On 8/20/16, Diane wrote:
> On 8/16/16, Cal-Kid wrote:
>> 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.
>
> Thanks, Cal-Kid! I turn 65 in December and just received my
> Medicare card in the mail this week. Sounds like it worked
out
> great for you! Yes, my dining room table is half covered at
this
> point! I appreciate your information!
Your are welcome. I also wanted to add that most of us get part
A paid for but we also have to pay for Part b. So my $87 dollar
monthly payment for Kaiser does not include the Part B payment
to Medicare. So my total cost is higher. I have the part B
taken out of STRS. but another part of part B is a monthly
payment so I figure the yearly amount and pay it once a year.
The additional part is MAGI another rule from medicare.
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