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#1
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(*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 |
#2
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(*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?
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#3
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(*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. |
#4
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(*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? |
#5
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(*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 ) |
#6
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(*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)]. |
#7
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(*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 |
#8
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(*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') |
#9
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(*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 |
#10
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(*somewhat* OT): medica where to get "supplemental insurance"?
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