it could work out for you.

Fortunately for us, MO has a "birthday clause", so we could change to an identical plan if the rates get out of whack. I suspect this will just keep the rates all in line with no reason to jump ship, but we are only one year in, and time will tell.

 

[teej1985]

Just used Boomer Benefits to change providers for our MediGap Plan B policies. We were looking at a 40/mon increase from State Farm and kept it to 18 with a shift to Mutual of Omaha as recommended by Boomer Benefit. Enrolling both spouses reduced rate from 197 to 184/mon.
Interesting side note is rep's comment that they would no longer write policy with Premera due to frequent premium changes (had that happen) and poor service to clients (had that happen).
Rep said Mutual of Omaha had been much more stable and changes not common.
Best part agent filled out all the forms and navigated system.
Put us in the Boomer Benefit fan club. ;-)

Why do you have Medigap Plan B? I've never heard of someone choosing one other than F, G or N.

 

[Marti]

I suggest you look at previous posts in this thread about MOO's habit of "closing the book" and raising premiums. I think I would avoid them, but it could work out for you.

Boomer Benefits also recommended MOO as one of the top 3 companies to me.
However, I also spoke with ViaBenefits (my ex-employer has a relationship with them) and their rep said they dropped MOO because their rates went up too often. This is all very confusing.

 

[Marti]

I turn 65 in November and has been trying to learn as much as I can about my Medicare choices. I had just about decided to go with a Medigap Plan G; I liked the freedom to go to whatever doctor I wanted and figured that if I went with an Advantage plan now, at some point in the future I'd want to switch to Medigap but wouldn't be able to pass underwriting then.

BUT.... I live in NC and found that Blue Cross/Blue Shield has something called "Blue to Blue". This allows you to switch between ANY BC/BS plan once a year. You can switch between Advantage Plans and Medicap plans (and vice versa) as often as you want to. This sounds intriguing. I could sign up now for an Advantage Plan and have $0 cost and a few nice additional benefits like a small coverage for dental and vision. All my existing doctors are in their network and all my Rx's would be $0 copay. If I did get sick and didn't like the in-network specialists, I could switch to Medigap next year. However, I'm just not completely comfortable with the risk.

I know these options are more widely available to some states and would very much appreciate any insight anyone has. I'd really like to get this figured out so I can stop thinking about it. Can you say Analysis Paralysis??

 

[nwsteve]

Why do you have Medigap Plan B? I've never heard of someone choosing one other than F, G or N.

Sorry a typo--it is plan G!

 

[nwsteve]

OP here--went with MOO based on Boomer Benefits recommendations and their representation of stability of rates. Gave BB license since many posters have previously given them good marks. i am sure individual states create a variety of rating environments, so maybe in WA, rates are more stable--time will tell. Nevertheless saved 22*2*12 (528) versus SFarm and less than the next lowest provider in our state.
Frankly, changing again in a year would be a hassle but not new. Kinda like your Sirius subscription, I guess.

 

[wmc1000]

We used BB to signup for Plan G in 2017-2018 and signed up with Aetna $168 per mo. for 2 of us. In 2018-2019 Aetna raised our premiums to $188. Aetna announced that that our 2019-2020 rates would increase to $232.

Called BB and with underwriting approval we got changed to Western United which is a subsidiary of Manhattan Life in late 2019. Their rate changes have been what I think is very fair. (our policies go up each October)

Western United rates: Plan G - Indiana residents
2019 - 2020 rate $189 - DW $88, me $101
2020 - 2021 rate $199 - DW $93. me $106
2021 - 2022 rate $204 - DW $97, me $107

 

[harllee]

My DH is stuck with a Mutual Of Omaha Plan G policy that is going up substantially each year (last year went up around 30%). He contacted Boomer Benefits and they tried to find him another policy but he could not pass underwriting because of a preexisting medical condition.

Watch out for Mutual of Omaha price increases.

 

[CRLLS]

I wonder how much of the increases that are posted here or actual increases, or are they the result of having attained age policies. Illinois' state SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) does an excellent job of showing t he companies, plans they offer and costs for every 5 yr increment up to age 85. It is easy to pick out the companies who start out low and have larger premiums as you age. I used it to help me weed out those companies. Here is the Chicagoland area list:

https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/ship/Documents/ChicagoMedSupWeb.pdf

Note the change of company name but not the website.

 

[Marti]

I turn 65 in November and has been trying to learn as much as I can about my Medicare choices. I had just about decided to go with a Medigap Plan G; I liked the freedom to go to whatever doctor I wanted and figured that if I went with an Advantage plan now, at some point in the future I'd want to switch to Medigap but wouldn't be able to pass underwriting then.

