Is Wellcare associated with a Big-name Provider ??
I know that Humana has CenterWell Pharmacy, which is very good for Tier 1 Generics......90-day mail order supply is Free.
Wellcare was acquired by Centene, I believe.
Is Wellcare associated with a Big-name Provider ??
I know that Humana has CenterWell Pharmacy, which is very good for Tier 1 Generics......90-day mail order supply is Free.
Is Wellcare associated with a Big-name Provider ??
I know that Humana has CenterWell Pharmacy, which is very good for Tier 1 Generics......90-day mail order supply is Free.
Wellcare is a provider of Medicare part D plans as well as Medicare Advantage Plans. I'm not sure if you think a drug plan provider should also be a Medigap provider. These are two separate parts of the Medicare options. One does not need to have a Medigap and Part D from the same company. And none of the Part D providers that I know of have their own pharmacies you need to go to,. Well, possibly for the mail-order prescriptions. We use AARP Humana for Medigap, Wellcare for Part D (CVS and other local pharmacies) and Wellcare uses CVS Caremark for mail-order prescriptions.
AARP Medigap is United HealthCare, not Humana.
just understand the birthday rule in most states means you may only switch to a plan of "equal or lesser benefit" w/o passing medical underwriting
so it won't help if you currently have Medicare Advantage but want to switch to a Medigap plan w/o passing medical underwriting.
Two things about Medigap I wanted to invite you to consider:
1. Some are age-rated, and these start out cheaper but go up every year or two based on your age. Others are community rated; everyone pays the same (they still go up, but not because you get older). The AARP/UHC was the only one of the latter in Riverside County when I applied.
2. I was going to invite you to consider Plan N instead of G. Here's an article. With G, you have no deductible nor copay; with N, you pay the $226 deductible and up to $20 copay for doctor visits (but not procedures or any tests). When I joined, the annual price difference was about $700, and I only visited a doctor a few times a year. The premium difference may be different now. Do the math. (I have never seen a "Part B excess charge.")
QUESTIONS:
3. If my husband uses the company his previous employer (Lockheed) deals with, he gets $900 per year. This company cannot override California rules and lock him into a plan, correct?
I recommend consulting with Boomer Benefits. No cost to you and comprehensive service and support. It really gave me peace of mind even though I had a basic knowledge.
Two things about Medigap I wanted to invite you to consider:
1. Some are age-rated, and these start out cheaper but go up every year or two based on your age. Others are community rated; everyone pays the same (they still go up, but not because you get older). The AARP/UHC was the only one of the latter in Riverside County when I applied.
2. I was going to invite you to consider Plan N instead of G. Here's an article. With G, you have no deductible nor copay; with N, you pay the $226 deductible and up to $20 copay for doctor visits (but not procedures or any tests). When I joined, the annual price difference was about $700, and I only visited a doctor a few times a year. The premium difference may be different now. Do the math. (I have never seen a "Part B excess charge.")
Two things about Medigap I wanted to invite you to consider:
1. Some are age-rated, and these start out cheaper but go up every year or two based on your age. Others are community rated; everyone pays the same (they still go up, but not because you get older). The AARP/UHC was the only one of the latter in Riverside County when I applied.
2. I was going to invite you to consider Plan N instead of G. Here's an article. With G, you have no deductible nor copay; with N, you pay the $226 deductible and up to $20 copay for doctor visits (but not procedures or any tests). When I joined, the annual price difference was about $700, and I only visited a doctor a few times a year. The premium difference may be different now. Do the math. (I have never seen a "Part B excess charge.")
Plan G-HD is even cheaper on premiums for those to whom that is more important than the possibility of hitting the higher annual "deductible" (maximum OOP)
I wouldn't get Plan N unless I lived in a state that prohibited excess charges altogether.
If you research excess charges, you’ll find they’re pretty rare, mostly with psychiatrists and not that high an expense.
If you research excess charges, you’ll find they’re pretty rare, mostly with psychiatrists and not that high an expense.
+1. That’s been my experience for 4 years. I am amazed at how rare out of pocket expenses have been. Of course YMMVIf you research excess charges, you’ll find they’re pretty rare, mostly with psychiatrists and not that high an expense.
+1. That’s been my experience for 4 years. I am amazed at how rare out of pocket expenses have been.
Community rating is so much less important in Riverside County CA where you can change plans as desired with the birthday rule. When I searched the Medicare site, it seemed like UHC/AARP became the most cost effective around age 85 or so, until then it was either State Farm or USAA for most ages sub-85
+1. That’s been my experience for 4 years. I am amazed at how rare out of pocket expenses have been. Of course YMMV
With certain Medigap plans as a supplement, is the best way to avoid "excess charges" for Part B to go to the Medicare.gov site and make sure the provider only charges the Medicare approved rate? The site appears to tell if a provider does so or not. Would this then avoid the "excess charge" risk of some Medigap plans?
+1
I've come to believe Medigap insurers use the possibility of excess charges as the Bogeyan to scare folks into opting for more expensive/profitable coverage than Plan N. No proof of course, just my opinion.
DW and I have been on Plan N for almost 7 years. In that time we've been to more than a dozen different doctors and specialists, had all sorts of tests (bone marrow biopsy, anyone?), and she's had two TKR surgeries. We've never been billed for excess charges or any other out-of-pocket expenses other than the standard Medicare annual deductible and the Plan N $20 co-pay for dr visits.
I was amazed that both her TKR surgeries and hospital stays were totally covered, not even a $20 co-pay.