Fulltiming and Medicare

[wharfrat8995]

Hi Folks,

We're going to be on the road starting next year after Kathy finishes her last year of teaching. I'm retired and getting inundated with Medicare supplement info. For those of you retired and full-timing, what have you selected for your Medicare Part C if that's what you're using

best regards

pat hayes

[SteveH]

My wife and I are retired, my wife a retired school counselor, and we have the insurance available to retirees thru her state system. Best deal we could get. I retired first, and had insurance marketed by AARP, but quit that after my wife's system became available, and after AARP endorsed what they did, would do without before I go back there.

[DaveFL]

Only retired not full timing but we are constantly getting mailing on Advantage and Humana plans. Funny thing is that our major county hospital doesn't accept them. We went with AARP as it doesn't require specific doctors or hospitals. With your constant travel you will need to know how acceptable your policy is in various states.

[murreywalker]

Medicare is a wicky sticket.

The government furnishes all the information you need to make an educated decision. Unfortunately, you need a consultant to decipher.

Basically, beyond Medicare A & B (you've paid for "A" all your wage earning years and "B" is a complimentary policy which you must pay for), there are two distinct kinds of insurance considerations.

The first is more often than not called "Advantage". This is a less expensive supplement to "A&B", but you have a larger "Copay" responsibility. Most advantage programs bundle Medicare D (prescription drugs). The premiums here are lower; the coverage is PPO oriented and has more restrictions as to where you can go.

The other is called "Supplemental". Within the supplemental group are many subsets which give various levels of coverage and reduced "copays". The premiums are more expensive than the "Advantage", but many do away with "copays" entirely.

Big warning: if you initially go with the lower priced "Advantage" programs and your health declines, you must go through a pretty extensive medical screen to get into the more benefit endowed "Supplemental" program.

Bottom line. Go to an insurance specialist who has the "Rosetta Stone" and can fit you with the best coverage you can afford.

[Airtandem]

i went with BC/BS plan "F". It costs more, but there is NO out of pocket. AARP has the same plan (F), but it is divided into 4 parts: previous condition- ye or no, and smoker yes/no. Iowa rates rnged from $184.80 to $277.20. My rate is $172.00 for the BC/BS.
I am not a full timer, but shouldn't make a difference if you have a home base for mail.

[pappy19]

Humanna here and that's from my daughter who is an insurance salesperson and gave the wife and I the best plan at the least cost.

Pap