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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

Why am I posting this here (of all places)?

1: when I get real sick (someday), I might well be in
final bed at home, and sorely needing some repairs.
Maybe even "alternate" type repairs!

2: You guys here are clearly *really* smart (I've been
reading the group for YEARS -- heck, after just
an hour of so it is already pretty obvious).

3: From the amount of time and effort put into your
answers to questions, many, very many of you must
be retired. Thus over 65. Thus dealing with medicare.

4: Where else can I post this and be able to trust the
reply, that it's not from some salesman trolling
the medical newsgroups, and pretending to be unbiased?


OK -- here goes. Last year I hit 65, and am on medicare.

(I'm also in a hole right now -- a DONUT hole! These
company-owned politicians must get a real high out
of dreaming up these ways to screw us, huh?)

Anyway, that's all I have -- the basic part a or b or
whatever it is Medicare.

My question: is that enough?

This country has gone so far towards "nuthin for da people,
everything for da rich and da corporate" that if I do end
up sick, in hospital, I'll get a real awakening from my
belief that medicare will takes care of us.


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


I suppose that just like with home insurance, you file a
big claim (wolf blew the house down, or whatever) and
you find out that small print says "no, that's not covered".

And likewise some companies are ~ok, and most horrible.

So, how about a thread on this. I bet that 50% of
us on alt.home.repair will be EXTREMELY interested
in the information shared in the thread.

Anyway, thanks so much!


David



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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

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.
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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

David Combs wrote:

Why am I posting this here (of all places)?

1: when I get real sick (someday), I might well be in
final bed at home, and sorely needing some repairs.
Maybe even "alternate" type repairs!

2: You guys here are clearly *really* smart (I've been
reading the group for YEARS -- heck, after just
an hour of so it is already pretty obvious).

3: From the amount of time and effort put into your
answers to questions, many, very many of you must
be retired. Thus over 65. Thus dealing with medicare.

4: Where else can I post this and be able to trust the
reply, that it's not from some salesman trolling
the medical newsgroups, and pretending to be unbiased?


OK -- here goes. Last year I hit 65, and am on medicare.

(I'm also in a hole right now -- a DONUT hole! These
company-owned politicians must get a real high out
of dreaming up these ways to screw us, huh?)

Anyway, that's all I have -- the basic part a or b or
whatever it is Medicare.

My question: is that enough?

This country has gone so far towards "nuthin for da people,
everything for da rich and da corporate" that if I do end
up sick, in hospital, I'll get a real awakening from my
belief that medicare will takes care of us.


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


I suppose that just like with home insurance, you file a
big claim (wolf blew the house down, or whatever) and
you find out that small print says "no, that's not covered".

And likewise some companies are ~ok, and most horrible.

So, how about a thread on this. I bet that 50% of
us on alt.home.repair will be EXTREMELY interested
in the information shared in the thread.

Anyway, thanks so much!


David





Go to medicare.gov, click on "Compare Health Plans and Medigap Policies
in Your Area". Plunk in
your zip code and they will furnish all you could possibly want in the
way of confusing nonsense.
I used to work in employee benefits, explained complexities of health
ins. and pension plans to all
who came, but haven't a clue what my plan covers. I just grabbed AARP's
most expensive; can't
go wrong, can I? Got an idea for a new TV reality show - round up a
bunch of over-65's, grill them
on details of M'care and supplement ins. coverage ..... whoever
understands wtf it means wins the
big prize (free healthcare for life?) If I come down with a terminal
illness, I'm not going to a freaking
hospital, I'm going on a cruise.

I know someone who just had dental implants, three teeth, for $15K.
Freaking dentist can send
his kid to Harvard on one patient's payment. Hospital bill for birth of
my first baby was $300; the
owner of the hospital (I worked there) would give pay advances when
employees came up short.
Those were the days- inflation was so bad that a gallon of milk got four
price increases sitting
in the cooler at the store. My parents were getting 13% on their cd's.
Now the gummint wants
to pay yer mortgage when ya' overindulge?
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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

clipped

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.


I initially signed up for a Humana plan. My doc was listed as a Humana
provider, but a little bird
told me to confirm that with my doc, so I did. Wrong. My doc was not a
Humana provider. His
insurance secretary gave me the scoop - they quit Humana because it was
impossible to deal with.
Humana didn't return calls, delayed approvals, etc, etc. She told me
they were the most difficult
to deal with.(worse than even BC/BS) She told me the best to deal with,
and I went with one of those )


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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

David Combs wrote:
Why am I posting this here (of all places)?

1: when I get real sick (someday), I might well be in
final bed at home, and sorely needing some repairs.
Maybe even "alternate" type repairs!

2: You guys here are clearly *really* smart (I've been
reading the group for YEARS -- heck, after just
an hour of so it is already pretty obvious).

3: From the amount of time and effort put into your
answers to questions, many, very many of you must
be retired. Thus over 65. Thus dealing with medicare.

4: Where else can I post this and be able to trust the
reply, that it's not from some salesman trolling
the medical newsgroups, and pretending to be unbiased?


OK -- here goes. Last year I hit 65, and am on medicare.

(I'm also in a hole right now -- a DONUT hole! These
company-owned politicians must get a real high out
of dreaming up these ways to screw us, huh?)

Anyway, that's all I have -- the basic part a or b or
whatever it is Medicare.

My question: is that enough?

