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When I checked, after the AARP discounted rate disappeared, it was $180.00 a month on Plan F, BC/BS of Alabama only offers plans A and B and were fairly high to boot.
I have Blue Advantage and it is only $41 a month. It is a PPO.. but most of the doctors in my area (Marshall county) accept it. The co-pays are low except for hospitalization which is $100 a day. I have been very happy with it. The cost of meds are very reasonable too.
The only "advantage" the Medicare Advantage plans had over Medicare supplement coverage was a low, in some cases zero, out-of-pocket premium. When Congress realized what it had done in creating Advantage (essentially, permitting a privatized Medicare system in which the insurance companies received participants' Part B premium, the amount deducted from Social Security), efforts were made to retract Advantage. By the 2009 premium year many Advantage plans that had formerly charged little or no out-of-pocket premium were charging in the $75 per month range and providing, in my opinion, less coverage per out-of-pocket premium dollar than supplement plans. The AARP/United Health Plan F is pretty much the gold standard in supplement coverage. It pays the annual Medicare deductible ($155 in 2010), then pays the usual 20% that would otherwise be a patient's co-pay responsibility. I was in an Advantage plan from mid-2008 (no out-of-pocket premium) when I became Medicare-eligible. I stuck with it through 2009 even when an out-of-pocket premium was charged, but for 2010, when I expected more medical expenses, I switched to AARP/United Health Plan F and have been well satisfied. I live in North Carolina and signed on to AARP/United at a discounted rate for the first two years, which will expire for the 2012 premium year. I currently pay $139/month for Plan F.
A supplement plan does, however, require the purchase of an additional Part D prescription drug plan. Some Advantage plans include drugs in their coverage, so when switching from Advantage to supplement, it's important to add the Part D drug plan. Otherwise, Medicare will charge a penalty for every month a Medicare participant is without drug coverage, either through Advantage or a separate Part D plan carried with a Medicare supplement. Someone earlier in the forum noted that he/she "doesn't need drugs, so I don't have a drug plan." Should they ever need to enroll in a drug plan, the penalty (added to the drug plan premium) will apply, so this may be false economy. Humana and WalMart have collaborated to offer a good basic Part D drug plan for 2011 at $15/month. My "Cadillac" Part D plan cost $35.50/month in 2010 and will increase to $60+/month for 2011. I'll be switching to the Humana/WalMart plan as soon as the window for enrollment opens November 15.
Last edited by Subway Alum; 11-02-2010 at 09:38 AM..
Reason: Typos
Just did a little more checking . . . If you're interested in a Plan F Medicare supplement policy, you probably don't want the High Deductible Plan F version. For 2010, its benefits didn't kick in until a $2,000 out-of-pocket deductible had been paid. The standard Plan F will have a higher premium but avoids the $2,000 up-front deductible, and in most cases the total premium for the year will be less than $2,000 (166.67/month).
Last edited by Subway Alum; 11-02-2010 at 10:05 AM..
Reason: Cleanup
The only "advantage" the Medicare Advantage plans had over Medicare supplement coverage was a low, in some cases zero, out-of-pocket premium. When Congress realized what it had done in creating Advantage (essentially, permitting a privatized Medicare system in which the insurance companies received participants' Part B premium, the amount deducted from Social Security), efforts were made to retract Advantage. By the 2009 premium year many Advantage plans that had formerly charged little or no out-of-pocket premium were charging in the $75 per month range and providing, in my opinion, less coverage per out-of-pocket premium dollar than supplement plans. The AARP/United Health Plan F is pretty much the gold standard in supplement coverage. It pays the annual Medicare deductible ($155 in 2010), then pays the usual 20% that would otherwise be a patient's co-pay responsibility. I was in an Advantage plan from mid-2008 (no out-of-pocket premium) when I became Medicare-eligible. I stuck with it through 2009 even when an out-of-pocket premium was charged, but for 2010, when I expected more medical expenses, I switched to AARP/United Health Plan F and have been well satisfied. I live in North Carolina and signed on to AARP/United at a discounted rate for the first two years, which will expire for the 2012 premium year. I currently pay $139/month for Plan F.
