In article
,
Kurt Ullman wrote:




On person said I should look into AARP for what they have;
several others said that they're insanely expensive
for what you get.

The first place to start is probably the Medicare website. They
have places to get information and there are also a group of volunteer
counselors run by Mcare that go over the options and help you at least
get a clearer view of what you might need.

I went into my archives and pulled this. SHIP program is specific to
Indiana, but my understanding is that there are similar programs though
the state Mcare offices in most other states.
The first cut is to get a copy of the booklet ³Medicare and You²
either through the toll free number (1-800-Medicare) or downloaded from
www.medicare.gov. This gives a good overview of the plans, what is and
is not covered, and an initial look at the various options available.
For do-it-yourselfers there are resources available at the Medicare
website. To compare Medigap and/or Part C policies, click on the plan
choices button from the home page. There is a similar button for Part D,
but you will need a list of your medications and the address of your
preferred pharmacy before starting.
For those not that adventurous or who would like a second opinion,
the next step is to contact SHIP, an all-volunteer organization with
offices in 85 counties that is funded by Medicare and the Indiana
Department of Insurance. Their phone number is 1-800-452-4800 and they
have a website at www.medicare.in.gov. Being funded by the Medicare and
the State of Indiana means that they can give unbiased opinions on the
available choices.