My wife has gotten a letter saying she will be getting Medicare A and B coverage in 90 days. She is 63 yrs old and currently on my Cobra coverage. I have been looking at getting a supplemental policy. Because of her age in Texas there are only 2 insurance companies offering F supplement. My understanding is that part D will cover her drugs with a donut hole in coverage. The part D cost about $35.00 per month The supplemental part F will cost $177.00 per month. The Medicare part A & B will be decucted from her SSD check about $100.00 per month. Does anyone else have simular coverage? I mean just Medicare. If so what does this not cover?
I don't know about Texas, but here in Maryland there is a program where the State will pay most of the Part D charges if the person's income is below a certain level. (They only look at the individual's income, not the Spouse's.) It isn't well publicized here, but it exists. You could check will your area's Office on Aging (that's who administers it here) to see if Texas has this.
Moorsb, I bought up my questions to Jane...our Medicare expert. My husband is 58 years old, when he lost his retirement health benefits, I was in a panic. With Jane's help, I decided to go with AARP United Healthcare...Part D & F, actually, there was only 2 medical supplements for under those 65 in my state. Also, if you type Medicare in the search category, more Medicare post will come up, that may be helpful.
Moorsb...In Ohio medicare coverage isn't that great. They pay on a much reduced schedule. Therefore the need for supplemental coverage. John has medicare part a and b. Part a and b runs about 96.00 and is deducted from his SS check. He has plan F through United Healthcare and it is 126.10 per month.I have this amount debited directly from our checking acct. Even with the supplemental there is almost always a balance that is your responsibility. For instance, a 250.00 consultation costs me about 32.00. Sounds like pocket change until you realize a lengthy hospital stay can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and you will be held accountable for at about 15% of that. I'm not complaining. John has been hospitalized 5 times since Nov. and without the coverage we would be living under a bridge somewhere. Good luck. cs p.s. forgot part d for meds is 46.00 and is deducted from SS check.
AARP does not offer plan F for Texas if you are under the age 65. I found Sierra Health and Life offers a plan F Select policy in Texas. Is anyone using this insurance?
we have had medicare part a/b deducted out of ss check each month and i pay out of pocket for medicare supplement 187/mo with principal life. pay part d drug coverage thru aarp, i think it 38.40/mo and then another 28do/mo for supplemental hospital stay to aarp for added reimbursement if long hosp stay to help out. not sure how long we have this but its been a while. he is over 65 though . after dedudictlbes for his coverages are met we rarely owe anything except drug donut hole. divvi
You absolutely want some kind of supplement. Medicare only covers 80% of most things. You need to cover the other 20% and all prescription costs if you don't buy a supplement of some kind. And 20% of a major event will break the bank.
My husband has the traditional medicate supplements of the kinds moorsb is talking about. I pay just under $2000 a year for that plus more for Plan D. The medicare supplement has paid many thousands of dollars OVER what I paid in many years, and probably even this year even though we are no longer going to most of his doctors. And my husband has not been to the hospital, even emergency, in about 18 months.
At this point they have paid every bill anyone has sent them, for almost 5 years, except for one blood test where the neurologist ordered a duplicate test instead of looking at the one that had been done about a month earlier.
If you have medicare AND a supplement policy, just make sure your doctor ACCEPTS MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT. If so, he has to accept whatever medicare approves for his payment and you shouldn't have to pay anything else to the doctor. You may also have a deductible you must pay yearly before medicare and/or supplement policy kicks in.
moorsb When you say the company offers plan F select, is this something different than the regular Medigap plan F that we speak of? The select is throwing me off somewhat. If you are looking at the regular Medicare supplement plan F then you don't have to worry if your doctor Accepts Medicare Assignment or not, the regular plan F supplemental picks up the difference even if the Doctor does not accept assignment, Plan F pays the difference even pays the yearly deductible as long as it is an approved Medicare charge.
Sometimes a Doctor will order a test or a visit will be for something that Medicare does not approve, in that case Plan F will not pay and neither will Medicare. Most in patient hospital visits are covered under regular Medicare at 100% except for the yearly deductible and plan F will pay the deductible. It will not make any difference at all if the Doctor takes medicare assignment or if they do not.
Hope this helps. Just be sure to have the company clarify what they mean by plan F select.
Thank you Jane. What do you do for Dental insurance does Medicare cover this? We just got back from the Dentist and an estimate of $4500.00 for 2 crowns yikes!
moorsb--Medicare doesn't cover dental. The only thing close I got covered was an oral surgery, frenectomy, that had little todo with the teeth themselves. This year I selected a Medicare Advantage plan which covers all the Medicare A , B and D with co-pays. Premium comes out of my Soc. Sec. Dis.The policy had an optional rider available which provides up to $1000 for dental, and some for glasses and hearing aids. I found a Dentist's office that works with CareCredit (a revolving credit plan). That's how I'm getting 12 teeth out and a denture in, plus xrays, a filling and teeth cleaning of the lower 8 teeth. Payments will be about $30 a month. on top of the $39 premium for the rider, and of curse co-pays for any other services. This dentist listened when I gave my dental history, and agreed that spending for root canals and crowns on teeth which don't hold up is a waste.