were you aware of free (or nearly free) Blue Cross..??

[Old_Me]

yeah, if you are retired and on Medicare, as you know, they (the gooberment) take out for Part D as well as Parts A and B...

but here's the rub...

if you need extra health care, and who doesn't, you need another health insurer, be it Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Humanna, Atena(god forbid) or any other Medicare/Advantage coverage, you will be shown a "menu" of what coverages are available to you, as to what Medicare DOES NOT cover..!!!!!

this month, October, its "open enrollment month", so you can choose your coverages.

ok, so i went to my local "Blue Store" (B/C & B/S) and was told there is a "value plan"...for NO MONTHLY premiums...

i asked how is this, to be "free from premiums?

was told that the money Medicare automatically takes out each month, "diverts" that money to your health insurer for coverage...

so now, instead of me paying $107 a month for BC & BS, and spending $1284.00 a year for coverage.......

that's money in my pocket.

I get my health coverage for free...(starting January 2024) as i had already paid up till December.

so for those of you one Medicare, check into your health insurance, there "should be" no cost health insurance for you too.

by the way, you don't stop getting Medicare, if you are on Social Security, you still get Medicare.

you have nothing to lose but phone time, or travel time to your health insurers offices.

Good luck

 

[nmedge]

Sounds like a good plan. I am on Medicare and Tricare for life. I do not pay part D as my meds are free from military pharmacy. Sounds good but a pain you know where. Anytime you deal with military it seems to be a hassle. I could also go to VA but I want nothing to do with them!

 

[Tenbones]

Humana has a similar plan.

 

[Old_Me]

Sounds like a good plan. I am on Medicare and Tricare for life. I do not pay part D as my meds are free from military pharmacy. Sounds good but a pain you know where. Anytime you deal with military it seems to be a hassle. I could also go to VA but I want nothing to do with them!

that always Pissed me off. (and i never did time in the services)

Vets are told to go to the VA, and yet, made to wait countless hours for someone to see them.

Here in RI, i have spoken to several Vets at the bait store, and they claim, things here are really pretty good, not like the rest of the country at the VA.

 

[Old_Me]

Humana has a similar plan.

yes, i failed to mention, that on those TV commercials this time of year, (to elect health care choices) that they say something like, "you might not have to pay anything to get all these benefits"

so for those that have not heard of this, or just don't bother, it pays to at least make that phone call, if one is on Medicare. why "double pay", since you may not have to.???

 

[Area52]

Thanks for posting the reminder.
Yes, shop around for the best deal to fit the needs and those needs change as time goes on.

I’ve been contemplating looking into one of those many independent Medicare brokers to find a Plan that would work on my behalf based on needs and not umbrella coverage of an entire group.
I always cringe at the thought of having a “broker” do leg work mostly because they push products/services from companies that pay them the biggest commissions.
(Word of advice: Don’t pay monthly or annual premiums to any insurance brokerage agency, pay your premiums directly to the Insurer.)

I have Aetna currently which seems to be sufficient and cost effective compared to BCBS that was recommended by the union, who solicited Medicare provider plans to compete. These are Advantage Plans, different tiers of coverage and deductibles to add confusion.
If there’s a better deal I’d like to know, the whole mess is confusing and convoluted as they’ll pay this but this one won’t pay for that, network of doctors/hospitals doesn’t seem to be an issue for the big city. Each year there’s a new feature or hook to grab the attention of new subscribers to switch plans.
Car insurance is no better, save 15% in 15 minutes…yeah right. This applies to cable tv and cellphone companies too.

Whats important to remember is that each State and Zip Code has different plans available, which I didn’t know or realize that some Providers don’t offer plans or coverages across state lines even though they operate all across the country.

Also an eye opener if you’re still working …annual incomes exceeding $97k are subject to IRMAA surcharges. Whats income? Everything that supplies you a 1099 to be reported on your last tax filing.
Cash out a pension plan, draw out an IRA or pension fund as part of required distribution, Social Security income, capital gains from real estate or stocks, lottery winnings, selling your possessions on the amazing world wide internets. So be advised - these sources will double your Medicare costs.

