Tear Jerker
 

On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:30:18 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 13:44:57 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

I have an AARP MedicareComplete Plus (HMO-POS) supplemental.
Cost? Zero.
Medicare pays United Health Care the part B money taken
from my SS check.
No idea how that works as a business plan for them.
Don't think it's widely used.
But that plan also adds the Medicare part D drug benefit.
Which is how I found out about this "no cost" supplemental.
Third degreeing the guy on the phone about drug plans.
I was shocked when he told me about this.
You want to check into all of that.
Most people don't know that even exists.

Downsides? $3800 max out of pocket per year.
Pay first 20% of out-patient services.
A colonoscopy next year could cost me a grand.
If so, I'll pay up.
Hospitalization is $250 a day for the first 7 days.
Zero after that. $5 doc co-pay. $40 for a specialist.
The only drug I use has a $6 co-pay. Tier 2 drug. Tier 3 goes to $60
co-pay. Some people would reject that.
They'll reject paying $40 to see a specialist.
Reject paying 20% of out-patient services.
They'll reject the $3800 out-of-pocket max.
They'll reject the provider list.
In my case I kept the the same local hospital group, but had to change
doctors. Some will reject that.

You have to look at your own medical needs and calculate what works
best.
Pretty sure the "no fees" "gold" supplemental would have cost me $170-
180 a month. Or $4080-4320 over the past 2 years. Maybe more.
I've only paid about 50 bucks in doc and medicine co-pays.
Of course that could change if I start getting sick and hospitalized.
Still won't cost more than than $3800 yearly max out-of-pocket.
Kind of like a "free" "catastrophic" policy, but also covers the common
stuff like exams, tests, and common medicines at no cost except small
co-pays.
When I get decrepit and that max out-of-pocket is getting hit too much,
I'll look into changing it.
Or just slowly fade away.



My plan is also a UHC HMO, I pay something every month and IBM pays
the rest. It is probably what you call "gold". I still have a
deductible and a $5 copay for the doc (including specialists.)

The "free" choice (silver) was Aetna that none of my doctors takes and
a $20/30 co pay.
The rusty iron choice was straight medicare with IBM kicking in $900
to cover part B.

Here's another reason the draft should be reinstated: Us old retired folks use Medicare with Tricare
for Life picking up the 20%.

So, get the draft going again, get your kids in the military, and then they'll not have to fear
(about medical care!). There's still a few other things to worry about.
--

John H.

Hope you're having a great day!

Tear Jerker
 

In article , says...

On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:47:55 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" nowayalso.jose.com
wrote:



"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
om...

On 9/16/13 4:31 PM, Boating All Out wrote:
In article ,
says...


I am going to be on the bleeding edge of this because IBM chucked
us
into exchanges.

Florida isn't exactly good place to be with this.
Not sure of all the details, but I've seen "things" on the internet.
Your governor putting up roadblocks to exchange enrollment doesn't
help.
A Richard suggested, this isn't set up well for higher income folks.
But that's really only if they choose the type of "golden" plans
which
do what you don't like - remove out-of-pocket costs.
I expect the premiums on those type plans will subsidize "lesser"
plans.
Many of the issues people whine about should and could be addressed
if
the degenerate Congress wasn't...degenerate.
Good luck to you.
You've got an absolutely great head start - Medicare.
So you're only talking about a supplemental.
You can commiserate with Mr. Krause about the big evil corporation
stripping your company benefits.


Awwwww. My health plan benefits aren't changing, nor is my premium
going
up, though I do plan to switch to Medicare and a Supplemental at my
next
birthday. It's not easy to figure out which Supplementals provide the
widest and deepest coverage. My monthly health care premiums will be
going...down.

---------------------------

Don't bet on that. I'll bet you will find that Medicare with a
decent supplemental plan will be close to whatever you are paying now.
I've been talking to those slightly ahead of me in years (I turn 65
and am eligible for Medicare in another year). All have told me that
their monthly premium cost didn't change much.




