REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
I think only a Medicare Advantage plan covers both.
Some Medicare new enrollment questions
- Thread starter rodi
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I think only a Medicare Advantage plan covers both.
audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Well, it might depend on the doctor's office. All the doctors and medical facilities I've dealt with have you pay something up front, even if it is just a token amount that is resolved later with a bill after the insurance company delivers their EOB.
Perhaps they treat deductibles with Medicare differently then they treat deductibles from individual health insurance - seems likely.
It could be that the Medigap portion is covering just the 20% of the charge, and they know they'll be getting the 80% directly from Medicare and thus they aren't so strict about being paid up front by the patient.
I'd just be so nervous about having to deal with medical billing as I got older. It's one of those things that could be difficult to change after the fact.
OP
OP
I'm having a tough time getting quotes online for the plan G and plan F-HD that I am now considering (based on this thread). We're meeting with an insurance agent (free, no charge to us) to get pricing next week.
If G gets you everything a full F plan gets - except $166/year deductible - and it's more than $14/month cheaper... then it wins out over a plan F. Same with F-HD - if premiums are $184/month cheaper than full plan F - then it will win-out.
We have some money in DH's HSA from the past 2 years... so we have set-aside funds for a few years of paying out the full deductible.
As for billing - we've been on full HDHP w/HSAs for 2 years now... We always wait till we get the EOB to pay more than a "copay" amount. The difference between full price and EOB price (negotiated rate) is dramatic... no way I'd want to pay more than a token copay. I am ok with this.
If G gets you everything a full F plan gets - except $166/year deductible - and it's more than $14/month cheaper... then it wins out over a plan F. Same with F-HD - if premiums are $184/month cheaper than full plan F - then it will win-out.
We have some money in DH's HSA from the past 2 years... so we have set-aside funds for a few years of paying out the full deductible.
As for billing - we've been on full HDHP w/HSAs for 2 years now... We always wait till we get the EOB to pay more than a "copay" amount. The difference between full price and EOB price (negotiated rate) is dramatic... no way I'd want to pay more than a token copay. I am ok with this.
I'm looking at these plans in NY State, and the range of premiums makes absolutely no sense. For example, according to this site, comparing F+ plans, the range in my area (the Syracuse table), the F+ policy ranges from $58-$125/ month. Am I missing something?
Medicare Supplement Insurance Rate: Plan F+
Medicare Supplement Insurance Rate: Plan F+
aja8888
Moderator Emeritus
Medigap plans are brokered. Using online data is usually a waste of time.
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I think NY State may be an exception. IIRC the State Insurance Regulatory Agency publishes the policies and prices offered by county, so you can narrow down your list based on the data on their website.
In my research looking for a policy for DW I've found a couple of insurers give online quotes and policy info. Most notably, Blue Cross. Most others, though, just give a contact number. Lots of brokers, and I believe their is no additional cost or charge for using one.
In my research looking for a policy for DW I've found a couple of insurers give online quotes and policy info. Most notably, Blue Cross. Most others, though, just give a contact number. Lots of brokers, and I believe their is no additional cost or charge for using one.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
My apologies if I am pointing out the obvious, but when comparing the HD option remember that medigap pays the 20% Medicare doesn't. To meet the current $2180 deductible you have to run up Medicare bills of roughly $11,000 per year. Less than that and the HD option is probably best - unless there is a significant difference in premiums.
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audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Do you know that Plan F goes away in 2020 as no deductible plans will no longer be allowed? The possible impact is that there will be no new buyers of Plan F starting in 2020, so it could impact the cost of the plan as the people remaining in the plan age.
I assume Plan F HD will remain. I never had that spelled out.
misanman
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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I'm trying to find out how medigap policies are priced in Michigan (community rated, issue age rated, or attained age rated). Is this info available online by state?
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Stay in hospital
To meet the current $2180 deductible you have to run up Medicare bills of roughly $11,000 per year. Less than that and the HD option is probably best.[/QUOTE]
A night in the hospital (part A) way less than 11K.
1288.00 bucks go to the deducible. Stay out of the hospital on the High F and you will win.
Its just a numbers game,
Look at the price of the high f vs f or g and do the math. if you can save 100 bucks a month, what the risk? Difference between 1200 (savings) and 2280.00 the deductible. As you get older the savings increases in CA, check your state.
I think insurance companies and agents hate the High F, they make way less money.
To meet the current $2180 deductible you have to run up Medicare bills of roughly $11,000 per year. Less than that and the HD option is probably best.[/QUOTE]
A night in the hospital (part A) way less than 11K.
1288.00 bucks go to the deducible. Stay out of the hospital on the High F and you will win.
Its just a numbers game,
Look at the price of the high f vs f or g and do the math. if you can save 100 bucks a month, what the risk? Difference between 1200 (savings) and 2280.00 the deductible. As you get older the savings increases in CA, check your state.
I think insurance companies and agents hate the High F, they make way less money.
audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
This will show you have different Medigap letter policies are rated in your area by insurance company:
https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.asp
For a given letter, click on "View all companies that offer this plan in your area" and you'll see the rating along side the company name.
Looks like in my zip code all insurance plans except AARP/United Healthcare are attained-age rated. AARP is community rated.
Pricing is a different matter.
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I'm trying to find out how medigap policies are priced in Michigan (community rated, issue age rated, or attained age rated). Is this info available online by state?
Good call, I would only go with community rated or attained age, AARP, Blue's, Aetna the big ones. My experience smaller companies issue age rated start better rates but close that pool and start another one. When you are sick you can not move. CA has a birthday rule and you can move to any company the same plan with out underwriting. I would hate to be stuck.
