Posts: 966
Threads: 61
Joined: Jan 2006
interesting that health care through Kaiser is triple the cost, and yet, seniors aren't getting anything substantial this year in ssi increase (around 1%) and nothing last year... and yet
Congress and the white house both want an increase in their pensions! remember you only have one 2 year term and you get your pension for life.... while seniors and medicare recipients get the grand finger...
i do wonder though about the comment that one major surgery will wipe you out... most people have surgery in the hospital and that is covered. it is the part B you pay your 20% on. and that is 20% of medicare rates, not public rates... but one common scam you need to watch out for is some hospitals don't "admit" you to the hospital for your surgery. so you need to make sure you go in to admitting, not "observation" for your surgery. paperwork, people don't notice and then are in for a shock.[
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Posts: 1,059
Threads: 97
Joined: Mar 2009
I have a feeling there's a little confusion here over what an Advantage plan is. ALL it is is Medicare that you choose to have administered by an insurance company other than the feds. I thought they all had to conform to $0/yr for basic Medicare plan, but it looks like starting in 2017 they are allowed to not provide a basic plan, and therefore are only offering Advantage plans with more coverage. I personally think this is a good thing bc basic medicare pretty much sucks. How Kaiser has gotten away with basic Medicare Advantage plan on the Big Island for more than $0 is beyond me - there must be provisions for places that are remote, etc. Not sure, never looked into it. HMSA has seminars every open enrollment to teach you how this works. My husband is on HMSA Advantage plan that's the $170/month or whatever it is, not the basic $0 plan. I assume that'll be $190/mo in 2017 but we haven't gotten the letter yet. We opted for the better plan when we saw what was covered.
"Supplemental" plans are something different. They are plans that "fill the donut hole" - the gap betw. what's covered and what's not.
i.e. Supplemental insurance and Advantage plans are two different animals.
At the end of every year, insurers are now cancelling policies and replacing them with other policies.
Posts: 21
Threads: 3
Joined: Nov 2007
Just want folks to know that we could not afford the new Kaiser plan at $194 so we just signed up with Humana for next year. The booklet we received from Medicare did not list them for the Big Island but we made a phonecall and received a home visit from their Hilo agent, Joy, who offered us a PDP (Personal Drug Plan) for $17/monthly and a High Deductible Plan F for roughly $50/$56 depending on age and gender. Joy Panem can be reached directly at 959 5828.She is very well informed and helpful and a delight to work with.
Posts: 1,252
Threads: 72
Joined: Sep 2012
I've been struggling with the Medicare website. I can only stand it for an hour or so at a time, so progress is gradual. So many options, how do you choose?
I'm thinking Original Medicare, plus Part B. You don't actually need a "Plan" from another company.
I can't quite figure out Part D coverage. Do I have to buy it from another plan, or can I get it direct from Medicare? Does it actually cover enough?
I have to figure out if I can buy all my current prescriptions for cash (without insurance or Medicare help) cheaper *per year* than the various drug plans will charge me.
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Posts: 2,151
Threads: 73
Joined: Mar 2007
Question for Tinker and Lee: What do you plan to do as far as finding a primary care physician? Tinker, did the Humana rep advise you as to how to find a PCP taking their version of Medicare?
Posts: 1,455
Threads: 148
Joined: Mar 2010
I'm glad this discussion is in progress. I'll turn 63 on Nov. 1st, so It'll be a couple years before I can get Medicare. But, it's good to know what's going on. I have some friends that attended a meeting at Kaiser to learn about this. I think the Hilo meetings are over, but may be more in Kona.
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Posts: 1,252
Threads: 72
Joined: Sep 2012
A friend is a doctor. She's not taking new medicare patients, but will make an exception for me.
I'd probably be a lot more worried about leaving Kaiser if I didn't have a good doc lined up.
My husband used to go to Dr. Sheareen Gedayloo. She's good, found treatment for the headaches he's had forever.
She recently left her joint practice to go it alone, and I believe she is accepting new patients. I think she accepts medicare, don't know if she's accepting new medicare patients.
http://www.healthcare4ppl.com/physician/...40525.html
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