This country has gone so far towards "nuthin for da people,
everything for da rich and da corporate" that if I do end
up sick, in hospital, I'll get a real awakening from my
belief that medicare will takes care of us.


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


I suppose that just like with home insurance, you file a
big claim (wolf blew the house down, or whatever) and
you find out that small print says "no, that's not covered".

And likewise some companies are ~ok, and most horrible.

So, how about a thread on this. I bet that 50% of
us on alt.home.repair will be EXTREMELY interested
in the information shared in the thread.

Anyway, thanks so much!


You got a doc? If not, you should visit an internist.

When we were younger, we went to the doctor when we got sick. Now we go to
the doctor to KEEP from getting sick! Blood work every year or so, blood
pressure monitoring, look at that funny spot, etc.

Anyway, the folks in the doc's office can give you some good scoop on which
insurance companies they prefer. Their opinion, while not dispositive, is a
powerful vote.

Aside---
Remember, too, that you can pay a professional for their services, but you
can't pay them to care. The best twenty bucks I ever spent was for a giant
Hershey's chocolate heart given to my vet's office with a card signed by all
the two-leggers and four-leggers in our family.

I'm currently working on a project for my physician. Imagine a normal
lighting switch plate. Overlaid on the white switch plate is the
international blue logo for "male" (the one without the skirt). The opening
for the toggle switch is about at groin level on the stylized character. In
the lower right corner is the discrete notation: [VIAGRA (Sildenafil
citrate)].


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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplementalinsurance"?

i have standard life supplement . 1-888-350-1448 . i have plan c .
it covers any dotor/hospital . i have no co pays . it takes up ALL the
slack .150.00 a month .

----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm


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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplementalinsurance"?

I have had the AARP "J" plan since I went on medicare in 1995. They
have always paid every claim. Their rates have risen but I think they
are competitive with other insurers. If your income is low enough
(about double the poverty level) you can get FREE prescriptions from
most drug producers through their prescription assistance programs.
Medicare "D" is a ripoff.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')


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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

In article ,
Norminn wrote:
clipped

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.


I initially signed up for a Humana plan. My doc was listed as a Humana
provider, but a little bird
told me to confirm that with my doc, so I did. Wrong. My doc was not a
Humana provider. His
insurance secretary gave me the scoop - they quit Humana because it was
impossible to deal with.
Humana didn't return calls, delayed approvals, etc, etc. She told me
they were the most difficult
to deal with.(worse than even BC/BS) She told me the best to deal with,
and I went with one of those )


Ok, no Humana. (My father went to them for an operation
about 20 years ago. Even back then it seemed to be like
an manufacturing assembly-line (running at full speed)!)





She told me the best to deal with,
and I went with one of those )


And what were those that she said were OK? (Assuming
a likelihood that if one is good in one state, it'll
be good in another one too...)

Anyway, say what they were, and if anyone violently disagrees,
we'll hear about right here!


THANKS!

David


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Default (*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?

On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:11:25 -0400, (---MIKE---)
wrote:

:I have had the AARP "J" plan since I went on medicare in 1995. They
:have always paid every claim. Their rates have risen but I think they
:are competitive with other insurers. If your income is low enough
about double the poverty level) you can get FREE prescriptions from
:most drug producers through their prescription assistance programs.
:Medicare "D" is a ripoff.

: ---MIKE---
:In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
: (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

I spent all of yesterday reading Medicare and You, publication 10050. It
was supposed to be sent to me at the same time as my MC card but wasn't
I also requested it from live reps at the MC 800 help line. Never came.
I printed it out 3 days ago. That publication is definitely where you
want to start. Then you can read Choosing a Medigap policy.

A month ago I became eligible and I have Original Medicare, parts A and
B. I applied for my former HMO's Medicare system, Kaiser Permanente's
Senior Advantage, but haven't paid them yet and am thinking I should
definitely check out the alternatives before getting on board. There's
PPO's, also PFFS's (private fee for service plans). I have info from one
of each, have an idea about the PFFS but haven't read Blue Cross PPO's
yet. I'll compare coverage and costs. I'm in CA. I believe according to
the 120 pager I just read that SHIP is available everywhere, maybe a
version in each state. I made some calls a few months ago but didn't get
referred to them or any other agency that seemed promising, so I went
into my SS office and took home a little pamphlet. From that I tried to
get the other publications but they never came.

Thing about the HMO (Kaiser) is that you have a primary care physician
and you need referrals to see anybody and they have to be from within
the system. It can get dicey. I know because I've been with them 3-4
years. The PFFS is cheaper. I'm just not sure about the coverage, how
things would play out. Technically, any doctor can refuse to serve you
at any time. They are never under any obligation to do otherwise, unlike
a member of a PPO or HMO. The rep I talked to told me that normally that
shouldn't happen because the PFFS pays the Medicare stipulated rates.
However, as I understand it, no doctor is obliged to accept Medicare
patients.

I'm impressed with the fact that the whole Medicare thing is pretty
damned complicated. So many plan types, gotchas, caveats, exceptions
it's pretty difficult to feel that you have your feet under you. If you
aren't tack sharp, have the publications and the time to pour over them
you are either going to throw your hands up or be overwhelmed. Of
course, if you have a lot of money you can just get a full featured
Medigap policy and not bother worrying about it.

I think that medical care in the USA is very unnecessarily complicated.

Dan
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