Our B/C B/C supplement ins. doubled this period!!

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by janie69

Now that I'm reading all of this, our plan does not sound so high, maybe a little excessive but not as bad as I thought. I'm still going to check out UHC, even though I don't like AARP so it'll have to be good or I won't change.

All the Medigap lettered plans must offer the same coverage. In the end, you are choosing cost and customer service. Robyn/hubby, both formerly attorneys, don't take back seats to anyone when there is a problem. UHC in FL should not give you any problems. I do think quality of service for these companies vary by state. Robyn has said she prefers a hd-F plan, but doesn't like the one and only carrier in FL offering hd-F, so has chosen the full supplement plan through UHC, even though she may be overpaying because, in the final analysis, the 20% and possible excess charges (another 15%) covered by the supplement plans is pretty small in comparison to the premiums paid. Which is why the hd-F is a good choice if you don't want that $175-$200 monthly bill, and instead will pick up your share when and if you incur a charge.

This is a pretty good description of what you're getting for your $175-$200/mo:

Originally Posted by old_cold

Gregg....the supplement is not buying coverage...only 20% of what Medicare approves and does not pay.

Just got a CMS summary yesterday for an ER trip ...A couple of payouts, for instance....

Charge.........$1,706...Medicare approved..$187.80.....Medicare paid $150.24
Supplement paid $37.56

Charge....$940.00 Medicare approved...$477.08 Medicare paid....$381.67
Supplement paid $95.41

and a regular doctor office visit
Charge $217 Approved $112.85 Medicare paid $88.47
Supplement paid $ 22.57

I keep track and because my husband usually goes to the hospital two or three times a year, he collects a little more than the premium
I keep it because if surgery is ever involved, it will undoubtedly incur much higher bills.

But, for the ordinary person, what $250 is actually covering, a supplement in no way a bargain.
The "$100" a month for Medicare is the bargain.(Not counting all one may have paid throughout their working years)

So, for their $200/month, the supplement paid $155.41. Keep in mind, you are not normally incurring these types of expenses every month.

Old cold is right - Medicare is the bargain. The supplement plans - not so much.

[old_cold]

In the interest of accuracy, I should also mention that with one of of no out of pocket cost ones, like Plan F , the deductible is also covered.
If one does go to a hospital, that is an additional $1,184 for Part A .It also pays the $147.00 for Part B.
In situations where hospitalizations are a reality or a concern, paying the higher amount makes sense.

The hospital deductible is not annual! This is important. It is only for each 'benefit period' which is 60 days.
For example, if you go to the hospital for a week in January and then again in August, for instance, it will need to be paid twice....go again in November...three times, etc. Mathematically, you could be looking at 4 or 5 times a year.(You have to be out of the hospital for 60 days for the new period to start)
It does become a bargain in this scenario.

This shows how important it is to make sure you have the best policy for you.

[Briolat21]

We have one of the most comprehensive supplemets for Dad - thru UHC (thru the AARP plans). I believe its type J, or equivalent. He pays just over $220/month.

We started at that level because Dad had hospitalizations requiring rehab care, and with the cost of SNF's ($10,000/month is not unheard of) and medicare's quick fall off in coverage of service ... we wanted protection.

He's not had that issue (hospitalization requiring rehab) in a couple of years now, but we've maintained the level of insurance because A) he can afford it and B) it puts both our minds at ease that I wouldn't have to start selling his assets to cover a temporary SNF rehab stay.

So far we've found the customer service, etc.. to be great with the UHC plan. Keep in mind it has really very little to do with AARP, other than a marketing tool. AARP is not in the insurance business, but in the marketing insurace policies to its members and the public business.

As to the OP, the premiums you're quoting are in the ballpark of what we were paying before mom passed last year, for the two of them (rates went up slightly this year) - so I don't think they're outrageous - but again, we realize Dad (and Mom) had possibly "overly comprehensive" policies, and we prefer it that way.