Are you on medicare?

I start in October. I will keep you posted.

I'm not but my parents are and I helped them get the Medigap plans lined up and everything so I had to become next to expert on it. With Medicare and a Medigap plan, the medical care part is actually affordable and great because it's good everywhere you go pretty much and everyone knows what they are dealing with and you rarely, if ever, even see a bill. The costs are something like $160/month for the actual Medicare coverage and another $100/month for the G supplemental plan (there are different letter plans for different coverage levels and pricing...and whichever one you choose, you have for life and can't change, so choose wisely and thinking of the longterm). That G plan means everything is pretty much 100% covered after your $180 deductible is met for the year. Yes, that's not a typo...the deductible is $180/year.

The drug coverage is a different story. What a bunch of shit. They just keep raising the prices. They play games with the drug tiers and you have to fight, fight, fight for them to cover things your doctor prescribes without having them say some common 15 year old drug is tier 4 or a newly invented tier 5 just because they feel like putting it in their high priced tier for no reason. It seems completely unregulated, which you'd expect from something implemented under fucking Dubya. And, then there's the donut hole, where you lose all drug coverage once you pay a certain amount and have to pay all the costs yourself for a little while until you reach the other side of the donut hole where your coverage picks up again. It's supposed to be gone soon but I'm sure the Repugs will reinstate it.

If you are signing up soon, make sure you sign up for your medigap plan within the time period you're allowed to do it in. I think you have to choose one within three months of being eligible or you're locked out for life. I found that the Medigap plans were more useful and easier than the Medicare Supplements or Advantage plans but you should really read up on the comparison of those two things. But, really, pay attention to the deadlines.

I’m on disability and automatically get Medicare. Since I’m under 65, Medigap is not available to me. I signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan (technically it’s Part C), and it’s just like any HMO except administered by HealthNet.

Over 65-year olds with Medicare/Medigap can basically go to any doctor they want (including specialists) without going thru a gateway primary care provider like I do. When I started some years ago, Parts A aka hospitalization and B aka doctors was a bit over $120, which is automatically deducted from your SS checks before you get it.

My Medicare Advantage plan costs an extra $135 per month and does include some (VERY) basic dental/vision coverage

Drug costs (Part D) can be exorbitant, especially. In the Tier 5 stage, which includes all HIV medicines. I’m in the donut hole for only about two months, due to high out of pocket costs for HIV meds, then I fall into the “catastrophic coverage” category after that and Medicare picks up almost all costs except for a $3 co payment.

Let me tell you though, it’s nearly impossible to pay a $500-600 co-payment while in the donut hole in that Tier 5 category. Thank goodness state ADAP programs or drug company programs will pick up co payment costs. I remember my parents stopping taking things like GERD medicine, which was fairly pricey in the donut hole. They would restart meds when they fell into catastrophic coverage.

We call it the National Health Service and it's great thank you!

I get it and i'm 45. I have no bills for anything. pays all of my expensive drug costs too. My annual rx bill would be in excess of 150k if i were to pay retail for it.

I'll sign up for Medicare next year after my birthday.

I'm going to have every little thing done I've been putting off, mainly dermatological. Oh and I'll get a lipoma removed. And I'm due for another colonoscopy next year. Still no cataracts so Medicare will catch that fee too!

Can't wait. Come on Medicare!

I'm holding off on starting my Social Security so I can get the maximum amount. Maybe in a few years.

I'll go on Medicare in December. I've decided on an Advantage plan. I'm currently on an HMO plan with my current health insurance. The Advantage plan is with the same physician group - so I'll keep all my doctors. And best of all, there is no additional monthly premium over the standard Medicare cost,

I have a job

I have Medicare but Part A only (free.) I still have coverage through my retirement for life -- so I just kept that (at the same rate I paid when I was working. I didn't see any reason to pay for Part B when the benefits it offered over what I already have were minimal.

R7, there's a reason it's so cheap. And, just like all actual health insurance plans, just because your doctors are in it now, doesn't mean they will be next year. From all the research I did, Medicare Advantage plans are for people who love uncertainty and fighting with insurance companies as a hobby. Yes, if you can't afford any of the Medigap plans, I guess there's no real choice but those plans remove the hassle of dealing with insurance companies completely. The Medigap plans are also strictly regulated by the government as to what they must provide and what they can charge. The Medicare Advantage plans are just like regular insurance and we've seen what has happened to that fucking industry.