I thought Harry was 70

Harry is 13.

Tear Jerker
 

In article ,
says...

On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:00:16 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

In article ,
says...


My plan is also a UHC HMO, I pay something every month and IBM pays
the rest. It is probably what you call "gold". I still have a
deductible and a $5 copay for the doc (including specialists.)


To me a "gold" is - I think - an "F" plan.
But maybe they use the term "plantinum" and I'm misusing "gold."
I gave an example of what my elderly folks have.
Pretty sure it costs them about $360-380 a month total for both of them.
They pay NOTHING beyond that. According to them.
But the premium is a big chunk of their income.
If they had to shell out 2 g's like you did, they would blow their
gaskets.

These things are state by state. It sounds like $2k would not get
close to your deductible either.

I am hoping I actually get better choices at the exchange but I am not
confident.

Up to you. My folks are Floridians.
And of course $2k wouldn't hit my deductible, since it's $3.8k.
But I know that - and I don't pay any premiums.
I can write a $2k check any time. Or a $3.8k check.
Otherwise I wouldn't go with the no-premium supplemental.
My folks are paying about $4k in premiums to avoid my deductible and
higher co-pays. That works for them, given their use of health care.
Mine works for me - for now.
Besides that, they can't write a $2k check, but can manage monthly
premiums. Lots of people are like that. Living check-to-check.
I'm puzzled. You're sounding like you want a free ride.
Like you had with IBM. I've had free rides too. But this is now.
So fuggedaboutit.

You and I are just 2 of many millions who have to deal with Medicare
supplementals. We're not special.
Best we can do is know our options, and then select what suits us best.
No sense crying about it.

You are talking about the same Medicare supplementals that those
millions of others have to deal with, aren't you?
Not sure, because you mention the "exchange."

There is no ACA exchange or marketplace for Medicare supplementals.
It's the same Medicare supplemental market it has been in the recent
past. The ACA hasn't changed that.
The ACA only strengthened Medicare. Here.
http://www.medicare.gov/about-us/aff...fordable-care-
act.html

So I don't even know if we're on the same page.
You're jumping around. Maybe dancing. To me, it's jumping.
I'd appreciate it if you stayed on point.
Not that I expect it.

Tear Jerker
 

In article ,
says...


There is some kind of exchange because I have an appointment to talk
to them next month.
https://www.extendhealth.com/

That looks like a real good site. Much better than the crap I had to
deal with on the AARP site. Won't hurt to talk to somebody, and hope
you get somebody who really knows the insurance ins and outs.
The AARP site seemed to hide the zero premium plans.

Here's what I found the most important things to do, and can't be
avoided. Since you have an excellent site for plan selection, they'll
take the most time to do.
I'll leave off selecting price and coverage, except you need a plan that
covers drugs. Some don't. Then you would need a separate drug plan.

1. Read the provider list and make sure it suits you in terms of
locations and quality. I would have rejected any plan that didn't have
providers associated with the hospital group I wanted. It's the same
hospital group I used for years my employer provided insurance.
Excellent reputation, and the doctors communicated electronically, and
kept records electronically. Laptops.
Unfortunately, that doesn't always work well. My new doc, though he's
associated with the same hospital group, doesn't carry a laptop.
Paper files. Go figure. He seems okay though. I'll have to remember
to ask him what's up with that next time I see him. I should also ask
if he has a cell phone. Maybe no-premium plans don't allow docs the
luxury of laptops and cell phones.

2. Drug list. If you take any drugs, make sure you can find them on
the list, and costs are acceptable.

Those are the main things that will take some time to do.
Of course if you insist on keeping your same doc(s) that will be your
guide. Some plans are accepted by virtually all of them.
Pretty sure type F plans will pay them more than Medicare rates.
But those are more costly plans.

Tear Jerker
 

"Mr. Luddite" nowayalso.jose.com wrote:
"Boating All Out" wrote in message
...

In article , "Mr.
Luddite" says...


