On 8/15/16, Diane wrote:
> Any advice about going on Medicare? I went to a meeting and
am more
> confused than ever!
Sign up three months before 65th birthday. You need your
Medicare card with number before you can enroll in any health
plan. I devoted the dinning room table to all the Medicare
flyers in the mail. Some were good and others just junk mail.
I did phone appointment with SS Medicare. They sent a list of
things needed to complete the appointment. You need last
years tax return. They were really good and I got my card
rather quickly.
I picked Kaiser Senior Advantage through my school district
who used Cal-Pers medical plans. It was a great plan. Then my
former district went with a different group which is a
middleman and costs went up. Switching plans on the free
market for Kaiser Senior Advantage went from $330 down to $87
per month. The copay are a little higher, out of pocket a
little higher, but that is more than covered with the money
saved each month.
With Senior advantage plans everything is included in one
bundle. With original medicare you have Part A, Part B, Part
C, and Part D. to get the same coverage as senior advantage
plans. I like Kaiser as they are self contained, but they
have strict boundaries so moving can be a problem.
Good luck just make sure to get your medicare card first.
Then pick a plan. If you don't sign up within the time frame
3 months before up to 3 months after you will be penalized
and pay higher rates when you do sign up. You can also sign
up on line or go in person.
Posts on this thread, including this one