I think our ideal nation health insurance system should resemble the Medicare/Medigap system. Everyone gets the basic Part A/B Medicare type coverage and then the insurance companies can run the Medigap program parts for people who want to buy those to cover extra costs beyond the Medicare plans. That way the rich people won't have to whine about having to have the same coverage as average people because they can buy the Cadillac of Medigap plans and feel special.

I appreciate your advice, R10 however I have also done my research the doctors in the HMO are in a very large group - Kelsey-Seybold in Houston (similar to Kaiser Permanente in CA). The group has been around for almost 50 years. They have literally dozens of clinics all over Harris County, many of which are actual complete-care clinics - i.e. physicians covering multiple specialties, blood lab, pharmacy, imaging. (The main clinic is a three story building that covers an entire city block. The parking garage covers another city block.) The plan is a Medicare 5-star rated plan. Considering that I have been on an equivalent plan for the last 3 years (through Obamacare) and have had amazing care, so I'm not too concerned.

I’ve been on Medicare for two years. Here’s my take. You’ll receive a booklet before your 65th Birthday from Medicare. Read it. It contains useful info. After reviewing my options I selected a plan through Humana. Unless you’re interested is a platinum program, which will cost you bucks, all the plans offered are the same monthly cost. It’s automatically deducted from your social security check each month. Different plans are offered in different parts of the country. Humana has a huge selection of doctors in my area, so finding one was easy. I’m really lucky because I’m healthy so had no need for any supplemental drug plan. I see my doctor once or twice a year, and she’ll suggest a couple of inoculations or recommend medication. Last visit she suggested I start a low dose statin because as you get older it keeps your risk of cardiovascular disease in the low teens. I pay nothing for the visit and minimal for the drug..,$5 a month. I had to have hernia surgery last year. Saw my doctor, she saw my hernia and said I needed surgery. A hernia surgeon was scheduled, I saw him, he charged me $35 and we scheduled the surgery. Two weeks later he did the surgery. I paid $265 when I checked into the surgery center. My total cost was $300 for everything. This was all through Humana, but I checked the surgeon out first before the surgery. I could have chosen a different surgeon if I wanted to but this guy was highly recommended. Hope some of this helps you. Do your homework first and you should be satisfied. Sorry for the long post and formatting. I’m on my iPad.

to the................... I work.............. poster............you dumb ass, mediCARE is what everybody is on once they retire and hit 65, there are almost no employers anymore that pay for health ins once you retire after you turn 65, MediCAID is what you get if you are low income or no income and dont have employer provided health cov.

Mary R13 seems to have a rather tight twist in her knickers.

[quote]I’m really lucky because I’m healthy so had no need for any supplemental drug plan.

Are drugs covered in your Advantage plan, then? I know everyone is required to have drug coverage of some sort when on Medicare.

R12, that's how health care should work for everyone! I'm so incensed by the Repugs and the insurance companies criminal greed. I really wish them all dead.

I'm not on it yet, but I've been doing some research as part of retirement planning. So far, it looks like it sucks compared to my current insurance. My current premium is $60 a month with an annual out-of-pocket max of $4000. The medicare planning tools I have used indicate my expected annual costs will balloon to over $9000. I went straight away to check the details of my employer provided insurance to see if I will be kicked off it at 65, but it looks like I can stay on it past 65. So I may end up working until I am older just to avoid the increase to my cost of living from Medicare.

Yes, I'm on Medicare. Don't use it though since I now live outside the U.S. I only have Part A (required) at this time. I may move back to the U.S. next year and deal with the decisions at that time. My GP and Dentist are both in Edinburgh. Much cheaper to pay out of pocket than carry insurance. For example: full physical with complete bloodwork and consultation with doctor was $550 and my dental check up with x-rays and cleaning was $120. I'm not on any medication. Gee, I wonder why the life expectancy in the U.K. is 80.96 years and the U.S. it is 78.69 years.

Do you have a lot of illnesses to deal with R17 because your numbers seem really high. Plus, your company is probably paying thousands and thousands of dollars a year toward your coverage. If you are that close to retirement age, your actually monthly premium is probably close to $500. They're not going to keep up that level after you leave unless you are in a union or work for some company with a great pension/health care retirement plan, which is really rare nowadays.