You may be right. I need to investigate this more as well. It just
dawned on me that the last person I talked to who became eligible for
Medicare last year *may* be paying for Medicare Part "A" for him and
his wife. That would be roughly a $900 per month. Add a Part "B"
supplement at $200 and he's up to close to what we are paying now for
direct, private insurance. If your employment over the years
contributed to Medicare, Part "A" is supposed to be free. His may
not have.

I don't know where you and Califbill are getting your figures.
For me Medicare A is "free." I paid those taxes.
Anybody who takes themselves out of Medicare and SS taxing to avoid
paying faces the music at retirement.
Some low income folks who were never on a payroll get picked up by gov
welfare.

I pay 105 bucks a month for Medicare B - comes out of my SS check.
If you have +170k annual income joint return, or +$85 single, it goes
up, but it's never a bad deal.
The low incomes are hurt more than anybody by the premium.
If your only income is $10k a year SS, which is common enough, the part
B premium is taking 10% of your income.
But that $105 a month is my ONLY health care insurance premium.

I have an AARP MedicareComplete Plus (HMO-POS) supplemental.
Cost? Zero.
Medicare pays United Health Care the part B money taken
from my SS check.
No idea how that works as a business plan for them.
Don't think it's widely used.
But that plan also adds the Medicare part D drug benefit.
Which is how I found out about this "no cost" supplemental.
Third degreeing the guy on the phone about drug plans.
I was shocked when he told me about this.
You want to check into all of that.
Most people don't know that even exists.

Downsides? $3800 max out of pocket per year.
Pay first 20% of out-patient services.
A colonoscopy next year could cost me a grand.
If so, I'll pay up.
Hospitalization is $250 a day for the first 7 days.
Zero after that. $5 doc co-pay. $40 for a specialist.
The only drug I use has a $6 co-pay. Tier 2 drug. Tier 3 goes to $60
co-pay. Some people would reject that.
They'll reject paying $40 to see a specialist.
Reject paying 20% of out-patient services.
They'll reject the $3800 out-of-pocket max.
They'll reject the provider list.
In my case I kept the the same local hospital group, but had to change
doctors. Some will reject that.

You have to look at your own medical needs and calculate what works
best.
Pretty sure the "no fees" "gold" supplemental would have cost me $170-
180 a month. Or $4080-4320 over the past 2 years. Maybe more.
I've only paid about 50 bucks in doc and medicine co-pays.
Of course that could change if I start getting sick and hospitalized.
Still won't cost more than than $3800 yearly max out-of-pocket.
Kind of like a "free" "catastrophic" policy, but also covers the common
stuff like exams, tests, and common medicines at no cost except small
co-pays.
When I get decrepit and that max out-of-pocket is getting hit too much,
I'll look into changing it.
Or just slowly fade away.


---------------------

Great post and info. I am going to save it. Thanks.

Part B depends on income. Due to a screw up somewhere in the IRS or SS
they required me to pay a lot for 2 years, should have been one. We still
pay $135 each for Medicare part B now.

Tear Jerker
 

wrote:
On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:31:45 -0400, Hank©
wrote:

On 9/17/2013 1:31 PM, Califbill wrote:

Part a is not free. My employment sent lots of money to Medicare, and I
still pay the $120+ a month each for wife and me. Comes directly out of
the SS payment.

Are you sure that's not part B?

It is part B

Plus another $70 for wife and I part D drug plan.

Tear Jerker
 

Hank© wrote:
On 9/17/2013 1:31 PM, Califbill wrote:
"Mr. Luddite" nowayalso.jose.com wrote:
"F.O.A.D." wrote in message m...

On 9/16/13 6:51 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 9/16/13 5:47 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:


"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
m...

On 9/16/13 4:31 PM, Boating All Out wrote:
In article ,
says...


I am going to be on the bleeding edge of this because IBM chucked us
into exchanges.

