Advantage vs Medigap (plan, hospital, doctor, surgery)

[lostsoul62]

Is Medigap a better insurance than Advantage? Does it give you more doctors that you can go to? After one year I can quit either plan? I'm a Vet so I go to the VA which will give me all my Meds that a Medicare doctor will proscribe to me so I guess I don't need Plan D? So will plan C be OK or should I go to plan F if I don't need drugs though Medicare. I also don't want to spend $1260 if I go to the hospital and have to spend the night because the VA hospital is too far away. I'm just a confused person.

[Scooby Snacks]

If you're a vet, why get on either plan? The VA ought to give you the health coverage you need. My wife is a vet and gets great health coverage. All her annual wellness care, emergency care, and medications are covered with a small out of pocket expense occasionally. I am on a PPO Advantage plan. I find it quite comprehensive. It covers my medications and surgery with little out of pocket expense. My only beef is that doctor's visits are pricey. I pay $50 specialist copay and $25 for primary care. But I see the specialist more often, and those visits add up. I would not recommend an HMO to anyone. The referral thing becomes a PITA, and few doctors accept HMOs anymore.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by lostsoul62

Is Medigap a better insurance than Advantage? Does it give you more doctors that you can go to? After one year I can quit either plan?

• Medigap = see ANY Medicare doctor, enroll (if you pass health underwriting) or drop at ANY time
• Advantage = see ONLY the Advantage plan hospital/docs, enroll or drop once a year

Originally Posted by lostsoul62

I also don't want to spend $1260 if I go to the hospital and have to spend the night because the VA hospital is too far away.

Unlikely one-night in a hospital will be inpatient so Part A deductible won't apply.

More likely you'll be outpatient/observation, which is paid under Medicare Part B. If you don't have Part B, you don't have outpatient coverage. Deductible for Part B next year is $183.

Do you have Medicare Part B? You need to enroll in Medicare Part B for both:

• Medigap = see ANY Medicare doctor, enroll or drop at ANY time
• Advantage = see ONLY the Advantage plan hospital/docs, enroll or drop once a year

We've had these discussions at length previously, here:

Medicare A & B going to the ER

Medicare advanage plans

Medicare supplement $0 premium per month???