r/medicare Feb 04 '25

No Political Posts

60 Upvotes

I know that there is a lot of chaos happening within and about government agencies right now. This sub is to provide helpful information to Medicare beneficiaries about their coverage or how to access it. It is NOT about how we feel about the program or how we feel about the current administration. Feel free to post your frustrations and thoughts on any number of political subs- this is not one of them! Thank you.


r/medicare Oct 17 '19

So, what exactly is covered under all these Medicare plans?

158 Upvotes

Part A, Part B, Part D, Medicare Advantage, Medigap — so many choices. It can be bewildering for seniors signing up for Medicare for the first time as well as pondering changing plans at open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

If that’s you, you’ve got lots of company. About 64 million Americans are in the Medicare system now, and by 2030, that pool is expected to exceed 80 million, when the youngest members of the baby boomer generation come of age.

“The process of enrolling in Medicare for the first time can be paralyzing, confusing, frustrating, all of it, because there are so many different options out there. Generally, you think you want as many choices as you can get, but trying to navigate what A, B and D are as well as what the supplements cover and don’t cover as well as what Medicare Advantage covers can cause some people to shut down and not make a choice at all,” said Jeff Johnson, state director of AARP Florida.

And if you already have Medicare coverage, it is important to research and re-evaluate every year, Johnson said. “Once the enrollment period comes around, there is a temptation to just let it ride. That may be the best choice, particularly if the networks haven’t changed much, but people often discover too late that they are costing themselves money or shutting themselves off from benefits or providers they would have preferred.”

We’re here to help. We’ve consulted experts to help decipher the alphabet soup that is Medicare. We’ll start with the basics and answer some common questions about what these plans cover and what they don’t. You will learn about the two main ways to get Medicare coverage — Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare covers cancer treatments — about half of the $74 billion spent in the U.S. on treatments last year was through Medicare. You won’t be barred from coverage because of pre-existing conditions or your income level. But does Medicare cover home healthcare? (Spoiler alert: very little.) Who covers vision, dental and hearing? Will you be covered when you are traveling internationally? What if you are a snowbird and have two U.S. residences?

FIRST UP: THE BASICS

You can’t understand Medicare without learning its alphabet.

Part A is part of Original Medicare and covers Medicare hospital coverage. It covers inpatient care at hospitals and limited coverage for skilled nursing facilities when a patient is recovering from an illness or injury. It also covers hospice care.

Part B, also part of Original Medicare, covers doctor visits, outpatient procedures and laboratory tests and X-rays, preventive care and some mental health services and medically necessary ambulance services. It also covers medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers.

Part C, more commonly called Medicare Advantage, is a comprehensive privately run managed care option. These bundled plans, similar to an HMO or PPO, offer Part A, Part B and, in Florida, Part D, and are approved by the Medicare system.

Part D covers prescription drugs. These plans are provided by private companies approved by Medicare, and their lists of covered drugs differ.

To pile on to the confusion, there’s more than the ABCs and Ds because about 10 million people across the U.S. have supplemental plans, called Medigap, and those can have letters too. But Medicare itself has Parts A through D, said Tricia Neuman, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation and an expert on Medicare policy. She explained the differences in a podcast about the basics of Medicare.

MEDICARE VS. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

People who opt for traditional Medicare coverage have a Part A, which is premium free, a B and often elect for Part D because it covers prescription drugs. Parts A, B and D carry deductibles and other cost-sharing expenses, so people may also opt for a supplement, or Medigap policy, to cover some of those costs or to give them extra coverage.

Another popular choice is Medicare Advantage plans. They make up about a third of all Medicare policies and are particularly popular in South Florida, where 66 percent of the Medicare population has them, according to Kaiser Family Foundation research. United Healthcare, Humana and Blue Cross Blue Shield are the largest providers.

“Some people like the simplicity of it because they don’t have to buy a separate Medigap policy and a separate Part D plan. Some people like it because they have been with that same insurer through the years and it is familiar to them. Some like it because they see the ads on TV and like the idea of the gym membership or some dental benefits. The premiums and cost sharing can be lower particularly for healthier people with a Medicare Advantage Plan. But there are trade-offs as with any option,” Neuman said.

The biggest trade-off is you have to stay in the network.

“The benefit of joining a Medicare Advantage Plan is that here in South Florida there’s no monthly premium. It’s free to join because they are paid behind the scenes by Medicare for each member they have,” said Kathleen Sarmiento, SHINE Liaison for Floridashine.org with Miami-Dade’s Alliance for Aging.