It’s too bad theres no one plan fits all. But anyone who has worked for 30-40+ years has to cough up more $$$ for those that show up on a bus with the notion and blessing they’re entitled to healthcare.

 

[Old_Me]

Thanks for posting the reminder.
Yes, shop around for the best deal to fit the needs and those needs change as time goes on.

I’ve been contemplating looking into one of those many independent Medicare brokers to find a Plan that would work on my behalf based on needs and not umbrella coverage of an entire group.
I always cringe at the thought of having a “broker” do leg work mostly because they push products/services from companies that pay them the biggest commissions.
(Word of advice: Don’t pay monthly or annual premiums to any insurance brokerage agency, pay your premiums directly to the Insurer.)

I have Aetna currently which seems to be sufficient and cost effective compared to BCBS that was recommended by the union, who solicited Medicare provider plans to compete. These are Advantage Plans, different tiers of coverage and deductibles to add confusion.
If there’s a better deal I’d like to know, the whole mess is confusing and convoluted as they’ll pay this but this one won’t pay for that, network of doctors/hospitals doesn’t seem to be an issue for the big city. Each year there’s a new feature or hook to grab the attention of new subscribers to switch plans.
Car insurance is no better, save 15% in 15 minutes…yeah right. This applies to cable tv and cellphone companies too.

Whats important to remember is that each State and Zip Code has different plans available, which I didn’t know or realize that some Providers don’t offer plans or coverages across state lines even though they operate all across the country.

Also an eye opener if you’re still working …annual incomes exceeding $97k are subject to IRMAA surcharges. Whats income? Everything that supplies you a 1099 to be reported on your last tax filing.
Cash out a pension plan, draw out an IRA or pension fund as part of required distribution, Social Security income, capital gains from real estate or stocks, lottery winnings, selling your possessions on the amazing world wide internets. So be advised - these sources will double your Medicare costs.

It’s too bad theres no one plan fits all. But anyone who has worked for 30-40+ years has to cough up more $$$ for those that show up on a bus with the notion and blessing they’re entitled to healthcare.

well, while i was at the "Blue Store", i asked the gal to find my meds, and thier individual Tiers..

same as my current plan, with that 1 exception i have to buy from a different Rx company in StL, MO

otherwise only my "specialists" co-pays went up a mere $5.00 to $30, which will not break my bank.

i wish i could "shop around" for home and auto insurance yearly, but i am stuck in my neighborhood, as to who will cover "this old house".........

so to keep my premiums low, i had auto insurance with them as well......

believe me, i tried ALL the insurance companies in my state

 

[Scevaph]

The devil is in the details; Watch the annual deductible amounts, out of pocket max and Rx Deductibles. A lot of the zero cost to you plans are high in the deductibles and out of pocket amounts.

 

[powerboatr]

thanks

we have tricare for life and medicare for my wife..her deductible is ZERO and she pays prescriptions via express scripts at 16 which is going up, and zero annual enrollment. she is not the retiree. but medicare is her primary and tricare has to pay EVERYTHING medicare does not by law.

i have tricare extra garbage because you can not be on prime in my area as we live to far from a mil base. its like 180 a year, same drug prices, office visits are 35, going up in dec. i must have a primary doc that i see once a year maybe.

but i use VA for 99% of my stuff so drugs and doctors are free
i keep tricare for my wife and if i need major surgery
its a racket. its all gov plans and all three are freaking different
so whatever VA refuses to do, i use tricare then send a deductible bill to the VA, they never pay..but it makes me feel good

if medicare really wanted people to be healthy, DENTAL would be in there. an open tooth is a direct opening to blood

 

[Old_Me]

The devil is in the details; Watch the annual deductible amounts, out of pocket max and Rx Deductibles. A lot of the zero cost to you plans are high in the deductibles and out of pocket amounts.

those did go up in costs, that's a given..but the majority of my meds are still $0.....

only 1 was bumped from Tier 1 to Tier 3? and that was months ago, so i have no issues with that.

i did my homework, made calls, went in person.

