Medicare + Gap Policy vs. Medicare Advantage Plan

03/21/2017 | tnoldman

[TNoldman]

I would like to open a discussion on the best choose of Senior Health Insurance. Medicare+Gap Policy vs. Medicare Advantage. I now have Medicare + Gap Policy. For 17 years I have used Gap Plan F. Premiums in the last 17 years have gone from $164/month to $230/month. I know other Gap Plans such as : G and N are available similar to F with some added risk.

My main question is should I and other Seniors consider Medicare Advantage?

[catnipman]

“United Healthcare thru AARP is tested and true. Call them first.”

i agree. they offer they cheapest Plan F in Colorado, so that’s the way I went.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

I realize this is not an ObamaCare thread, but I wanted to share another ridiculous story. I’ve been working with people with developmental disabilities for many, many moons. When Obambi passed that monstrosity, he gutted the Medicare system and flushed most of Medicare Advantage. Many of my clients received a notification that their good, simple Advantage program was GONE, and they would have to choose between TWENTY options.
Creepozoids all.

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

I would call AMAC before AARP, AMAC is the conservative organization of the VERY LIBERAL AARP!!! AMAC has very good supplement medical plans!!!

[BunnySlippers]

Bump

[firebrand]

With Medicare and Plan F, you should never have to pay a cent for anything except part of your nonhospital drugs and your dentist and glasses. Plan F even pays your Medicare deductible. Complete coverage of expensive surgeries and hospital stays more than makes up for the premiums.

Also, doctors get to accept and reject patients. I can’t help but think the easy, complete coverage makes it more likely that they will accept you. There is a difference between what your plans pay and what the services actually cost—the rest is charitable donations, so you get the benefit of those and excellent care if you are accepted by a good hospital.

[gattaca]

bmp

[Boomer]

I agree. Stay away from AARP like it’s the plague because politically it is. They are uber progressive and anti-conservative.

Same thing with the Progressive auto insurance company. Go with Geico instead.

[USS Alaska]

I live in WPA and use UPMC Advantage, which offers the best set of docs and hospitals within a 100 miles radius of pburgh, and the cost of the plan that I chose is only the amount that medicare deducts from SS each month {a little over $100/month}.

I have a $5/visit deductible when I see my own doc, and a $45/visit to see my heart doc, along with some other charges for blood work, etc.

There are other UPMC plans which cost more and cover more, because it is called insurance for a reason.

I'm very satisfied with both my chosen insurance plan {NOT A PART OF OBAMACARE} and especially with UPMC as a a health care provider.

Every one is different, and you will have to do your homework, but I recommend that folks that live in a place where UPMC is available, that it is at least worth your time to compare it to whatever else you are using.

[sphinx]

healthcare bookmark

[norwaypinesavage]

My wife and I have Medicare Gap plans even though Advantage plans would be quite a bit cheaper. The reason is because we travel a lot, and spend winters in a different location than summers. The Advantage plans are not friendly to those who need medical care away from their plan network.

[locountry1dr]

*

[GailA]

Can’t help here, most are what is still available in your state. WE have both FIXED/RATIONED/RESTRICTED Medicare/Tricare Life (Ret Military over 65). SUCKS!

[Awgie]

Remember folks, AARP and AMAC are nothing but insurance agencies. They are not insurance companies. They dont write and issue policies, they act as brokers for insurance companies.

[hanamizu]

My wife and I are on plan F which (as others have noted) pretty much pays for everything except prescription drugs and is accepted anywhere Medicare is accepted but it’s a couple of hundred dollars per month for each of us. My mom’s Advantage plan costs her nothing, but she has copays and she is highly restricted in her choices. So, if you can afford plan F (which does get more expensive as you get older) I’d say go for it. If your funds are limited and Advantage is offered in your area it might be a good fit.

[TNoldman]

Thsnk you for the many comments.

During recent investigation it is rumored that Gap Policy F will be discontinue in 2020. That would cause the remaining F subscribers to exposed to much higher costs as the fixed or shrinking group ages.

[acoulterfan]

I believe I read that Plan F would be closed to new applicants but people that are on it can stay on it. So get on it before 2019 or so.

[TNoldman]

My concern is that Plan F participants would be an ever shrinking and Aging Group that will drive costs up.

I wonder what the options will be?

[bitt]

I applied thru aarp and then never re-upped. We all know the stated goals of aarp...after I applied, I no longer needed their BS.

United Healthcare is efficient and costs little. I think my deductible for the year (in my state) is $161.00.

[Grams A]

IMO the only reason for AARP is so they can sell insurance. The Optum umbrella is huge and includes not only AARP, but United Healthcare, United Behavioral Health for mental health for some employer groups, various CHIP programs for Medicaid and illegals and who knows what other groups. Massive organization.

From a provider’s perspective, their on-line system for billing, processing and paying is one of the best. Their contract rates, however, are among the lowest in the industry except for CHIP contracts which are paid by states with taxpayer money.