So do I understand Clark right, in that I should just have regular Medicare A & B, and not choose an advantage plan? Also, what is the Best Part D for prescriptions?
Your Part D choice will likely be highly dependent on what prescriptions you use and which plans cover them.
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Tara, you’re missing one part, the “Supplemental” (Medigap). So you got “A” , “B”, Medigap and part “D”. This is our great medical care we have in our country.
Yes Clark recommends not choosing an advantage plan.
You can chose a plan on your own or use a Medicare Broker. There is no additional cost to you to use a Medicare broker.
If you do it yourself, sources include your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The medicare.gov web site lists Medigap and Medicare Part D prescription plans for your zip code: select " find health & drug plans". On a yearly basis recheck the Medicare Part D prescription plans since the plans coverages change and your medications may change.
Also check with your employer if you currently have coverage with them. They might have some kind of prescription or medigap/supplemental policies.
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If you can afford the premiums, a supplemental (aka. “medigap”) plan provides much better coverage than an advantage plan.
I highly recommend BoomerBenefits.com. They are a no cost “broker” that will show you options in your area, with cost comparisons. They also provide many informative videos. (They provide the same service that you can do for yourself at Medicare.gov.)
Boomer Benefits people are very well informed. I got some “AHA” tips from them… then bought an AARP-UHC supplemental plan. Free consulting, I guess.
I would not use any sites that make commisions. I always go to Medicare.gov. I checked eHealth just out of curiosity and my current Blue Cross Advantage plan was not there. I asked online chat and they said they don’t offer that plan even though it said these were all the plans available in my zipcode. . So beware they only sell stuff that makes the most money for them!
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My neighbor works for a large insurance company that handles Medicare/Medicaid. She said to just go to the government Medicare website – all of the info is there.
Absoulutely!, Do not use any of the for profit insurance brokers except for general research. I was checking the eHeath site and noticed that my Blue Cross HMO-POS plan was not there, even though it said that these were all the plans available in my zipcode. I went online chat and was told that they did not offer that plan.
What about a medicare advantage plan from my government employer that I retired from?
I posted the below in another string here also - for me going to the senior center (or other non-profit agency) made things easier for me - each year, the person runs the formula for Med D
“An advisor at the senior Center suggested I not include an expensive eye drop in the formula to pick a Med. D plan and to buy that eye drop using Good RX type plan.
The result was a cheaper D plan premium and the eye drop was significantly cheaper to purchase using GoodRX.
Speaking with an informed independent was well worth the effort.”
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