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Mom is 90
Approx $140 month MC. $36 Supplement Plan F. $36 Part D
This year prescriptions out of pocket $3700
We are 63 and 61
We pay $1400 month premiums
We paid $4000 this year out of pocket. Routine dr visits (mammo, colonoscopy, etc add up when you have high deductibles and co-insurance.)
Don't want to rush life away, but it'll sure be easier once we reach 65.
My Part B: $121.80
Wife Part B: $104.90
My Plan G from Cigna: $133.28
Wife Plan G from Cigna: $123.02
My Part D from Cigna: $44.70
Wife Part D from Cigna: $19.80-$19.80=$0.00
My Dental: $30.00
Wife Dental: $30.00 Total: $587.70
My wife has a very small state pension, from which the government claws back 2/3rds from her SS benefit, but part of her retirement package is the availability of low cost Plan G coverage and total reimbursement for her Part D coverage.
Through my wife's state retirement plan we also have dental insurance for both of us at $30.00/month each for a total of $60.00 which is deducted from her retirement check of $353.16 which leaves her with $293.16. The dental plan is one of the better, and the least expensive, I have seen because we each get two totally free check ups and cleanings annually and they cover 50% of anything else like the crown I had to have last year for $1,200.00 which, thanks to the insurance, cost only $600.00.
FEHB BC/BS Standard Self + 1 = $462.62/month - $350 pp annual deductible
MetLife High Dental Self + 1 = $100.92/month - $12,000 pp annual max coverage (great plan !!)
FEP Blue Vision High Self + 1 = $20.46/month
Out of pocket annual expenses for OTC meds, copays, etc. aprox $700
Total = $642.33
This is providing us with some interesting Data Points.
Is it a fact that these Medigap plans vary in price based on zip code ??
I pay the Medicare Part B from my SS check $104 if I remember correctly. I have Medicare Advantage. from UHC, and that is now $55 come January. I believe it includes Part D -- I only pay a $20 co-pay for 90 days supply.
So that's about $170 per month, Plus whatever Dr visit copays.....but I'm lucky that I don't need much doctorin'
My DW is in the fortunate position of being too young and too good-looking for Medicare. So she went through the ACA routine and pays about $500 for a plan. There are copays for doctor visits and pills too.
I'm going to estimate we're All-In at about $900 per month. This is after years and years of having megacorp's Health Benefit paying for everything from full Maternity costs to the braces that gave Dear Daughter her Million Dollar Smile.
The current HC environment is certain to bring escalating costs each year.
davebarnes- glad you're still here -also-as a testiment to KP.
nomoresnowforme- If it is ok to ask....what do you think will happen when you are forced onto Medicare at age 65?
Do you think you'll still not pay anything for healthcare? I hope not. Someone voted on the poll they pay $0- $50 a month
for healthcare but maybe they are still working and have employer coverage
2sleepy- I wasn't aware any employers pay for retirees supplements. Nice to know
People aren't forced onto Medicare. Medicare is something you choose to sign up for. However, every year that a person is eligible for it, if he/she does not sign up, the premiums go up if they decide to sign up later. Although OP didn't ask for the youngsters' opinions, I'll throw in my $0.02 while I'm here. I'm a young Medicare recipient, (39), and my bills average about $200/month, mostly prescription related. I have one drug that costs nearly $400/month, but my doc gives me samples since I can't afford that one, thank goodness. Medicare is great, IMO. I think people who are eligible should sign up, even if they are in good health. If the worst happens, it can give you better coverage than just about any private insurance plan.
Nice to know, thanks. I work for a public agency (County) but they don't offer it at the moment. My job is a lower level so we don't get as great of medical benefits as others but it more than suffices. It might be offered to the higher level employees. I pay nothing for the typical medical like doc visits, medication, xrays, cat scans, bloodwork. I also work for a Vendor of the State, same jobsite, same position so we do have a form of what I consider catastrophic ($1500/deductible) from that vendor. So they go hand in hand
I'm retired from a city in California, they capped the supplement contribution at $300 after I retired, before that there was no cap on it, but I'm ok with that I can still get a Kaiser supplement for that amount. I have a friend who retired from Stockton, their retirees supplement plans were covered 100% until the City declared bankruptcy, now they don't cover a penny of their retirees health plans. California state retirees not only get their medicare supplement paid for, but the state also pays for their Part B.
People aren't forced onto Medicare. Medicare is something you choose to sign up for. However, every year that a person is eligible for it, if he/she does not sign up, the premiums go up if they decide to sign up later. Although OP didn't ask for the youngsters' opinions, I'll throw in my $0.02 while I'm here. I'm a young Medicare recipient, (39), and my bills average about $200/month, mostly prescription related. I have one drug that costs nearly $400/month, but my doc gives me samples since I can't afford that one, thank goodness. Medicare is great, IMO. I think people who are eligible should sign up, even if they are in good health. If the worst happens, it can give you better coverage than just about any private insurance plan.
You must be on SSDI? If that is your only income you might be able to qualify for medicaid. At least in California, if you are what they call 'dual eligible' medi-cal will pay your part B and any co-pays or drug costs not covered by medicare. If your income is too high, you can still sign up for a medicare advantage plan, most of them cover most of your drug costs and reduce doctor co-pays to a few dollars https://www.medicare.gov/people-like...#collapse-3182
I am low income so was very happy when United Healthcare offered some very low cost plans.
My SS Medicare premium is taken out of SS check every month, can't remember exact amount, maybe in area of $105/month.
For 2016 I signed up with UH Advantage plan 3 and premium was $39 per month. Primary care visits were $5/visit, specialist was $30/visit. This plan included Part D. Also included in coverage is use of a health club for exercise, etc. I also have a NY state plan for retirees (EPIC) that greatly helps with prescription costs. There is a deductible to meet with EPIC, but it is quite low. I can't recall all of the detail, never think about it that much. I do know that for me, it is affordable.
This year, same medical plan with UH Advantage premium went DOWN to $36/month. Co-pays all the same $5 for primary, $30 for specialist.
I'm fortunate in that my need to see a doctor is minimal.
In previous years due to surgery needs, I had a much higher premium supplemental insurance plan which helped with high costs of surgery, hospital, rehab, frequent return checkups, meds. That plan with UH cost for both medical and drug was well over $200/month. Being low income, I could not maintain that in the following year.
I was able to maintain a dental plan through a former employer that is currently $29+ per month and covers $1000 expense for one year.
Last edited by NYgal1542; 11-25-2016 at 11:48 AM..
Reason: Added last paragraph.
Under Human Medicare Advantage (no monthly fee), I pay only deductibles and co-pay's which probably average less than $125 per month. I'm healthy and most of my healthcare costs are preventative or routine maintenance.
My wife has always carried a United Healthcare Supplement plan for which we pay about $230 per month. She, likewise, is relatively healthy and would probably spend less than $100 per month for my Medicare Advantage plan.
However, she feels like she has the 'peace of mind' in knowing that "if something happens," she will be pretty well covered. In truth, my Advantage plan will give me almost the same coverage. So, I guess we are paying a total of about $355 per month in healthcare -- of which $130 is a "peace of mind" fee. Since we can afford it, it's kind of a non-issue.
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