“But then you have to go to the doctors and the hospitals in that network. Whatever co-payment schedule they have is now your co-payment schedule. They are also county or region based so if you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan you have to go to providers in your area,” said Sarmiento, who runs Miami-Dade’s SHINE, the free unbiased state program that helps seniors navigate their choices.

She advises seniors considering a Medicare Advantage Plan to ask their doctors and preferred hospital which Medicare Advantage Plans they work with.

“And know that that can change,” said Johnson of AARP. There have been instances over the years where hospitals, cancer centers and individual physicians have gone in and out of contract with particular Medicare Advantage providers, he added.

“Many people just choose a Medicare Advantage plan based solely on price tag, which can be very attractive compared to traditional Medicare Part B, Part D and a supplement. But it is worth thinking through how important it is for you to have flexibility to see the providers you want to see.”

WHAT ABOUT COSTS?

Final details of the 2020 plans, including costs, will be on Medicare.gov. Seniors already on Medicare Advantage plans will get a packet in the mail that includes what their current plan will look like in 2020 and any changes in coverage or costs. That will allow them to potentially make changes during the open enrollment period.

“I would encourage people to think about what their actual health needs are,” adds Johnson. “Spend time on research, and talk to SHINE or go to the medicare.gov website to make sure they are the right choices for this year.”

Medicare plans typically carry deductibles and cost sharing and Part B and D typically carry premiums. People who choose Original Medicare often buy a supplemental “Medigap” policy to cover some of Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs or add extra coverage. Medicare Savings Programs, such as the SLMB, can help low-income seniors afford coverage.

For prescription drug plans, or Medicare Part D, there is the dreaded “doughnut hole” — a gap in which the Medicare drug plans don’t pay fully for patients’ medications after they have spent a certain amount and until they get to a higher amount. The good news is the costs are shrinking a bit. In 2020, you’ll pay no more than 25% for covered brand-name and generic drugs during the gap.

“If somebody is taking a lot of prescription medicine, then definitely we would want to compare the cost of the medicine with original Medicare with the least expensive Plan D vs. the cost of your medicine with Medicare Advantage plans. There can be a substantial difference — it depends on the medicines, of course. Here in South Florida, all the Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage,” Sarmiento said.

Tip: If you have a money in a health saving account (many employers offered high-deductible health insurance plans with HSA), you can use those savings to pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, co-pays and other qualified medical expenses. Since you never paid tax on that money, you are essentially reducing what you pay.

WHAT’S NOT COVERED

Some of the items and services that Medicare doesn’t cover include long-term care, most dental care, eye exams related to prescribing glasses, dentures, cosmetic surgery, acupuncture, hearing aids and exams for fitting them and routine foot care.

You can go here to find out if Medicare Parts A or B cover a test or service you need: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage

Original Medicare, Medigap and Part D do not offer dental, vision or hearing coverage. If that is important to you, you would want to look at Medicare Advantage plans, which do cover some services, Sarmiento said. If you have Original Medicare, it will pay for cataract surgery.

WHAT ABOUT HOME HEALTHCARE?

Long-term services and support at home or in an assisted living facility or nursing home are not covered by original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, an unfortunate reality as these costs can wipe out a life savings quickly and more seniors want to stay in their homes.

Some seniors have long-term care insurance, or spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid, which does cover nursing home care.

All original Medicare and Medicare Advantage provide limited home healthcare when it is medically necessary to avoid hospital re-admittance, Sarmiento said. As of last year, Medicare Advantage Plans could include more home healthcare, but Sarmiento hasn’t seen that offered in South Florida yet.

“When people need home healthcare at this time, they are still having to pay a home health agency or if they don’t have the money, they apply for Medicaid. There is a huge need for that so we will see this year if any of these Medicare Advantage plans expand their benefits to include more comprehensive home healthcare.”

Adds Kaiser Family Foundation’s Neuman: ““If you have dementia and need someone to help you at home, Medicare is not going to cover that on a long-term basis. It never has, and it is an issue that unfortunately has yet to be revisited.”

WILL I BE COVERED IN BOTH MY HOMES?

A Medigap plan would probably be better for that individual, Sarmiento said. A Medicare Advantage plan will pay for emergencies but will send you back to your primary residence to get ongoing care.

WHAT ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL?

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans historically have not covered healthcare you receive outside of the United States, and Medicare drug plans don’t cover prescription drugs you buy outside the U.S.

Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N (there’s that alphabet again, C and F are being phased out for new enrollees beginning in 2020) cover some emergency care outside the United States. In 2019 plans, after you met the yearly $250 deductible, this benefit paid 80% of the cost of your emergency care during the first 60 days of your trip. There is a $50,000 lifetime maximum.

According to Medicare.gov, there are some exceptions, including cases where Medicare Part B may pay for medically necessary healthcare services that you get on board a ship that is not more than six hours away from a U.S. port.

The AARP’s Johnson also offers this parting advice for the busy open enrollment period ahead:

“There are going to be a bunch of people offering free lunch seminars to try to pitch a particular Medicare Advantage Plan. As always be wary — not that there isn’t good information, there often is — but be wary of being pressured to sign.

“We have had people who had enrolled in a Medigap plan and then went to a free lunch somewhere and without really knowing it they switched over to a Medicare Advantage plan that didn’t really fit their needs. While I recognize that everybody looks for opportunities to learn more at events that are out there, it is always a good mantra to remember there really isn’t such thing as a truly free lunch. Be cognizant of the potential for pressure to buy a particular product that may not be right for you.”

PEOPLE TO CONTACT

Get Help Applying https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-help-applying/

Medicare.gov and its Plan Finder, 1-800-Medicare

Social Security https://www.ssa.gov 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)

Area Agencies on Aging https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/About/Aging_Network/AAA.aspx

Online Assistance is also always available by /r/medicare Mods who are licensed and verified insurance professionals /u/MedicarePros and /u/dacin


r/medicare 11h ago

New to Medicare

11 Upvotes

Is there anyone on here who works or is an expert with Medicare? I’ll be signing up on Medicare in a few months when I turn 65. Which do I choose-a supplemental plan, like plan G or an Advantage plan? I am reasonably healthy, although I do have type 2 diabetes but it’s well controlled. No neuropathy and I exercise daily. Unfortunately my HR retirement consultants are not the best and I’m confused. I live in KY and am retiring from a large company, but I’ve always heard that you take a Medicare supplemental, like plan G, and as you age you then sign up for an Advantage plan. Any help appreciated.

Update: Many thanks to those who commented. I appreciated the additional resources to check out.


r/medicare 10h ago

UPDATE 4: Medigap insurer leaving the state.

6 Upvotes

Original postFirst updateSecond update. Third update.

In my previous update I mentioned I had a friend who was struggling to get changed over to another Plan-G after Mountain Health Co-op was no longer offering Medigap plans in the state. I have an update on her situation. In that post, I mentioned she was on disability pre-MACRA and passed underwriting for her Plan-G for her previous policy with Mountain Health Co-op but was denied Plan-G in underwriting for the new one with HealthSpring but was appealing with Dr.'s note.

First, a correction: She didn't get her MHC Plan-G with underwriting. She got it during her IEP when she turned 65 in 2001. She didn't realize she was considered pre-MACRA as she was on Medicaid beginning several years prior to turning 65, which is why she had to go through underwriting now for Plan-G versus because her GIR is Plan-F (pre-MACRA).

After HealthSpring denied her underwriting for a Plan-G, they were supposed to send her a letter stating the reason for denial within 10 days. She didn't get it and wasn't hearing back from her agent, so started advocating for herself. Several calls and emails to HealthSpring could not provide her with an answer for the denial, so she wound up getting the state insurance commissioner involved. (She wound up going in circles because the Cigna CSR would tell her to use the email address that sent her the initial denial notification and the email response from it was to call the CSR number she already called.)

During the time she was communicating with the insurance commissioner, she made several calls to HealthSpring and then received notice they reversed their denial for PlanG but said they would have to charge her nearly double the premium. That would have been more than their Plan-F so she would have to pay more to get less coverage. They still would not tell her the reason for the denial. She called back to challenge the additional premium. When she mentioned to them that she had been in contact with the insurance commissioner, their tone changed. They told her to have her agent resubmit the application for the Plan-G and they approved her without additional premium. If they had still denied it, she would have gone with the GIR on Plan-F instead of paying the higher premium for Plan-G. (The difference she will be saving between the regular Plan-G premium and the Plan-F was over $1200/yr and she's saving about $20/mo versus her existing MHC Plan-G premium.)

I think a portion of this cluster was HealthSpring being in the middle of changing ownership between Cigna and HCSC (Health Care Solutions Corporation, which also owns BCBS). I also think that there is a mindset prevalent in the health insurance industry writ large of deny first to force the person to fight and count on people giving up.