Florida isn't exactly good place to be with this.
Not sure of all the details, but I've seen "things" on the internet.
Your governor putting up roadblocks to exchange enrollment doesn't help.
A Richard suggested, this isn't set up well for higher income folks.
But that's really only if they choose the type of "golden" plans which
do what you don't like - remove out-of-pocket costs.
I expect the premiums on those type plans will subsidize "lesser" plans.
Many of the issues people whine about should and could be addressed if
the degenerate Congress wasn't...degenerate.
Good luck to you.
You've got an absolutely great head start - Medicare.
So you're only talking about a supplemental.
You can commiserate with Mr. Krause about the big evil corporation
stripping your company benefits.


Awwwww. My health plan benefits aren't changing, nor is my premium going
up, though I do plan to switch to Medicare and a Supplemental at my next
birthday. It's not easy to figure out which Supplementals provide the
widest and deepest coverage. My monthly health care premiums will be
going...down.

---------------------------

Don't bet on that. I'll bet you will find that Medicare with a decent
supplemental plan will be close to whatever you are paying now.
I've been talking to those slightly ahead of me in years (I turn 65 and
am eligible for Medicare in another year). All have told me that their
monthly premium cost didn't change much.






Hmmm. Medicare B with a Humana supplemental will run me about $200 a
month. Right now I'm paying close to $900 a month for my union plan. My
union plan requires me to pay a $10 copay for doctor's office visits,
and $5 for generic prescriptions, and discounts non-generics 80%. I had
a cataract operation two months ago, and my out of pocket cost was under
$100. I'll have to spend some real time investigating all this.


I'm sure there is more to this, but I still think my monthly outlay will
go down.

------------------------------

You may be right. I need to investigate this more as well. It just
dawned on me that the last person I talked to who became eligible for
Medicare last year *may* be paying for Medicare Part "A" for him and his
wife. That would be roughly a $900 per month. Add a Part "B" supplement
at $200 and he's up to close to what we are paying now for direct,
private insurance. If your employment over the years contributed to
Medicare, Part "A" is supposed to be free. His may not have.

Part a is not free. My employment sent lots of money to Medicare, and I
still pay the $120+ a month each for wife and me. Comes directly out of
the SS payment.

Are you sure that's not part B?

Oops, me bad.

Tear Jerker
 

In article om,
says...

On 9/16/2013 5:21 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 9/16/13 4:51 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 16:37:20 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 9/16/13 4:31 PM, Boating All Out wrote:
In article ,
says...


I am going to be on the bleeding edge of this because IBM chucked us
into exchanges.

Florida isn't exactly good place to be with this.
Not sure of all the details, but I've seen "things" on the internet.
Your governor putting up roadblocks to exchange enrollment doesn't
help.
A Richard suggested, this isn't set up well for higher income folks.
But that's really only if they choose the type of "golden" plans which
do what you don't like - remove out-of-pocket costs.
I expect the premiums on those type plans will subsidize "lesser"
plans.
Many of the issues people whine about should and could be addressed if
the degenerate Congress wasn't...degenerate.
Good luck to you.
You've got an absolutely great head start - Medicare.
So you're only talking about a supplemental.
You can commiserate with Mr. Krause about the big evil corporation
stripping your company benefits.


Awwwww. My health plan benefits aren't changing, nor is my premium going
up, though I do plan to switch to Medicare and a Supplemental at my next
birthday. It's not easy to figure out which Supplementals provide the
widest and deepest coverage. My monthly health care premiums will be
going...down.

Are you on your wife's policy?


Nope.

They live separate lives.

One above ground and the other below ground.

Tear Jerker
 

In article , says...

On 9/16/13 5:47 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:


"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
m...

On 9/16/13 4:31 PM, Boating All Out wrote:
In article ,
says...


I am going to be on the bleeding edge of this because IBM chucked us
into exchanges.