Also, as far as I know, you have to sign up for Medicare at 65 but don't have to actually use it as your coverage or pay for it until you want to use it. There might be some things that you won't be able to sign up for if you delay coverage though. As long as you are working full-time and covered by your employer, I don't think your timetable to sign up for Medigap plans, etc., starts until you leave that employment but you might want to make sure. Also, a lot of companies are changing and making those over 65 sign up for Medicare because their costs to cover older employees are so high.

Reply 15. Apologies I don’t know how to link to a specific post on DL. Yes, I’m covered for a range of medications. I just have a copay for the meds. The statin drug costs me $5 a month. Humana actually wants me to get the drugs through them. If I took a lot of medication I would. Now I go to CVS every 3 months for refills. When I was self insured I wanted to get the shingles vaccine. It was being offered where I got my annual flu shot. So the nurse is getting the paperwork ready and I ask her how much is this inoculation. She says $298. I said no thanks. Now it’s covered and it’s no cost to me. Reply 16 I agree with you completely. I was uninsured for a number of years because of monthly premiums. Here’s a story that tells you what a scam insurance is. I had a hernia (not the same one covered by Medicare. Dr who did first hernia surgery said you have a 50% chance of getting another one. Make that 100% for me). and needed surgery. I researched going to Mexico, Las Vegas, or locally in Texas. After a lot of research I called a local surgeon and asked what he charged for the surgery. He said $750. Ok. Now I need an anesthesiologist. Call a hotline and they tell me it’s $450. All the time I’m telling them that I’m paying cash, I have no insurance. Which I didn’t. So then I call the surgery center. I tell them what I need and they tell me $19,250. I say what! I’m a self pay. She says oh, that’s a 93% discount. Your cost is $1,250. Payable in advance. So by the time it’s all said and done, I end up paying $2,750. On my follow up visit to the surgeon I said to him the price really drops when self paying. Without missing a beat he says, yeah most people pay out of pocket because by the time they go through their insurance with deductibles it costs them more money. So one way or another we get screwed.

I'm surprised every doctor in the country isn't fighting for Medicare for All just to get rid of the paperwork and staff they have to hire to take care of all the insurance crap. There's no way, even with lower payments through Medicare, that they and all the hospitals wouldn't be saving money in the end.

I was self-employed before going on Medicare a few years ago and I paid a fortune to have Blue Cross Prudent Buyer individual plan in LA (CA), because we have high premiums here (it varies depending on the area of the country). So when I went on regular Medicare with a Blue Shield supplement (a high level one that involves no co-pays--I could afford it), I was blown away that I was saving about $8000 the first year over what I had been paying for individual Blue Cross. Unlike the poster above, most people do get the supplement (aka Medigap), like most people have car insurance. Most people (everyone I know) get a drug plan as well (called Part D). If you have regular Medicare, your Medigap and your drug coverage can be through different companies. The good thing is there are certain months every year when you can change to another insurer or another drug coverage plan. The other thing to know is that your monthly premium goes up every 2 years or so by about 20% or something. But it's still much cheaper than what you pay if you're self-employed and under 65. If your spouse is covered by their employer, you can use your spouse's insurance but having no spouse currently, not exactly sure how that works. The trick with regular Medicare is finding a doctor who takes Medicare--used to be easier. On the other hand, you can go anywhere in the country and be covered, unlike Medicare Advantage, which only covers you where you live (unless maybe Kaiser is different and covers at other Kaiser locations). I've mostly been quite happy with Medicare in any event.

I didn't realize until reading this thread that Medigap isn't guaranteed issue except during the initial open enrollment. That's scary. If you choose Medicare Advantage and keep it for over a year, and you switch to Medicare and Medigap, the Medigap is subject to insurability. Yikes.

In any case, I'm looking for some plan that has an out-of-pocket maximum. I want to be able to know that not matter befalls me, there is a set limit that I will have to pay each year, which is what I am used to now. What's the best solution for getting a good oop max?

[quote]Reply 15. Apologies I don’t know how to link to a specific post on DL.

Type r15. No brackets. DL provides the brackets. The brackets provide the link. Just type r15.

My partner is. I'm a few years younger than my partner. Though my partner is on Medicare/Medicare Alphabet Soup, my partner's being on my plan is to cover, "Just in Case."