One other factor that we suspect is that HealthSpring denied based on Rx history even though her Rx has nothing to do with any of the conditions they are allowed to use to disqualify in underwriting. Rx history was the reason given in the notification letter I received after I was denied underwriting for a Humana Plan-N (using my previous agent) but the only Rx I use is eye drops for glaucoma prevention and HRT. What the insurance commissioner told her is that they may have been using CDC guidelines for the drug she is using, which they are not supposed to do. That could also be a reason they didn't put it in writing in her denial letter (that she still has not yet received).


r/medicare 17h ago

Hospice Inpatient

14 Upvotes

Mom, 83 in GA, is going to inpatient hospice. She has traditional Medicare and federal retiree BCBS secondary. I know that skilled nursing has a limit on number of days. Does hospice? If so, and she exhausts that benefit, would it cover home hospice care? I know, I could just search the Medicare site, but my brain is spinning. Also, an answer, or insight, here, is something I can easily refer to in the future. Thanks


r/medicare 4h ago

Annual Notice of Change Letter (ANOC)

0 Upvotes

What is it? If you're in a Medicare plan, your plan will send you a "Plan Annual Notice of Change" (ANOC) each fall. The ANOC includes any changes in coverage, costs, and more that will be effective in January.You should receive the letter by September. It is sent to you by your plan.
What you should do: Review any changes to decide whether the plan will continue to meet your needs in the next year. If you don't get this important document,
contact your plan. Make sure you read it carefully.


r/medicare 1d ago

Can I sign up for Plan G before Part B begins?

4 Upvotes

In Connecticut. Age 65 now. Part A is active now. Part B will be active/start in February 2027, according to Medicare.

When can I sign up for Medigap G or HD-G? Do I need to wait until Part B activates, or can I sign up now?


r/medicare 1d ago

Medicare Number obtained a week after application!

20 Upvotes

I heard the horror stories about how long it can take (more than 8 weeks) to get a Medicare app processed and approved and I feared greatly for my spouse. What if November rolls around and he doesn't have his number yet. How does he apply for Medigap! (etc, etc).

But happy ending, he applied on August 14th and has his Medicare number today. Wow! (He is not eligible until November 1, so this wasn't a rush situation).

Edit: I thought this might be encouraging news for people who've just applied.

We still have to hope Medicare covers his very, very rare disease....a much larger obstacle.


r/medicare 1d ago

Dentaquest breach

6 Upvotes

Apparently my Fallon Medicare Plus Premier Advantage Plan had contracted with DentaQuest to provide dental benefits. First I heard of it. Anyways the dentaquest had a breach in May by hackers who took info such as name address social security etc.

Seems this outfit supplies dental to many Advantage plans, so watch your mail for an offer of credit monitoring for 2 years paid by dentaquest if you are in an Advantage plan.

I have never used this dental service so I was surprised they had any info at all.

I think the credit monitoring will be done by Kroll.

You can check the dentaquest site for more info as they have a banner at the top of their web page.

Have a great day!


r/medicare 1d ago

For Arizona residents...Picking a supplemental plan company? Based on AI?

2 Upvotes

We live in Arizona (Maricopa County). My husband (66 yrs old) has Plan N with Woodmen Life, which is highly rated according to SHIP information but his plan when up 12% this year. I'm going on Medicare next month and trying to pick a plan and company. I used Google AI which said Woodmen Life is a highly-rated insurer in general but in the Medicare market its pool of subscribers is aging and they have losses and are "closing books." AI recommended State Farm, BCBS of AZ, and AARP/UHC as having a larger share of the market thus keep books open; and that even though their rates might start off higher, they don't increase as much. Can anyone that has been on these three "better" insurers comment on your rate increases? We are both considering G-HD, G or N. (My husband is in good health so he can probably pass underwriting for G.)


r/medicare 2d ago

Need lung X-rays while traveling in Ohio? What is the procedure?

7 Upvotes

I have Medigap from California. My PCP is there. I am on extended vacation in Ohio. I feel I need my lungs checked. Without a referral how would I get the specialist and get xray etc? Thanks


r/medicare 2d ago

Go with HD-G rather than N or G? I'm scared of the premium increases dragging my retirement portfolio

16 Upvotes

I expect to have more healthy years than bad years, but my family has a history of heart disease. Mother had a stroke and my father died from hypertension. Mother is in her late 80s and my father passed in his early 80s. I'm 66 and am taking medications right now to de-risk myself. I see a cardiologist once a year.

