Supplemental medicare

[Mary Stetler]

I liked the idea of a supplemental Medicare. There was a monthly premium but no 20% owed that medicare did not pay and at 65 I was supposed to expect another hip replacement. There were other reasons to like the plan but 10 years later I didn;t get another new hip and the monthly premium was up 300%? Not doing that. Turns out each time you get into another supplemental, your premium drops substantially because you sign up with a new group of people--generally younger people.
I went with an advantage plan this year. Zero premium with perks. I can get back on a supplemental within a year if I want but have to be checked out first and approved. They have to ok my medical records by my answering questions. Good luck with that. I don't do doctors although my BP is on file.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

We have an advantage plan, and that is what we have always had, although with different companies at different times. Our Medicare insurance agent looks through the new plans for each year and tells us if we think a different company has a better plan than the one we have.
I really like the extras that come with the advantage plans, and so far, they have covered everything that I needed done for my heart problems.

 

[Mary Stetler]

We have an advantage plan, and that is what we have always had, although with different companies at different times. Our Medicare insurance agent looks through the new plans for each year and tells us if we think a different company has a better plan than the one we have.
I really like the extras that come with the advantage plans, and so far, they have covered everything that I needed done for my heart problems.

What I liked, also, about my supplemental was I could swagger in to see anyone I wanted without referrals. I hate what the medical industrial complex has become. After I jabbed myself in the garden, I decided to get a tetanus shot and didn't need all the other rigamorol (sp?) I don't need a flu shot. I don't need a check up. Yeah, I'm old but I don't want any tests for anything without symptoms. I ended up at urgent care and even that took forever. My chiropractor was covered. I'll see how this advantage plan does.

 

[Beth Gallagher]

What I liked, also, about my supplemental was I could swagger in to see anyone I wanted without referrals. I hate what the medical industrial complex has become. After I jabbed myself in the garden, I decided to get a tetanus shot and didn't need all the other rigamorol (sp?) I don't need a flu shot. I don't need a check up. Yeah, I'm old but I don't want any tests for anything without symptoms. I ended up at urgent care and even that took forever. My chiropractor was covered. I'll see how this advantage plan does.

Our Aetna advantage plan does not require referrals. I can go to any specialist I want; the copay is $40 for a specialist but I can "refer" myself.

 

[Krystal Shay]

We have Aetna Advantage plan too. Ours is a lot like Beth's. No referrals, we can go out of network, prescription medications, and so forth. I have heard some people complain about the Advantage Plan. It depends on which one you get. There are different advantage plans available so a person needs to look at them closely to see what works for them.