Yellow | Medicare?

Griz

TB Veteran
Credits
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For some of us retirees it’s time to give up the great insurance we’re so accustomed to having for the last 30-40 years. For a month I’ve studied and talked to agents trying to sell me on the advantage plan that is offered to retirees sponsored by Teamcare through Humana. Sounds great till you start digging into bottom line cost that could occur. I’m leaning toward Medigap G. Can a brother get some advice on this life altering decision? Thanks Griz
 
Good luck, I have done the same and it seems the Teamcare Humana people are less knowledgeable than this simple Truck Driver!
 
I’ve tried 3 agents and both seemed to busy to help. They don’t care for the group policy. ‍♂️
 
For some of us retirees it’s time to give up the great insurance we’re so accustomed to having for the last 30-40 years. For a month I’ve studied and talked to agents trying to sell me on the advantage plan that is offered to retirees sponsored by Teamcare through Humana. Sounds great till you start digging into bottom line cost that could occur. I’m leaning toward Medigap G. Can a brother get some advice on this life altering decision? Thanks Griz
I've been on a Medicare Advantage (AARP/United Healthcare) plan for a number of years. Very pleased with it. See what plans are available in your particular area. The Medicare Advantage plans provide better benefits than standard Medicare + Supplemental/Medigap. Read through the SS/Medicare booklet sent out by the government to see and compare plans for 2022 in your area.
 
Thanks Triplex, have you ever had a extended hospital stay? The copays and deductibles are kind of scaring me. Griz
 
Thanks Triplex, have you ever had a extended hospital stay? The copays and deductibles are kind of scaring me. Griz
Thank goodness not so far Griz. I believe my plan has an out of pocket maximum but I honestly don't know off the top of my head what it is. Making an intelligent choice does involve a bit of research to see what policy works best for each person's individual situation. It can be a pain but it needs to be done if you want good coverage.
 
For some of us retirees it’s time to give up the great insurance we’re so accustomed to having for the last 30-40 years. For a month I’ve studied and talked to agents trying to sell me on the advantage plan that is offered to retirees sponsored by Teamcare through Humana. Sounds great till you start digging into bottom line cost that could occur. I’m leaning toward Medigap G. Can a brother get some advice on this life altering decision? Thanks Griz
I have AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medigap F plan. Since I have had it I have not paid 1 cent to any doctor or hospital. What Medicare don't pay the Medigap policy pays the rest. You can use any doctor or hospital without referals and there is no paperwork to fill out.
 
For some of us retirees it’s time to give up the great insurance we’re so accustomed to having for the last 30-40 years. For a month I’ve studied and talked to agents trying to sell me on the advantage plan that is offered to retirees sponsored by Teamcare through Humana. Sounds great till you start digging into bottom line cost that could occur. I’m leaning toward Medigap G. Can a brother get some advice on this life altering decision? Thanks Griz
Medigap supplemental policies have yearly premiums. Those premiums increase as you age. They are a ripoff.
I have a zero premium Anthem Advantage plan. It has basic dental, basic vision and prescription drug coverage. My out of pocket max is $4900.00. I pay zero for regular office visits and $35 for specialists.
Call an independent agent who offers products from several companies. The agent will ask about prescriptions you take and your medical history. He can then write a policy tailored to your needs.
 
I am privately insured with Medicare Advantage. There is Parts ABCD and State Assistance based on fixed income. The state is not part of Medicare that I am on directly, they are under DHS here. United Health Care is what I do mine with.

Ive had two hospital stays this year and additional similar surgeries a few years ago. Across the board. Hip Implants for two seperate surgeries, both came out to about 80000 billed (One joint cost 15000 the next one from same maker with revisions cost 9100 flat, Surgeon Fee was 3400 flat. Knock out doc was 2000. Everything else fell on the hospital. Medicines 1000 etc. I eventually was left with about a 1000 dollars worth of copay from each give or take billed by hospital after all was said and done. So 160,000 dollars worth of work argued down to about 120,000 paid by insurance for those two specific surgeries and my tab was 2000 in copays more or less.

Vision paid half of my new glasses and lenses which were fully equipped as always for trucking, LED shielding, night shielding, 4 other forms of lens treatment, essentially the grand tour and frames. 800 for the last set UC paid 350 flat. Cataract replaced and additional glaucoma work etc clocked in at 30,000 as of today including two laser burns. Essentially free to me under the vision plan. My copay is about 45 and the glasses were 300 or so on my end. Cheap. But I always relied on the best availible for trucking so that was anywhere from 600 to 850 retail out of my pocket in years past. Takes a few months to make lenses.

Hearing aids were a disaster. They paid I think 400, my copay is 900 or so. Ive been operating under 20.00 boosters from walmart for years. Throw aways that happened to be in my hearing band. However that will be resolved soon.

The emergency room turned out to be rated life threatening all three visits in four years. they averaged about 15000 to 30000 just for them. Hospital costs clocked in at another 15000 for a few day stay. The recent infection included covid testing and so forth. They won that fight but its 20,000 in 4 days flat.
 
Whats really outrageous in insurance is physical therapy with traveling nurses. The last four I have had ran about 1000 day billed three times a week with nurse getting 200 a hour flat. One hour travel to me and one hour work in my home. So thats all billed. They paid.

Another episode lasted 4 weeks at a dedicated PT place to fix problems related to trucking twice and that came together to a cool 14000 dollars. They are actually prospering now. And no wonder.

Insurance paid without batting a eye, Government allows you a few thousand per year for that kind fo work. Anything beyond that you pay. Or insurance will. But someone is going to pay up.

The other bad thing about medical here is ambulance. Its anywhere from 700 to 1200 at about 4.50 a billed mile from my place to any hospital in the state by ground. By Air would be more. I chose to be a member of my ambulance service for like 30 a year so whatever the insurance paid them is what is all paid in full. Otherwise thats a extra cash bill due and payable. It can get hideously expensive really fast if you are in the realm of heart attack and so on.

Whats really crazy is this... If anything if you do not have insurance and you are told you cannot drive until surgery etc (Car or big rig) or cannot continue driving as I was you are going to get billed. And how. They will bury you in billing joyfully. Then come after you in court if you do not make payments big enough fast enough.

The day i was told that trucking is finished medically I had BCBS. That was running about 400 a month. They paid 30,000 that year. I killed their plan when that episode was resolved.

In the early days of normal medicare its 20% your cost so.. 160,000 minus 20% would come to a bill due from you at 32000 cool dollars. Thats not including all the other stuff in the recent time I listed. You can be BK so fast.

One last thought. You do not want medicaid. If you lasted long enough to get to that point it is expected that you will reduce your assets minus one house, one car and below 2000 cash related. And if you handed a doctor a medicaid card... god help you for what you are about to expereince.
 
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I've been on a Medicare Advantage (AARP/United Healthcare) plan for a number of years. Very pleased with it. See what plans are available in your particular area. The Medicare Advantage plans provide better benefits than standard Medicare + Supplemental/Medigap. Read through the SS/Medicare booklet sent out by the government to see and compare plans for 2022 in your area.
Same here, I have Blue Cross with no monthly fee
I have been very pleased also.
This Cochlear implant cost is $105k
They say my part will be $335.
We'll wait and see what trickles in later.
 
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