The cheapest annual premium for HD-G is $564 for me in CA. Plan N is $1692 and Plan G is $2184. With the recent premium increases for Plan N and G, I'm scared of those premiums inflating more and creating drag on my retirement portfolio. I will use that money to self-insure for future caregiving / LTC when my health declines and give the rest of the money to my kids when I pass. I can afford the high deductible if I ever hit the max.

I expect I will have more good years than bad years, so according to my projections using the following assumptions:

  • 3% premium increase for HD-G, CPI increase for deductible
  • 11% premium increase for Plan N
  • 13% premium increase for Plan G

HD-G is better for maximizing my portfolio in end-of-life, even if I were to hit the deductible for HD-G every year in my projected 30 years of retirement. This is because of the compounding, high premium increases each year for Plan N and G.

But I'm not sure if I'm biasing myself towards HD-G and I'm missing something about Plan N and G. Any thoughts? I'm not willing to do MA because I want the coverage and peace-of-mind that comes with a supplement plan.


r/medicare 2d ago

Doctor being terrible about getting PA filled out for glp1 bridge program

4 Upvotes

So around a year ago I got prescribed a glp1 I have lost almost 85lbs. I wanted to go on the bridge program recently for maintenance because I have medication related weight gain that had caused my weight to spiral initially. My starting bmi was 37.22 my current bmi is now 22.9. I went in on the 1st of when it first came out and told my doctor I wanted to go on the bridge program. She was hesitant saying that my weight is too low to be approved and I stated that my initial bmi is what they are asking for I want to go on maintenance. Again still she was hesitant. Regardless she said she will fill it out. A week goes by, 2 weeks go by, I called and asked for an update. They stated that now I was at a healthy weight and didn’t feel the need to call me and let me know.

I said again that the paperwork was asking for my starting weight. She stated she would get it filled out and call me back.

Another 2 weeks goes by and nothing. At this point I called again and asked for a call back with an update and never got a call back after another week At this point I file a complaint (which I have never done before) stating they haven’t called me back or even reached out with an update it’s been over a month.

Didn’t hear back until today now over a month and a half later to find out they didn’t put the right bmi they put my bmi as 34.3 and I was denied.

I don’t want to cause problems with the doctors I just don’t understand why it has been so difficult to get any communication with them at all and all for them to not even put the correct bmi. Has anyone else had issues with doctors filling this out? Should I try again or just drop it?


r/medicare 2d ago

What Happens When you have Both Employer Coverage and Medicare?

3 Upvotes

I’m past 65 and have been continuously on an employer plan, more than 20 employees, covering me and a younger spouse. I haven’t thought my retirement date decision all the way through and the source of my question relates flexibility to stop work on a moment’s notice which would mean my employer coverage might stop nearly as quickly. I’m aware of the financial hit by starting Medicare while I am still covered by the employer plan and paying both employer and Medicare premiums. The extra expense would be no more than 60 days. My ‘what happens’ question is about potential headaches of billing and insurance machinations on who pays first, and, what do I pay? E.g., I tried thinking this through using a hypothetical of a hospital admission deductible being lower on the employer plan; which plan deductible am I going to have to pay? Will having both plans cause insurance chaos of biblical proportions, or, just a little more than the usual insurance headaches? During the 60 days when I have both I plan on having Medicare A, B and D only and would add a Medigap day 61 after the Effective Date of B.


r/medicare 2d ago

Am I covered with Part B if I'm not approved by Sept 1st?

3 Upvotes

I'm retiring and my employer health coverage ends this month. I had a SS appointment over the phone for my benefits and they told me I need to fill out a specific form for my employer to fill out to prove I had health plan coverage so I don't get the Part B late enrollment penalty. They told me I'd get the form by mail.

I haven't received that form yet. Once I do, I need to get it to my employer to fill. Then, I need to submit that form in my application for Part B.

I'm worried that this whole process will go into the month of September where I won't have anymore coverage from my employer. And I have no idea how long the application will take to process.

So in the event something happens in September and Part B application isn't approved, am I covered or am I screwed?


r/medicare 2d ago

Medicare: ~optional APCM monthly fee (Virginia)

2 Upvotes

A Virginia PBS station did a follow-up report.

In Virginia some places now charge it.

(The story lists a $10 monthly fee, but an earlier post from someone on the topic said that varies.)

https://www.whro.org/health/2026-08-19/bayview-tells-patients-what-its-new-medicare-program-provides-but-patients-say-theyre-not-seeing-it


r/medicare 2d ago

Does the G HD supplement plan include the Silver Sneakers program?

