More Aging Stuff: Seeking Opinions on Medicare Options

You are probably ready for signing up, I think it is 4 months before you turn 65. I'm in the same boat, I'll be 65 in November. I did put off my retirement until February of 26 though, I played with my social security dates and noticed I would get about 17 dollars more for each month I would wait but it went up $100 a month, by waiting until January from December. My work anniversary is also in November, so I figured I would stick around and use up the 3 weeks of vacation which renews in November, and get close to that $24,000 of allowable income before being penalize, and call it a career . 

I'm 71 and have regular Medicare part A (hospital/inpatient) and B (doctor visits and some other medical services) with a blue cross supplement. The premiums for Medicare are deducted from my social security.  The supplement premiums are paid direct. I think It's the best way to go if you can afford it.  There are supplements other than blue cross if it's not available or too expensive. Part C or Medicare advantage is a package plan where you choose the company and your in their network but that may include prescriptions coverage and other things like vision and dental.  You have less choice of providers but it might be cheaper. I'm not an expert, so double check what I wrote.  I do know that my out of pocket is like zero with what I have, except for prescriptions (Part D) dental and vision.  Broke both wrists in a fall and paid nothing for many visits in two different States.  
 

My wife does medical billing and she told me to replace Medicare with a PPO plan, she said AARP has them. You will still have Medicare taken out of your SS, but it will go towards that plan. Hope I got the right. Good Luck, Mike. I can't wait. I'm making more money than I ever have, and my job is super easy, but I hate every second of it. I may work Part time, but it will be something like cutting grass at a golf course for pocket change, free golf and no email address or work phone. 

6 more years for me. Sorry, Mike, nothing to add for help. All this info is good, though. 

>>> no email address or work phone.

He'll, yes!!!! I'm looking forward getting a Jitterbug with the big buttons.  :)

I just applied for Social Security and the whole application process is backlogged. It used to take 30 days to process an application. Now, who knows? There's no one to call to ask.

Medicare was relatively easy to apply for online.

I used USAA for supplemental.

It's the prescription plan that got me --- last year it was $10 and now it's $50!  I hardly ever use it so I'm going to have to switch.

Dental is not covered, so that's another expense.

I think one eye exam is covered by medicare, but you'll probably want Vision insurance, too.

Yes PPO if you can afford it .

If you have an HMO you're at the mercy of insurance companies as far as referrals to specialists ; at least with mine here in California

 and they have none

Plus they'll get you in other ways - I have to get two Prolia shots a year at $800.00 a jab

Medicare. I have years of experience for both Greg and me. I chose/choose original Medicare with Medicare part A (hospital/inpatient) and part B (doctor visits and some other medical procedures and services), and a free-standing supplement. I chose the best, most comprehensive supplement offered for new policies, a Plan G. They pay everything Medicare parts A & B don't except the yearly deductible of $257. There is a yearly hospital/inpatient deductible, too. I have no copays, choosing the supplement I have because I want to know what my costs will be, whether I need imaging, other providers, whatever, no surprises. I want to know they’ll be paid by the insurance company. I also want to be able to choose to see any medical provider who is signed up with Medicare, not having to choose someone from a panel of providers who have contracted with a Medicare Part C (HMO/Advantage Plan). Not only did I work in medicine for 35 years, but my experiences with Greg's medical situations make me a believer in maintaining the ability to see whoever is a good fit for you.
What you choose should be based on a few things. Get the best supplement you can afford. All Plan G’s are the same, the same with all Plan N’s, and whatever else is offered in your zip code. Really.  Read the synopses of the policies. Check to see if the providers you want to see are available with your choice.

By the way, Part D is the Drug plan. Whatever ins company you choose will have a contract with the pharmacy, and that will help determine the price they charge and the amount you pay. I have no premium for my drug plan but an occasional drug can get expensive. You have to choose a Part D plan or you will get penalized later when you want to have one. Medicare will  get you.

Some Advantage plans cover drugs, vision, and maybe dental?  
I’m not into HMO’s so I don’t get those benefits.
Diabetic eye exams are covered, I don’t know what the situation is if you don’t have diabetes.

Feel free to get in touch if you have other. Questions, and look forward to my adding things I remember that I’m forgetting right now.

America sucks.

I turn 65 in about three weeks and I retired five years ago. Because a benefit of the school district I worked for paid my medical and dental insurance for five years after retiring I didn't really have to pay much attention to any of this until last year, and once I dove in I immediately became completely confused (my default state in general) about the whole deal.

When I first began with the school district 27 years ago I chose Kaiser for medical because it was the cheapest plan, I was still relatively young and I was in fairly serious debt, and I've stayed with them over the years.

Now I've heard all the horror stories about Kaiser but over the years they've taken what I consider to be fairly good care of me, including one time in '08 when I developed multiple blood clots in my left lung and an "unidentified mass" in my right lung, and despite an initial mistake in the ER by a 12-year-old doctor that if it hadn't of been caught would have almost certainly killed me, they took what was confirmed by outside professionals as very good, very comprehensive care of the situation and obviously, I survived.

They also handled my little heart episode in '22 quickly and well.

So for me, maybe because it's what I already know and was the easiest thing to do (also a default setting for me) I ultimately decided to stay with Kaiser/the devil I know on essentially the same plan I've been on.

I figure I can still make changes if I can ever figure out what could be significantly better, and what I can afford, but as I'm about to turn the big 6-5, at least at the moment I'm feeling OK with where I am.

As I've considered all the variables I've often thought of maybe the wisest and most honest thing I've ever heard a doctor say to me, "Tom, there's a reason why we call it PRACTICING medicine. None of us know much of anything for sure, we're all just trying to figure it out as we go along."

Some may be put off by that comment, but I've always taken a fatalistic comfort in it.

At best it's a rigged game, a crap shoot, it's luck of the draw, and ultimately I think as in most things it comes down as much to the quality of individuals than it does to fancy credentials, fancy machines or fancy words (fucking insurance companies) so we roll the dice, hope for the best and take our chances.

Anyway, as our current administration has just clearly told us, we're all going to die, so what difference does it really make???

I for one appreciate that clarity.

On it goes?

Sure, Mike, let's figure it out.