Anonymous
Post 08/01/2024 17:05     Subject: Re:Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are many no charge companies that will step you through the process, I used the one below. Boomer Benefits is another. These are no charge companies they are paid by the insurance companies.


https://medicareschool.com/


These will try to sell you Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Use free information available online to learn the basics (AARP and Center for Medicare Advocacy both have good introductory materials) and contact your state/county SHIP for personalized advice.


You should have either Medigap or Medicare Advantage. Going with traditional Medicare and paying 20% co-insurance isn't a good plan.


Do not go with a Medicare Advantage plan or you will be unhappy when you need it.


Agree. My understanding is that the Medicare Advantage plans are quickly becoming a disaster, including lots of doctors refusing to take patients on them.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2024 11:12     Subject: Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Is Medigap less than "average" 20% co pays?
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2024 11:07     Subject: Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend getting the book “10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make” by Danielle Kunkle Roberts. Lots of great information and explanations

Definitely read up on it. My mom had Traditional Medicare, not one the ones managed by insurance companies. She had much better coverage. Avoid Medicare Advantage plans, apparently. I will need to research this, too.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2024 10:55     Subject: Re:Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are many no charge companies that will step you through the process, I used the one below. Boomer Benefits is another. These are no charge companies they are paid by the insurance companies.


https://medicareschool.com/


These will try to sell you Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Use free information available online to learn the basics (AARP and Center for Medicare Advocacy both have good introductory materials) and contact your state/county SHIP for personalized advice.


You should have either Medigap or Medicare Advantage. Going with traditional Medicare and paying 20% co-insurance isn't a good plan.


Do not go with a Medicare Advantage plan or you will be unhappy when you need it.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2024 10:38     Subject: Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If we've paid into medicare all these years, why are there such high fees with it.


You pay based on your taxable income.


Great, so we've been paying 1.45% on our income all along, paid over $1M easily and we still have to pay a lot for health insurance. The US system is broken


Stop complaining! All of us slightly younger people are paying into it too and will likely get almost nothing when we retire! Plus we have to deal with crazy expensive healthcare and drug prices now.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2024 10:30     Subject: Re:Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are many no charge companies that will step you through the process, I used the one below. Boomer Benefits is another. These are no charge companies they are paid by the insurance companies.


https://medicareschool.com/


These will try to sell you Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Use free information available online to learn the basics (AARP and Center for Medicare Advocacy both have good introductory materials) and contact your state/county SHIP for personalized advice.


You should have either Medigap or Medicare Advantage. Going with traditional Medicare and paying 20% co-insurance isn't a good plan.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2024 10:26     Subject: Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If we've paid into medicare all these years, why are there such high fees with it.


You pay based on your taxable income.


Great, so we've been paying 1.45% on our income all along, paid over $1M easily and we still have to pay a lot for health insurance. The US system is broken
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 22:44     Subject: Medicare—what do you do? My husband has no clue
Go to Bogleheads.org and search Medicare. Tons of info there. Once you've searched, you can then ask questions. Very helpful forum.