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CoopersDad

(2,863 posts)
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 04:57 PM Dec 2022

Link to the official "Medicare and You 2023", recommended!

My wife and I are just back from a two hour meeting with our local HICAP office.
HICAP (the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) is, I think, unique to California, a non profit organization with offices in each county.
I suspect each state has a different Medicare "Navigator" program.

They explained the various Medicare parts, then got into the differences between Medigap and Advantage plan forms of supplementing the missing parts, and did so without showing any bias.

Here is a link to the Medicare and You 2023 handbook, we were given a print copy.
https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf

My wife and I are probably going to select a higher-end Medigap plan.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Link to the official "Medicare and You 2023", recommended! (Original Post) CoopersDad Dec 2022 OP
excellent info Skittles Dec 2022 #1
My doctor warned Rebl2 Dec 2022 #2
It seems that Advantage plans are least trusted. CoopersDad Dec 2022 #5
Medications are covered by Medicare Part D TexasBushwhacker Jan 2023 #8
I don't have part Rebl2 Jan 2023 #9
Different Part D plans can have different formularies TexasBushwhacker Jan 2023 #10
I'm in Washington, and yes, cilla4progress Dec 2022 #3
I heard on Thomm Hartmann's show today Deuxcents Dec 2022 #4
That would be interesting because the government calls them Medicare Part C MichMan Dec 2022 #7
I get a copy mailed to me each year. In fact, I just threw 2023's in the sinkingfeeling Dec 2022 #6

Rebl2

(14,676 posts)
2. My doctor warned
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 05:08 PM
Dec 2022

me off Advantage plans a couple years ago because they won’t pay for some of my medications. We had no plans to do so because my husband, even though retired, kept employer health insurance. It’s expensive, but even Medigap insurance likely won’t pay for some of my medications.

CoopersDad

(2,863 posts)
5. It seems that Advantage plans are least trusted.
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 05:36 PM
Dec 2022

I'm in this group to continue to research but we will probably go with a Medigap plan of some type, and not an Advantage plan.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,667 posts)
8. Medications are covered by Medicare Part D
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 09:44 PM
Jan 2023

Not by regular Medicare or Medicare supplement insurance.

I first got Medicare when I was disabled and had been on SSDI for a year. I was 55. Needless to say, I was broke, so a Medicare Advantage plan that didn't charge an extra premium worked well for me.

I still have a disability, but I've been able to work full time for the last 3.5 years. I could change to regular Medicare, but then I would have to pay for Part D for medications, plus a Medigap plan. I live in a big city, so finding doctor's in my MA network hasn't been a problem.

Rebl2

(14,676 posts)
9. I don't have part
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 10:25 PM
Jan 2023

D because I discovered even if I had a supplement I would have to pay a few thousand for one medication I take. The supplemental insurance company I talked with said stay on your husband’s health insurance because it is better than a Medicare supplement or part D. Found that interesting.

cilla4progress

(25,901 posts)
3. I'm in Washington, and yes,
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 05:10 PM
Dec 2022

there are volunteers here who helped us navigate it 2 years ago when we turned 65. I had a million questions and they never lost patience with me! And were highly knowledgeable.

We made the choice you are contemplating: Medicare and a gap policy. State Farm was least expensive, and, if memory.serves, all gap policies must have same coverage; so may as well go for cheapest! We already are insured with them so it worked out well.

Deuxcents

(19,694 posts)
4. I heard on Thomm Hartmann's show today
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 05:35 PM
Dec 2022

That’s there’s a bill about saving Original Medicare by taking out the “Medicare” verbiage on these Advantage plans b/c of the confusion n misinformation. People aren’t made aware that once you opt out of the medigap, it’s nearly impossible to return to Medicare and lots of people are unhappy. I forget what the bil’s name is..Save Medicare.. or something on that order n it’s gaining lots of support so let’s hope some progress can be made on this and soon.

ThomHartmann.com

MichMan

(13,156 posts)
7. That would be interesting because the government calls them Medicare Part C
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 08:14 PM
Dec 2022

On the official government website and publications. Not only do they call them that, but they also rate them (one to five stars) and allow people to apply from the website.

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