BUT.... I live in NC and found that Blue Cross/Blue Shield has something called "Blue to Blue". This allows you to switch between ANY BC/BS plan once a year. You can switch between Advantage Plans and Medicap plans (and vice versa) as often as you want to. This sounds intriguing. I could sign up now for an Advantage Plan and have $0 cost and a few nice additional benefits like a small coverage for dental and vision. All my existing doctors are in their network and all my Rx's would be $0 copay. If I did get sick and didn't like the in-network specialists, I could switch to Medigap next year. However, I'm just not completely comfortable with the risk.

I know these options are more widely available to some states and would very much appreciate any insight anyone has. I'd really like to get this figured out so I can stop thinking about it. Can you say Analysis Paralysis??

Quoting my own post because I couldn't figure out how to edit it as I left out an important fact. With Blue to Blue, I can change plans WITHOUT medical underwriting each year. That's a huge difference and Blue Cross appears to be the only NC carrier that offers a feature like this.

 

[Dash man]

Quoting my own post because I couldn't figure out how to edit it as I left out an important fact. With Blue to Blue, I can change plans WITHOUT medical underwriting each year. That's a huge difference and Blue Cross appears to be the only NC carrier that offers a feature like this.

Do you travel? Will the MA plans provide more than emergency care while traveling? If they don’t, they only pay until you’re stabilized, then everything else is on you. It this possibility worth the risk for saving a few bucks?

 

[audreyh1]

Just used Boomer Benefits to change providers for our MediGap Plan G policies. We were looking at a 40/mon increase from State Farm and kept it to 18 with a shift to Mutual of Omaha as recommended by Boomer Benefit. Enrolling both spouses reduced rate from 197 to 184/mon.
Interesting side note is rep's comment that they would no longer write policy with Premera due to frequent premium changes (had that happen) and poor service to clients (had that happen).
Rep said Mutual of Omaha had been much more stable and changes not common.
Best part agent filled out all the forms and navigated system.
Put us in the Boomer Benefit fan club. ;-)

Since you folks in Washington state can change Medigap plans annually you are well protected from sudden price increases, as long as there are cheaper alternatives.

Personally I wouldn’t touch MOO with a 10 foot pole because they definitely play the price jump close the book game, and we’d be locked in in TX, subject to underwriting to change provider.

Yes, BB recommended MOO, we said no way.

 

[nwsteve]

Since you folks in Washington state can change Medigap plans annually you are well protected from sudden price increases, as long as there are cheaper alternatives.

Personally I wouldn’t touch MOO with a 10 foot pole because they definitely play the price jump close the book game, and we’d be locked in in TX, subject to underwriting to change provider.

Yes, BB recommended MOO, we said no way.

OP here--obviously I get a "fail " for not having come back to the Forum to check out MOO specifically. Given the high marks BB seems to get, I wonder why BB would risk its positive ratings to routinely recommend MOO.
As you point out, we can change annually if not more often according one source our supplemental, so MOO is materially a better deal for this year at least. If MOO jacks up the rate (as did their predecessor State Farm), we add one to the list (think cable/phone/Sirius)of annual calls to get best rate. We already do it for our Plan D's so add MOO to the list of irritants. YMMV

 

[audreyh1]

Well, I think the MOO offers from BB is related to agent compensation.

But you are completely protected from pricing shenanigans due to WA laws. So it doesn’t matter, you can switch. Most other states we don’t have this option.

 

[kevink]

Since I turn 65 in December I've been "down the rabbit hole" with looking into various Medigap plans for some months now, including reading everything on these boards I could find.

I posted this excellent analysis of Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap plans awhile ago:

https://retireearlyhomepage.com/medicare2020.html

and one of the reference cited by Mr. Greaney at the end of the article is a book by David Belk MD, who also has numerous very recent (June 2020) videos on these topics on YouTube. Here's the one on Medigap policies:

Anyway, thanks to many positive recommendations here and elsewhere I've tentatively set things in motion with Boomer Benefits to go with a high deductible Part G plan for $48.57 a month as well as a cheap Part D plan (I live in Arizona, FWIW). But after reading what Belk has to say and watching a slew of his videos as well as reading about the rate increases and needs to re-shop plans every year I'm wondering why more people don't just go with Medicare A and B and pay for everything else out of pocket. Don't want to post more links but Belk's video on Part D and the fear-mongering used to sell it as well as what the insurance companies make out of it is well worth watching.