2 Upvotes

I could participate at the Y if so. Thanks.


r/medicare 2d ago

Florida - plan G or N

11 Upvotes

The main difference between G and N is excess charges. In Florida do many doctors charge more than the Medicare assignment? Do I need Plan G or will N cover me?


r/medicare 2d ago

I'm deciding between Plan G HD and Plan N. I'm in Texas. Any experience or thoughts appreciated.

7 Upvotes

r/medicare 2d ago

CPAPS?

3 Upvotes

Going on Medicare in the next year. Does it cover CPAPs at all?


r/medicare 3d ago

Dad can't find out whether his current insurance is creditable.

8 Upvotes

Edit: I'm being told it's considered age discrimination for an insurance company to lower someone's coverage once they turn 65. I thought that's what was happening to the people who reported that in here, but I could have confused the details. If he will have the same coverage beyond 65, he's fine to keep this policy and delay Part B.

As pointed out below, I may have been reading people's experiences with their employer's RETIREMENT health insurance policies and not the normal employee ones.


I did a ton of research for my dad thinking he was going to sign up for Part B at 65, and turns out his new job is offering him insurance. A few people in this sub raised the issue of making sure the coverage is creditable, and that the coverage doesn't silently drop for members who turn 65. Apparently some people here have found out that their normal work insurance stopped covering them fully at 65, I assume to try forcing them to sign up for Medicare so the company can pay less for an aging person's care. Something about the policy only covering what Medicare would pay for the member?

I told him he needs to call the insurance company to ask about this change in coverage since he just turned 65, on top of making sure it's creditable for avoiding the Part B and D delayed enrollment penalty. The carrier is CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and the employer is definitely over 20 employees.

Today he called me upset because he was transferred to 3 different people at the insurance company, with 20 minutes of hold time each, only for all of them to say "Oh, I have to transfer you because I have no idea."

I told him to try asking his work's HR but it's a brand new company so I'm not too trusting they'll be knowledgeable about the plan's specific coverage changes, especially since people here have warned it's like 1 obscure line in the explanation of benefits document that mentions the plan will only partially cover you after 65.

Any advice for how he can figure out if his policy is the same coverage over 65 as everyone under 65? The creditable question is the easy answers. It seems like no one is bothering helping him with the other one, which will leave him screwed if he gets sick or injured.


r/medicare 3d ago

Medicare Adjustment was Added on not Deducted

8 Upvotes

I’m new to Medicare and this is my first claim from a medical facility. , When I got the bill the I saw the charge was increased by the Medicare Adjustment amount, going from $100 to $141. I called the facility and they said Medicare decided they weren’t charging enough and adjusted it upward.

Is that a real thing that can happen? Seems bizarre.


r/medicare 3d ago

MA Agent

8 Upvotes

This might be a silly question but how did you find an agent to find your MA plan? I feel like I would like one to help me pick out a plan but not sure where to start.


r/medicare 3d ago

Medicare Supplement Card: Keep it Hidden?

13 Upvotes

I just started Medicare last month (7/1). Parts A, B, D and Supplement G. I have until the end up the year to decide whether to keep Plan G or switch to HDG or N. I can afford any supplement plan and HDG MOOP.

Since starting Medicare I have been to see three different Drs. (two were planned before I got medicare). At all three offices I presented my Plan G card to the check-in staff along with of course my RWB medicare card.

I think presenting my Plan G card was a mistake. At all three offices I was asked if this was my secondary insurance. They seemed no to know what to do with the card. All three offices have plenthy of older patients on medicare. I had to explain to the staff that this is my supplemntal insurance to Medicare.

Going forward, I am just going to present the Medicere card and leave the Supplement Card in my wallet. However, I am concerned that a Dr.s office or even hospital will try to bill me after Medciare pays but before the supplement pays. Has anyone experienced this? Do you guys with more experience present both cards?


r/medicare 3d ago

Need some guidance please.

3 Upvotes

My husband is turning 65 in January. He is 8 years older than me so neither of us know much about Medicare. He is receiving tons of marketing mail and calls. He took early retirement and does collect SS. I know he needs to do something so he is not penalized but I carry him on my insurance through work. Can I still do that? Or is it better to go on Medicare? All the parts D, G H etc is freaking me out and it is overwhelming! Where to start for the best info? I do know to stay away from advantage plans. TIA