Typical Republican = Socialism will destroy America and keep your hands off my Medicare.

R23, I wrote above about having to go through all of this with my parents. I was looking for what you are looking for, stability and predictability. We went with Medigap Plan G. Plan G covers all the copays for Medicare Part A and everything in Part B minus the $180 a year Part B deductible.

Look at this link about half way down the page. The chart shows the plans A-N with everything they cover. Look at the key above the chart to see what that coverage means. Yes, means 100% covered, etc. (Note, Plan F and C are ending. People will be grandfathered in but after 2020 there will be a smaller pool of people so prices might go up more.) When I was looking, it was between G and N. The only difference is the N has some copays but you pay a couple of bucks less a month in your premiums (not enough to bother for me). There aren't any out of pocket maximums but that's because everything is mostly 100% covered between Medicare and the Medigap plan so you won't be paying anything out of pocket.

[quote]I didn't realize until reading this thread that Medigap isn't guaranteed issue except during the initial open enrollment. That's scary. If you choose Medicare Advantage and keep it for over a year, and you switch to Medicare and Medigap, the Medigap is subject to insurability. Yikes.

Yep. That's why I suggested somewhere above that people pay really close attention to timetables after eligibility. I think you have ninety days after you are eligible to sign up for Medicare to sign up for a Medigap plan with guaranteed acceptance. After that, they can take your health into account and deny you the ability to buy a Medigap plan ever for the rest of your life.

Medicare A (hospital coverage) is free for those on disability or over 65.

Medicare B (medical care) costs $135 a month deducted from your Social Security benefit payment.

Medicare Advantage coverage (including Part D, prescription drug coverage) is $69 a month, subsidized by my former employer.

So roughly $2500/yr out of pocket for coverage and another $1000 annually for co-pays on doctor's visits and Rx meds.

Dental (coverage and copays) averages $1200/yr.

Thus $400 a month from me for health care. The government pays more.

Oh, and yes, I'm very happy with it. Great gay internist/gatekeeper who is respected and gets his patients in to see specialists quickly, follows up, stays on top of med refills, referrals, etc. because he has a good staff.

I have been on Medicare for 5 years, now 68. I am fortunate in that my pension retirement benefits include lifetime health coverage including a drug plan. When I went on Medicare, my Blue/Cross Blue Shield policy became my secondary policy (Secondary health insurance provides the coverage of a full health care policy while supplemental insurance is intended only to augment an existing primary care plan). If I see a specialist, I have a co-pay of $25, $15 otherwise, emergency room visit, $50. Anything not covered by Medicare is picked up by BC/BS - they pay 80%. No referrals, do not have to use doctors in network, or only those who accept Medicare.

We were offered a Medicare Advantage plan this past year, with no co payments. But it would have been a supplemental plan. I decided to stay with BC/BS. Before retiring, I often thought that working for the state had been a poor choice, friends made much more in private employment. Now that I am retired, my health costs (which tend to increase with age) are minimal and not eating away at my income.

[quote]Medicare Advantage coverage (including Part D, prescription drug coverage) is $69 a month, subsidized by my former employer.

That's what I wish I could get. My mother was a retired school teacher and they had a group Medicare Advantage plan. Her out of pocket maximum was only $1000 a year, which made her insurance much better than my regular group insurance.

MEDICARE, R8, Not Medicaid. There is a difference.

Do your homework before you apply. Then decide on a supplemental plan that will meet your own personal needs.

This service is available in California -- don't know about other states. They come to my senior center every month to counsel people about Medicare options.

Thanks for the Medicare. For Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

I'm covered under my retirement benefit insurance plan so I never went with Medicare. But I got all the literature in the mail when I was nearing 65. One thing I was shocked to find out about Medicare coverage is that health care providers are not required by law to accept Medicare. And providers who do take Medicare can cap the number of patients they'll accept. That should have been one of the first stipulations in the ACA. You want to be a doctor or operate a hospital (private or public) then you have to accept any and all Medicare patients.

I love my medicare and blue cross blue shield. covers all of my medical and prescription drug costs. without it i'd be dead.

R37, almost all doctors and hospitals take Medicare without question. Medicaid is when you have problems finding a doctor to take it. So, basically, they are again screwing the most vulnerable and helpless in our society until they reach 65 for the sake of profit.