 

[CRLLS]

I haven't followed any of Belk's videos. Heck I don't even know who he is. I have often wondered about foregoing a supplement too. Much like corporate health plans where the ins co. negotiates lower prices to start, covers (usually) 80% and then leaves the reast as copay to the individual. Sounds a lot like Medicare Pt A and B. However, where corporate had a max out of pocket, Medicare doesn't. You would be on the hook for 20% of up to "whatever". And corporate included drugs. With Medicare, you have to get a separate policy for drugs.

I feel very comfortable now that I have Plan G supplement Not HD. G-HD wasn't available yet when I switched from F-HD. My max out of pocket for medical is the Medicare deductible plus any Drugs which vary by the plan chosen. The good part is you get to change drug plans every year with no waiting period, no underwriting or pre existing limits.

Re-shopping plans every few years for supplements is generally limited to a few states as most states allow underwriting. DW and I were lucky to have passed the underwriting when I changed companies and Plans.

 

[kevink]

I haven't followed any of Belk's videos. Heck I don't even know who he is. I have often wondered about foregoing a supplement too. Much like corporate health plans where the ins co. negotiates lower prices to start, covers (usually) 80% and then leaves the reast as copay to the individual. Sounds a lot like Medicare Pt A and B. However, where corporate had a max out of pocket, Medicare doesn't. You would be on the hook for 20% of up to "whatever". And corporate included drugs. With Medicare, you have to get a separate policy for drugs.

I feel very comfortable now that I have Plan G supplement Not HD. G-HD wasn't available yet when I switched from F-HD. My max out of pocket for medical is the Medicare deductible plus any Drugs which vary by the plan chosen. The good part is you get to change drug plans every year with no waiting period, no underwriting or pre existing limits.

Re-shopping plans every few years for supplements is generally limited to a few states as most states allow underwriting. DW and I were lucky to have passed the underwriting when I changed companies and Plans.

It's worth watching Dr. Belk's videos because he does put some of those fears (including the "20% of whatever") to rest by showing just how good Medicare is at negotiating and controlling doctor and hospital costs. He also shows what a disgraceful racket Part D coverage is and that the fear-based selling tactics for it (which irritatingly are used not just by insurance companies but in the Medicare booklet as well!) are absurd if you (a) do the math on the penalties, and (b) understand that you have no way of knowing in advance if an expensive drug you have a small chance of being prescribed in the future will be on the formulary of your Part D insurer.

You're right that I was in error speaking about re-shopping Medigap plans every year as only a few states allow it. That reality and the ability of the insurance companies to use underwriting requirements as a cudgel seems to be how they get away with jacking up premiums after luring you in with low initial ones at age 65. It's the Long Term Care insurance scam writ large.

 

[Ian S]

He also shows what a disgraceful racket Part D coverage is and that the fear-based selling tactics for it (which irritatingly are used not just by insurance companies but in the Medicare booklet as well!) are absurd if you (a) do the math on the penalties, and (b) understand that you have no way of knowing in advance if an expensive drug you have a small chance of being prescribed in the future will be on the formulary of your Part D insurer.

"Disgraceful racket?" I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets the cheapest Part D plan (< $8/month this year) as part "placeholder" but even more importantly, as a source of three meds I'm on indefinitely and that are provided free of charge though this cheap plan. The cheapest I could get the three drugs through GoodRx would cost me $25 per month and I'd have to go to different stores for that low total price! So I dunno, maybe Dr. Belk is engaging in some scare tactics himself!

 

[bmcgonig]

"Disgraceful racket?" I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets the cheapest Part D plan (< $8/month this year) as part "placeholder" but even more importantly, as a source of three meds I'm on indefinitely and that are provided free of charge though this cheap plan. The cheapest I could get the three drugs through GoodRx would cost me $25 per month and I'd have to go to different stores for that low total price! So I dunno, maybe Dr. Belk is engaging in some scare tactics himself!

Same here. I pay about $85 a year and so far this year it has returned multiples of that.

 

[audreyh1]

"Disgraceful racket?" I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets the cheapest Part D plan (< $8/month this year) as part "placeholder" but even more importantly, as a source of three meds I'm on indefinitely and that are provided free of charge though this cheap plan. The cheapest I could get the three drugs through GoodRx would cost me $25 per month and I'd have to go to different stores for that low total price! So I dunno, maybe Dr. Belk is engaging in some scare tactics himself!

Same for DH. And he even got a couple of one-off prescription meds this year and they were covered with minor copays. So he is content with the options.

Also we would never go without Medigap. I will never forget when one of my in-laws was diagnosed with advanced cancer a couple of years after they dropped their Medigap coverage. 20% of very expensive treatment is high!