 

[Tenbones]

Just received a notice yesterday that my local hospital/clinic will no longer be in my Humana Medicare plan network. It is the closest hospital/clinic within a 50 mile radius. So that means I will either have to stick with Humana and pay the out of pocket out of network costs or switch to another provider that will be accepted by my local hospital.

 

[Scevaph]

Just received a notice yesterday that my local hospital/clinic will no longer be in my Humana Medicare plan network. It is the closest hospital/clinic within a 50 mile radius. So that means I will either have to stick with Humana and pay the out of pocket out of network costs or switch to another provider that will be accepted by my local hospital.

This is why I prefer a PPO plan over an HMO.

 

[Old_Me]

Just received a notice yesterday that my local hospital/clinic will no longer be in my Humana Medicare plan network. It is the closest hospital/clinic within a 50 mile radius. So that means I will either have to stick with Humana and pay the out of pocket out of network costs or switch to another provider that will be accepted by my local hospital.

this sort of thing happens more often, than not.

i have had doctors drop out, i think the main reason was due to low payments of the program. each year, just like we should check for health insurance, car insurance, etc, so do doctors. yes, they agree on the payment schedule at the time of the new contract, but in that time, thier expenses go up to, like maybe their malpractice insurance, thier office lease, even the payroll of that office.

sometimes too, it the health insurer that is slow in paying the claims...THAT HAPPENS a lot i was told by one gal in one of my doctors office.

there may (or should be) other health care insurance companies at least in your state, that might be able to take you on.

i'd highly recommend to NOT sign on with Aetna however, i had them, and they sucked.

CVS owns Aetna, and the employees that i know personally hate that insurer.


Blue Cross/Blue Shield, CCA (in some states), CIGNA, United Health...

just do a google search on Health insurance Companies, many should show up in your area.

 

[Cedric]

Sounds like a good plan. I am on Medicare and Tricare for life. I do not pay part D as my meds are free from military pharmacy. Sounds good but a pain you know where. Anytime you deal with military it seems to be a hassle. I could also go to VA but I want nothing to do with them!

I am on Medicare and Tricare for life also. You have to pay Part B out of SS to get the TFL benefit. At first, I was really PO'd at being required to pay Part B, but over time I became convinced this was the way to go. Since I started on Medicare/TFL I have yet to pay a co-pay anywhere for any doctor visit. It's thank you and out the door I go. I do use Express Scripts for meds, but was reluctant at first. I liked to use our local pharmacy right up until a co-pay for a heart med was $396.00. So, it has been Express Scripts since that time. As far as VA goes, my Dad had great service from them in his area. However, VA does do means testing. It seems that the VA and some military clinics/hospitals could never figure out if they wanted the workload or not. Positively schizophrenic.

 

[Old_Me]

I am on Medicare and Tricare for life also. You have to pay Part B out of SS to get the TFL benefit. At first, I was really PO'd at being required to pay Part B, but over time I became convinced this was the way to go. Since I started on Medicare/TFL I have yet to pay a co-pay anywhere for any doctor visit. It's thank you and out the door I go. I do use Express Scripts for meds, but was reluctant at first. I liked to use our local pharmacy right up until a co-pay for a heart med was $396.00. So, it has been Express Scripts since that time. As far as VA goes, my Dad had great service from them in his area. However, VA does do means testing. It seems that the VA and some military clinics/hospitals could never figure out if they wanted the workload or not. Positively schizophrenic.

i split my meds by $0 copay at a local pharmacy and $0 copay online at thier pharmacy.

otherwise, the online stuff would cost me $$ at the local store.

win-win..

except for the one and only one that Medicare decided to move to a different Tier....

that, I HAVE to pay for, but yet cheaper still at yet another online pharmacy..

 

[Tenbones]

Anybody have any experience with Medica?

 

[Old_Me]

Anybody have any experience with Medica?

if that is this place....

Home

Medica offers individual and family, employer-provided, Medicaid, and Medicare health insurance plans in IA, MN, KS, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD, and WI.

www.medica.com

looks and sounds like a company that finds you insurance..we have a company up here as well that does that, Neighborhood Health, and they did a very good job of getting me insurance, lower priced than i could have ever imagined.

they may have "name brand" companies, i'd give them a call, or go online and "shop around".