PSA-65 year olds (Medicare Part A)---Remember to Sign up!

[Anonymous]

Few more questions -

Is Medigap the same as Medicare Advantage?
What happens if you don't have Medicare Advantage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have fed health benefits upon retirement (through you or your spouse) you keep those, yes? That is your "medicare advantage" equivalent?

This is my understanding but can someone confirm? That is reason enough to stay federal until retirement.

It gets even more complicated. Yes, you can keep your fed health benefits, but whether you do so, and whether you take Medicare B, is a complex decision. Depending on your income the monthly medicare B premium ranges from $195 to $595 per person.

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2024-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Few more questions -

Is Medigap the same as Medicare Advantage?
What happens if you don't have Medicare Advantage?

NO they are two different type of supplants to Medicare

Medicare advantage is a managed health care plan

Medigap is a true supplement to you original Medicare part B

Below is a 6 min video gives a good overview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXNLA6j2x0M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it difficult to find or keep doctors who take Medicare? I ask because I’ve heard the government’s reimbursements are lower and the paperwork more onerus for medical practices.

It is not hard. If you choose the original Medicare program (not a Medicare Advantage plan), you can go to any doctor that participates in Medicare, and about 98% do. Same with hospitals, outpatient clinics, etc. There are a few special areas where it can be hard, namely psychiatrists and similar mental and behavioral health specialists, because many of them don’t take insurance at all.

If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, specifically an HMO plan, you will need to stick with doctors in their network. It is the same as having a plan today — if you are with Cigna, you need to go to providers in Cigna’s network. Or Carefirst providers if you choose them as your plan.

What if the Medicare Advantage plan is a PPO (as opposed to an HMO)? Does that change things at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have fed health benefits upon retirement (through you or your spouse) you keep those, yes? That is your "medicare advantage" equivalent?

This is my understanding but can someone confirm? That is reason enough to stay federal until retirement.

It gets even more complicated. Yes, you can keep your fed health benefits, but whether you do so, and whether you take Medicare B, is a complex decision. Depending on your income the monthly medicare B premium ranges from $195 to $595 per person.

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2024-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles

Do you know if you have tricare if you have to pay the medicaid B if you are still working? That's really terrible to pay $200-600 a month when we already pay for tricare as retirees but are required to take it.

[Anonymous]

I have only a few months to go until Medicare kicks in. I think about it constantly, listen to webinars, attend seminars, read every article I can find, and am soon going to talk to a consultant about it.

The decisions that need to be made are daunting.

Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Better familiarize yourselves with IRMAA, too, especially if you have a healthy pension or 401k, or are planning on selling a house in retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have fed health benefits upon retirement (through you or your spouse) you keep those, yes? That is your "medicare advantage" equivalent?

This is my understanding but can someone confirm? That is reason enough to stay federal until retirement.

It gets even more complicated. Yes, you can keep your fed health benefits, but whether you do so, and whether you take Medicare B, is a complex decision. Depending on your income the monthly medicare B premium ranges from $195 to $595 per person.

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2024-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles

As it says in the article you linked the Part B premium starts at 174.70 not $195.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don’t actually have to sign up for Part A — you get it automatically when you turn 65 if you have your 40 quarters of taxed income, which the vast, vast majority of Americans do (or your spouse does). It’s Part B that you have to sign up for, unless you are already collecting Social Security, in which case in most cases they assume you want Part B and enroll you. But it is always best to contact SS and confirm, which you can do 3 months before you turn 65.
Medicare Advantage is definitely NOT a scam. It is a highly regulated program, with close and ongoing government scrutiny of almost every aspect of the program from the bids companies submit, how much they spend on medical care, how long it takes their customer service reps to answer questions, how quickly they pay doctors, and dozens and dozens of other areas. Medicare Advantage is a choice — in return for agreeing to a network of providers (with strict government rules and audits of those networks) and prior authorization, enrollees get much cheaper out of pocket costs and a range of additional benefits Medicare doesn’t cover.

DO NOT listen to this poster.
Yes, you must sign up for Medicare Part A, even if you have insurance.
It costs you nothing, and when you decide you want to buy in to other parts of Medicare, you will be able to sign up immediately.
I'm told Medicare Advantage generally covers less than does plain old Medicare, BUT the premiums are cheaper, at least initially, which is why it appeals to people.
Why do you think the pushers of Medicare Advantage send so much junk mail advertising their products? You don't get a lot of ads from the US Government peddling regular ole Medicare, do you?
I found a consultant through my alumni association who is very good at explaining Medigap programs, which she says are the way to go. I'm not there yet, but that's my plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have only a few months to go until Medicare kicks in. I think about it constantly, listen to webinars, attend seminars, read every article I can find, and am soon going to talk to a consultant about it.

The decisions that need to be made are daunting.

Ugh.

Would love if you can share any insights. Barring any new developments, I am going to opt for Medigap over Medicare Advantage.

[Anonymous]

Here is a cautionary tale from someone whose mother was on a Medicare Advantage plan that turned out to be wholly inadequate given her medical needs.

It appeared on the Humble Dollar personal finance website edited by Jonathan Clements, a former personal finance columnist for the Wall Street Journal.

https://humbledollar.com/2024/03/what-advantage/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=another-ses-test_7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a little more than a decade away from this. Could you explain the situation to me like I’m five so that I have a chance of remembering this when I’m older?

When Republicans win there will be no Medicare.

No worries Americans are stupid they will vote in Republicans.

I used to be all for private healthcare. I no longer support it at all. It is a complete scam particularly now that many practice groups (except for maybe a few pediatric, family and dermatology) are either employees of hospitals (and the companies that own the hospitals) or owned by private equity. The reality is that healthcare in the US is no longer about caring for the patients and is all about generating revenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a little more than a decade away from this. Could you explain the situation to me like I’m five so that I have a chance of remembering this when I’m older?

When Republicans win there will be no Medicare.

No worries Americans are stupid they will vote in Republicans.

I used to be all for private healthcare. I no longer support it at all. It is a complete scam particularly now that many practice groups (except for maybe a few pediatric, family and dermatology) are either employees of hospitals (and the companies that own the hospitals) or owned by private equity. The reality is that healthcare in the US is no longer about caring for the patients and is all about generating revenue.

Private equity should have no role in health care, nursing homes, and the rental market.