Oh no they don't.

R40, yes, they do.

[quote]Overall, 87 percent of family medicine physicians are taking new Medicare patients, a bit lower than the 91 percent average among all docs. But among specialists, 99 percent of general surgeons and 98 percent of orthopedic surgeons take new Medicare patients compared to only about 63 percent of psychiatrists.

Do people get supplementary policies if you are under 65?

My insurance covers like 80% or some number like that. I always have to pay part of it.

Would a supplementary policy cover the rest? Would that be more expensive than just paying the rest of the doctors's bill yourself?

R36 thanks Sophia.

[quote] Do people get supplementary policies if you are under 65?

Do you mean under 65 but on Medicare? If so only 30 states require insurance companies to prove a supplemental (or Medigap) plan to those who are under 65 but on Medicare. (see the link)

But if you're talking about private insurance such as a group plan provided by your employer, yes there are plans you can buy to help with your out of pocket portion.

r44 I meant under 65 and not on medicare

I'm on Medicaid. No bills, no meds expenses.

"to prove" should have been "to provide"

R45, I think you have to gauge the benefit vs the expense. If you're in reasonably good health and don't have constant medical bills, paying for a supplemental policy at at younger age could prove much more costly than just paying the 20% out of pocket. These plans are not cheap, and generally the younger you are the more they cost as the plan provider will have to pay your out of pocket costs for a longer time than if you're near or at retirement age.

will be starting soon. i will watch this thread.

R21 Then how can people feel superior to people with no insurance?

I started in February, but began working with a navigator last November, the earliest I could start the ball rolling. OP, it's all up to what your personal circumstances are, how it will shake out economically. I don't have serious medical issues and the meds I regularly take are Tier 1 stuff, like a statin, and something for my thyroid, so I don't worry about any of that. With two 90-day prescript refills under my belt, I'm close to meeting the deductible, which is not much. And the cost of filling five scripts didn't go over $50. I know it can get way more complicated if you are on really expensive meds. The monthly costs for supplemental insurance and Part D (drug plan) are negligible in my case. Part B payment comes out of my SSA check and the supplemental and part D are bank drafts. I don't think the three combined are over $200 per month. Probably considerably less. I retired early, so have been paying my own health insurance for almost 10 years: This is economic heaven compared to what I used to dish out per month. I was even getting an ACA subsidy most of those years and it was still steep: especially this year, when the new tax laws fucked me over and I had to forfeit all the tax credits I had gotten for healthcare over the past year. To the tune of about $9,000. // As for the navigator: I highly recommend working with one. Ask around and get a word-of-mouth recommendation for someone. They are out there. He or she will get a small cut for steering you to a particular plan, but to me it was worth it to have someone cut through all the crap and zero in on directions that were right for my personal situation. We had a couple of phone conversations and a couple face-to-face meetings to go over the complicated matrix of plans and options. I was presented with several ways to go and I made the final decision. So far, I have been happy. Especially with the overall cost savings. One thing I learned: If you live in a small community or rural area, Medicare Advantage Plans are probably not for you. Ask a navigator to explain that. The ads on TV make these plans sound like they are the be-all and end-all. Not for everyone.

[quote]Last visit she suggested I start a low dose statin because as you get older it keeps your risk of cardiovascular disease in the low teens.

Have you done your own research regarding statins and when you should go on them? Do you know what the risks are with statin use? Never follow a doctors advice without doing your own due diligence.

I'm a ways off from 65 but did I understand correctly??

If I choose Kaiser (I'm in CA, I have it now and like it). What happens if I move to a State that doesn't have Kaiser?? Someone said you need to choose wisely as you are stuck wit it and can't change???

I'm 65, still work. Medigap G. So much cheaper than my work insurance, like 60 percent cheaper.

I have an advantage plan, AARP Advantage/United Health Care. It has a huge network in my area. Zero premium. $10 office co pay, $30 specialist co pay. I take lisinopril, metoprolol and lipitor - all $0 as long as I use their mail order service, Optum Rx, which is easy to deal with and delivers quick. Co pay is waived for annual physical. Free gym membership through Silver Sneakers. Just received a $40 gift card for getting annual physical and mammogram in the same calendar year. I will turn 69 in August, and could not be happier with this plan. I think the maximum out of pocket deductible is something like $2800, but I have never been hospitalized or had a surgery in my life, knock wood. Why would I want to pay premiums at this point in my life?