While the monthly premium charge for a given plan is certainly important, I am curious what other charges you are paying for medical care under your Plan F. You say that the 20% co-insurance charges are paid by the plan, but does that mean you do not pay any other co-pays, which are usually dollar amounts rather than percentages? Are you saying that once you have paid your monthly premium(s), doctor visits and lab work cost you nothing? If so, you do truly have an amazingly wonderful plan there. How about hospitalization (same questions)?
Escort Rider, I switched to the AARP/United Health Plan F for 2010 because certain tests and potential procedures had been recommended in 2009. I had checked my then-Advantage plan for the out-of-pocket impact and determined that the costs would be what I considered to be excessive. Once in Plan F this year, I've gone through the tests and am fortunate that it appears no procedures are immediately necessary. I've also had an unrelated surgical procedure, with lab work, which I had also determined to be too costly under the Advantage plan. Plan F paid my 2010 Medicare deductible, no provider has asked for any co-pay at the time of service, and all of the Explanation of Benefits sheets I've received from the plan to date indicate that all providers are accepting the combination of Medicare and supplemental amounts paid by the Plan, with nothing due from me. So, yes, all I've paid are the monthly premiums and nothing else for two major tests, all the related office visits, the separate surgery, lab work, and routine visits to my primary care physician and dermatologist.
Relative to hospitalization (Medicare Part A), I haven't required any services, but the Plan F is set up to essentially cover it the same way until a substantial ceiling is reached.
Bottom line, for me a Plan F (and my only experience is with the AARP/United Health one) costs more per month than an Advantage plan or one of the other Medicare "letter" plans, but the peace of mind in not having to postpone the costs of recommended services while weighing the out-of-pocket cost (and trying to get straight answers about coverage from people at the insurance company, something I encountered with the Advantage plan) is well worth it.
According to what I have received Plan F pays for everything except Foreign Travel and that has a $250 deductible. There is no drug coverage.
My advantage plan for 2011 cost $99 a month but you have co-pays and hospital co-pays. The plan F cost $121 a month plus another $15 for meds but you pay nothing except for drug co-pays.
I figure I will come out better going with either this type plan rather than have to pay $250 a day if I have to go to the hospital. I know I am going to need eye surgery which if it is day surgery it is $300 ded.
JMO but I would rather pay a little more each month than be hit with a large amt if I had to go to the hospital.
According to what I have received Plan F pays for everything except Foreign Travel and that has a $250 deductible. There is no drug coverage.
My advantage plan for 2011 cost $99 a month but you have co-pays and hospital co-pays. The plan F cost $121 a month plus another $15 for meds but you pay nothing except for drug co-pays.
I figure I will come out better going with either this type plan rather than have to pay $250 a day if I have to go to the hospital. I know I am going to need eye surgery which if it is day surgery it is $300 ded.
JMO but I would rather pay a little more each month than be hit with a large amt if I had to go to the hospital.
The monthly premium on my advantage plan for 2011 dropped by $3.00, but like your plan the hospital & day surgery co-pays more than doubled from my 2010 plan. The best I can tell Humana and Secure Horizons advantage plans have also doubled their co-pays for hospital & day.
surgery charges.
I recently had surgery and do not expect any more surgeries in the forseeable future, but who knows at our age. So, the increase in these co-pays make me nervous. I would rather pay more per month and have lower co-pays. None of the advantage plans seem to offer that option.
The price that you quote for plan F, is that through AARP/United Health? Also, do they look at pre-existing conditions and medical history before approving you for the plan? In addition, do they charge according to your age? Meaning, do they charge a person who is 65 less than a person who is 67?
It would have been nice if we all could have continued with the insurance we had in place, but I don't think many of us were surprised that big changes were coming.
The big issue for a new retiree is that doctors will not accept new Medicare patients at all. It is the same as being uninsured! Useless, no matter what it costs.
The big issue for a new retiree is that doctors will not accept new Medicare patients at all. It is the same as being uninsured! Useless, no matter what it costs.
This is one advantage of a Medicare Advantage Plan. The doctors who work for the plan will accept you, period.
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