Good call, I would only go with community rated or attained age, AARP, Blue's, Aetna the big ones. My experience smaller companies issue age rated start better rates but close that pool and start another one. When you are sick you can not move. CA has a birthday rule and you can move to any company the same plan with out underwriting. I would hate to be stuck.
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audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Yes, see my post above. The Medicare.gov site will tell you which companies provide policies for each Medigap letter and tell you how it's rated.
I don't think you get a price though.
OP
OP
Thanks. It wasn't obvious - at least not to me.
I'm used to the "pre"medicare HDHP - where you are responsible for dollar #1 up to the deductible. (And the deductible is much higher). We rolled the dice with this and it was a loser last year... but is working out in our favor this year. (Total costs = premiums+deductible+copays+OOP).What is the range of $58-$125 for? Is it dependent on the insurance company?
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
I think we have a bingo.
Requests for up-front payment did almost disappear when we went on Medicare but I can't say for sure that was the reason as we both changed doctors about the same time.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
There has been a lot of speculation about the possibility of higher than normal premium increases for Plan F members when only grandfathered insureds remain in the plan after 2020. Much of that speculation has come from those who would benefit by having you use their services to seek another Medigap plan, a reason to question the accuracy of the information. Only time will tell, but if I was starting on Medicare today I would stay away from the non high-deductible version of Plan F. As others have pointed out, Plan G offers the same coverage with only a small (under $200) annual deductible.
As a Plan F HD subscriber I've been eagerly awaiting news confirming it won't suffer the same fate as the regular version. So far, the decision has not been announced.
The purpose of discontinuing new enrollments in Plan F (and Plan C) in 2020 was to eliminate plans paying the full deductible for the insured.
Congress Schedules End to Insurance Coverage of Medicare Part B Deductible | ElderLawAnswers
Since the HD version of Plan F already does away with the deductible, it seems logical that it should continue to be an option for new Medicare enrollments. But then we are talking about the government, where logic is a five letter four letter word...
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golftrek
Recycles dryer sheets
The prices of Medicare Supplements are crazy. I started Medicare October 1 (YAH!!!) and did a lot of research primarily comparing Supplement G and High Deductible F policies. Many of the High Deductible F policies that were available to me actually cost MORE than the G policies. Crazy. I ended up with Mutual Of Omaha G for $90 per month.
Jo Ann
Jo Ann
audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
DH turns 65 in 2020, so I'm interested in the Medigap policies available then.
A year ago when I projected our Medicare insurance costs, I did find some quotes online. It might have been through ehealthinsurance?
A year ago when I projected our Medicare insurance costs, I did find some quotes online. It might have been through ehealthinsurance?
OP
OP
I thought I'd update with some pricing information. This morning I ran into my broker on the beach (where I met her in the first place). She had a package with pricing from Healthnet for me to review prior to our meeting next week.
Prices for San Diego county for a non-smoker age 65-66
Plan F: $140
Plan F-HighDed: $59
Plan G: $129
Plan G is eliminated because the price difference between G & F doesn't make it worth it.
We're leaning towards the F High Ded. plan... this discussion has been very interesting.
Additional - healthnet offers an optional add-on of dental/vision/hearing for $29/month. The premiums are a tad higher than we're paying for just cleanings and xrays for dental - and DH needs new glasses and will likely need hearing aids in the future. We're still debating this - but leaning towards opting in on this as well.
Prices for San Diego county for a non-smoker age 65-66
Plan F: $140
Plan F-HighDed: $59
Plan G: $129
Plan G is eliminated because the price difference between G & F doesn't make it worth it.
We're leaning towards the F High Ded. plan... this discussion has been very interesting.
Additional - healthnet offers an optional add-on of dental/vision/hearing for $29/month. The premiums are a tad higher than we're paying for just cleanings and xrays for dental - and DH needs new glasses and will likely need hearing aids in the future. We're still debating this - but leaning towards opting in on this as well.
aja8888
Moderator Emeritus
Sounds about like the quotes I got 8 years ago when I first signed up. Count on premiums rising each year and really going up after 70 years old. Still the best deal in the U.S.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
Same here, except the plan F HD is a bit higher. My premium started out five years ago at $44/mo and is now $53.
OP
OP
I noticed there is a lot of variation based on what county in CA you're in. (I have the pricelist for all of CA - but you have to pick your county.
A quick glance makes me glad we're not in Los Angeles or Orange County - they were the highest premiums. I was surprised to see San Diego County was on the same price chart as many of the Bay area counties... since I know they have higher health care premiums for the pre-medicare crowd.
I saw the increases with age - with Healthnet it's every 2 years it goes up to the next level. It seems to cap at age 85.
A quick glance makes me glad we're not in Los Angeles or Orange County - they were the highest premiums. I was surprised to see San Diego County was on the same price chart as many of the Bay area counties... since I know they have higher health care premiums for the pre-medicare crowd.
I saw the increases with age - with Healthnet it's every 2 years it goes up to the next level. It seems to cap at age 85.
Yesterday I got 2 quotes for MediGap for DW. The G policy (BCBS) is $252, and the Hi-D F (Humana) is $132. The BCBS quote was online, but all others are by phone. It's a pretty big difference.
I could not believe how long it took to get the Humana quote, or how confused they are - after 35 minutes the phone disconnected and they still could not tell me how the plan is priced. The Medicare website says issue-age, but I wanted them to confirm (they didn't).
I could not believe how long it took to get the Humana quote, or how confused they are - after 35 minutes the phone disconnected and they still could not tell me how the plan is priced. The Medicare website says issue-age, but I wanted them to confirm (they didn't).
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