Florida isn't exactly good place to be with this.
Not sure of all the details, but I've seen "things" on the internet.
Your governor putting up roadblocks to exchange enrollment doesn't help.
A Richard suggested, this isn't set up well for higher income folks.
But that's really only if they choose the type of "golden" plans which
do what you don't like - remove out-of-pocket costs.
I expect the premiums on those type plans will subsidize "lesser" plans.
Many of the issues people whine about should and could be addressed if
the degenerate Congress wasn't...degenerate.
Good luck to you.
You've got an absolutely great head start - Medicare.
So you're only talking about a supplemental.
You can commiserate with Mr. Krause about the big evil corporation
stripping your company benefits.


Awwwww. My health plan benefits aren't changing, nor is my premium going
up, though I do plan to switch to Medicare and a Supplemental at my next
birthday. It's not easy to figure out which Supplementals provide the
widest and deepest coverage. My monthly health care premiums will be
going...down.

---------------------------

Don't bet on that. I'll bet you will find that Medicare with a decent
supplemental plan will be close to whatever you are paying now.
I've been talking to those slightly ahead of me in years (I turn 65 and
am eligible for Medicare in another year). All have told me that their
monthly premium cost didn't change much.






Hmmm. Medicare B with a Humana supplemental will run me about $200 a
month. Right now I'm paying close to $900 a month for my union plan. My
union plan requires me to pay a $10 copay for doctor's office visits,
and $5 for generic prescriptions, and discounts non-generics 80%. I had
a cataract operation two months ago, and my out of pocket cost was under
$100. I'll have to spend some real time investigating all this.

Your union plan will soon be gone.

Tear Jerker
 

In article , "Mr. Luddite" says...

"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
m...

On 9/16/13 6:51 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 9/16/13 5:47 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:


"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
m...

On 9/16/13 4:31 PM, Boating All Out wrote:
In article ,
says...


I am going to be on the bleeding edge of this because IBM chucked
us
into exchanges.

Florida isn't exactly good place to be with this.
Not sure of all the details, but I've seen "things" on the
internet.
Your governor putting up roadblocks to exchange enrollment doesn't
help.
A Richard suggested, this isn't set up well for higher income
folks.
But that's really only if they choose the type of "golden" plans
which
do what you don't like - remove out-of-pocket costs.
I expect the premiums on those type plans will subsidize "lesser"
plans.
Many of the issues people whine about should and could be
addressed if
the degenerate Congress wasn't...degenerate.
Good luck to you.
You've got an absolutely great head start - Medicare.
So you're only talking about a supplemental.
You can commiserate with Mr. Krause about the big evil corporation
stripping your company benefits.


Awwwww. My health plan benefits aren't changing, nor is my premium
going
up, though I do plan to switch to Medicare and a Supplemental at my
next
birthday. It's not easy to figure out which Supplementals provide
the
widest and deepest coverage. My monthly health care premiums will
be
going...down.

---------------------------

Don't bet on that. I'll bet you will find that Medicare with a
decent
supplemental plan will be close to whatever you are paying now.
I've been talking to those slightly ahead of me in years (I turn 65
and
am eligible for Medicare in another year). All have told me that
their
monthly premium cost didn't change much.






Hmmm. Medicare B with a Humana supplemental will run me about $200 a
month. Right now I'm paying close to $900 a month for my union plan.
My
union plan requires me to pay a $10 copay for doctor's office
visits,
and $5 for generic prescriptions, and discounts non-generics 80%. I
had
a cataract operation two months ago, and my out of pocket cost was
under
$100. I'll have to spend some real time investigating all this.


I'm sure there is more to this, but I still think my monthly outlay
will
go down.

------------------------------

You may be right. I need to investigate this more as well. It just
dawned on me that the last person I talked to who became eligible for
Medicare last year *may* be paying for Medicare Part "A" for him and
his wife. That would be roughly a $900 per month. Add a Part "B"
supplement at $200 and he's up to close to what we are paying now for
direct, private insurance. If your employment over the years
contributed to Medicare, Part "A" is supposed to be free. His may
not have.

What does a retiree who is on social security do to live and eat when they have to pay $1100
per month for Medicare when they ony get $1000 per month from the SSA?