Medicare Advice Needed Please
Posted 06-20-2018 at 09:11 PM by jdhpa
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ariadne22
My recommendation - buy the community-rated AARP UHC Plan G. Many people here have that plan.
You are disturbed because your health insurance costs are expensive. Most people don't expect that in retirement they will be paying as much or more than when they worked. Part B $134, Medigap $160, Part D $50 = $344/mo. These are baseline numbers and, as you've learned, can be much higher based on income.
There are numerous posts on this board from retirees stating they budget $10k/year per couple for medical insurance and other expenses. My neighbor, 20 years ago, said he budgeted $12k/year for him and his wife.
That said, if the IRMAA is because of a one-time life event - such as sale of home/pension lump sum payout, etc. - you can appeal IRMAA through CMS and get your Part B premium reduced. Many people here have successfuly appealed the IRMAA.
If you can afford it, which you should be able to if IRMAA is a issue, Plan G is what you should have. AARP UHC is a community-rated plan which may be slightly higher in premium now but over time, after age 77, rates are increased because of medical costs for the entire risk pool, not your age, unlike other insurers - illustrated on the discussion on this thread:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/healt...ents-able.html
Essentially, you are suffering from sticker shock. Unless you choose an Advantage plan (not recommended if you travel and for a lot of other reasons, too) or a lower-priced attained-age policy and hope the premiums don't escalate to an unbearable point at the same time you have health issues and can't switch to another Medigap, the AARP UHC Medigap G is your best choice.
Another poster from Texas just chose a CIGNA plan - which is attained age - and, for now, has a slightly lower premium. In WI, that company hasn't been too awful on price increases, but there are no guarantees with an attained-age policy.
Pricing of Medigaps explained, here:
https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan...-policies.aspx
You are disturbed because your health insurance costs are expensive. Most people don't expect that in retirement they will be paying as much or more than when they worked. Part B $134, Medigap $160, Part D $50 = $344/mo. These are baseline numbers and, as you've learned, can be much higher based on income.
There are numerous posts on this board from retirees stating they budget $10k/year per couple for medical insurance and other expenses. My neighbor, 20 years ago, said he budgeted $12k/year for him and his wife.
That said, if the IRMAA is because of a one-time life event - such as sale of home/pension lump sum payout, etc. - you can appeal IRMAA through CMS and get your Part B premium reduced. Many people here have successfuly appealed the IRMAA.
If you can afford it, which you should be able to if IRMAA is a issue, Plan G is what you should have. AARP UHC is a community-rated plan which may be slightly higher in premium now but over time, after age 77, rates are increased because of medical costs for the entire risk pool, not your age, unlike other insurers - illustrated on the discussion on this thread:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/healt...ents-able.html
Essentially, you are suffering from sticker shock. Unless you choose an Advantage plan (not recommended if you travel and for a lot of other reasons, too) or a lower-priced attained-age policy and hope the premiums don't escalate to an unbearable point at the same time you have health issues and can't switch to another Medigap, the AARP UHC Medigap G is your best choice.
Another poster from Texas just chose a CIGNA plan - which is attained age - and, for now, has a slightly lower premium. In WI, that company hasn't been too awful on price increases, but there are no guarantees with an attained-age policy.
Pricing of Medigaps explained, here:
https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan...-policies.aspx
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