I am, and I love it. I can see any doctor I want and my co-pays are minimal ($5.00 for an office visit, lab work, etc.) If I ever have to go to an ER, there is no co-pay. If I am ever admitted to a hospital, it's a flat $100.00, no matter how long I'm in there or what they do, even surgery. Bear in mind, I also have a Medicare supplemental plan that pays for what Medicare does not. It is through Humana and also includes prescription drugs, vision and dental. For that I pay $110.00 per month.

r52 It would help to know what you're talking about -- Kaiser's Medicare Advantage plan (Senior Advantage?)

I’m under 65 and have a supplemental plan, too.

They stopped covering one drug I’m on, and it costs $17,000 a year now. I think my doctor may have fudged my diagnosis to an illness where the are is covered, so it’s now more like $1600 a year.

I deduct the premiums and the drug costs from my income taxes. I also deduct my massage therapy appointments. If you go to a medical conference, you can deduct taxi faire to/from the airport, plus the airfare. Plus more.

[quote] I also deduct my massage therapy appointments.

What diagnosis/code allows you to do that?

Why would you go on public charity if you don't have to? And yes, you may pay into it but it's still mostly charity. Medicare is subsidized and doesn't even pay fair rates. I make sure the doctor on my insurance does not take medicare, because you know you are getting quality doctors that don't have to take just any old thing to make ends meet.

R58, if you have a neuromuscular disease you might qualify. I actually see a Rolfer. Otherwise my muscles lock up and limit my range of motion and get quite painful. I get a doctors script for it every year, in case I’m ever audited.

R58, there is an IRS Publication 502, that lists all the medical treatments that are tax deductible.

People in AA sometimes go to these conventions for tuneups, of a sort. Popular ones are in Palm Springs, CA, and South Beach, Florida. Since AA is considered a medical treatment, taxis to/from the airport are deductible, as is airfare, and registration fees. Up to $50 per night in hotel accommodations may be covered, but I’m not sure about that. As long as the primary purpose is to attend meetings there.

Likewise, taxis or parking meters in your home town to from meetings are also deductible.

You can even claim the above as an FSA claim, though you might need to include a copy of a doctors script for the trip, plus a page from IRS Pub 502 explaining where it is covered. I thought this was unexpected.

I once put a larger tub in my bathroom as warm baths help with my muscle condition. The whole project was tax deductible; however, I think when I sel the place, I have to account for that deduction so as not to, essentially, take the deduction twice.

I also once got a script for a temperpedic bed and deducted that.

I often have $20,000 a year in out of pocket medical expenses, without any of the above, so it’s not like I come out ahead, or anything.

Hmm, I don’t see massage therapy listed in Publication 502 now, though it’s also not included in the section titled “what isn’t covered”. I’m quite sure it’s covered as a deductible expense, though can’t recall where I initially learned that.

r59 is an idiot. Do you reject Social Security as well? Is that "charity?"

I just started Medicare. I live in Chicago. Here are some tips.

Beginning about two years before I was eligible, every time I went to a different doctor I would ask the people in the doctor's billing office which Medicare Supplement companies they thought offered the best plan, were the easiest to deal with, etc. Surprisingly, the same three companies were mentioned more often than others.

Then I learned that in Illinois the state has approved a very small group of insurance agents who can act as agents to the various companies offering Medicare Supplements. The insurance companies pay the commission and don't pass that cost on since all costs are locked in per plan. While all supplement plans are required to offer the same price for the same plan, not all plans are exactly alike. My agent ran comparisons using my preference for hospitals and doctors. I was happy to see that the insurance companies my doctors offices had recommended were also the ones the agent zeroed in on as being well rated and offered the most comprehensive coverage. The agent then did the same for the prescription coverage plans, using the list of drugs I take on a regular basis and the drugstores in my area.

I suggest anyone going on Medicare check their state's websites to find the list of that state's pre-approved agents. It didn't cost me anything and I got the coverage I wanted at a very good price. The agent I selected was a retired CPA, also on Medicare, who did this type of work part time.

One big surprise for me - total cost of Medicare coverage is impacted by your last two years of earnings prior to retirement. I had two good years prior to retiring and as a result must pay a "high earner" supplement each year until my annual earnings drop. They base your cost each year based on your prior year's tax filing and use all income sources, including pension, IRA / RMD withdraws, etc.

R64, your last paragraph is of interest since I retired at 59. Maybe I'll recoup some of the onerous rates I've been paying when I go on Medicare next year.

R59 that is called "boutique" medicine. I stick with my out of network dr. as I can tell him anything, but I wish he was in my network so as not to be so expensive.

^^^Why would you think you can tell your "boutique" doctor anything you wouldn't tell a doctor who takes Medicare patients? Afraid of something going onto your "permanent record?" If your doc sends you to a specialist, they have to send your records to him or her, too. No more privacy in that case.

Electronic medical record systems share information about your health statewide if not nationally (and a good thing they do in an emergency so you're not given something that could be contraindicated depending on the meds you take or other conditions you have) and besides, how do you pay for a hospitalization? You don't use Medicare for that? Even if you pay for the hospital out of pocket, it's on the hospital's records, too.

You're not enjoying any increased privacy because you're paying in full for something you're otherwise covered for.

R56 - I guess. I know very little about medicare but from what I've gathered recently. Medicare is accepted everywhere (including Kaiser) and then you can get supplemental coverage - I guess that would be with Kaiser?? If I moved to a different State that didn't have Kaiser, can I change the supplemental coverage to something that is applicate for that State??

Yes to medicare, yes to loving my Dr's and it's thru the company I worked for. Additional insurance thru United Health. I pay about $145. a month

Coming soon.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have the impression that once you go on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can’t go back to regular Medicare?

[quote] R3: I’m on disability and automatically get Medicare. Since I’m under 65, Medigap is not available to me.

I’m on Medicare due to disability, under 65, and have a Medigap plan, R3. Maybe our states have different rules, or maybe Medigap isn’t available to you for a reason other than age. But maybe you should look into it again.

Here’s what I pay per month:

Medicate Part B $134 (because my income is above $85k per year)

Gap insurance $123

Rx insurance $38

Private dental insurance $62

Long term care insurance $1490 per year

I think you mean, R72, because your income is LESS than $85,000 a year you paid $134 a month for Part B in 2018. It's gone up to $135.50 for 2019. The premium for someone filing an individual tax return and making between $85,001 to $107,000 a year is $189.60. As income rises, so does the premium, to a maximum of $460.50 a month for someone with an income of more than $500,000. See below.

Only 30 states require insurance companies to provide a supplemental (or Medigap) plan to those who are under 65 but on Medicare. Those states are: CA (except esrd); CO; CT; DE (only for esrd); FL; GA; HI; IL; KS; LA; ME; MD; MA (except esrd); MI; MN; MS; MO; NH; NJ; NM; NY; NC; OK; OR; PA; SD; TN; TX; VT (except esrd); WI. 30

"esrd" = end stage renal disease

Yes, R73, thank you.

I'm a retired Federal employee. I'm eligible to continue the same health care benefits I had while employed for as long as I live. So I didn't see any reason to sign up for Medicare Part B when I turned 65. I could probably get a better plan with some lower co-pays, but mine are quite reasonable already, and unless something really bad happens, there's no way I'd recoup the $190/mo. in premiums I'd have to pay. And Federal employees who don't get Social Security (like me) aren't covered by the "hold harmless" provisions that prevents the Part B premiums from rising more than the SS benefits rise in any given year. So those premiums will keep going up and up. (By the way, I pay about $150/mo. for my HMO under the FEHB - Federal Employee Health Benefits - same as I did when I was employed. And we have dozens of plans we can choose from -- and can change every year if we want to.)

The downside? I can't get a Medicare Advantage plan, some of which offer nice benefits like gym memberships and dental and vision coverage. (I pay another $15/mo -- all mine- Feds don't offer dental -- for a dental HMO.)

I'm on Medicare since 1998 when I was 50 (SS Disability) and since I'm considered 'poverty level' by the state I also qualify for my state run Medicaid. With the two programs combined they pay 100% of my medical bills, hospitals, doctors, tests, procedures, even surgery. And thanks to the one good thing that George W Bush did, I have the Medicare drug plan so only pay $1.25 for each Medicare covered prescription. The non-Medicare covered prescriptions I have to pay full price but that's rare. So basically, I am lucky I am so poor (not by choice though).