Supplemental Policies for Medicare

I have a question, for you folks on SSD like me what are using or plan on buying as a supplemental policy to your Medicare coverage?

I am going to be buying one for myself and one for my husband who will be 65 next month. Our secondary coverage thru his employer ends when he turns 65, including our script card. They will help pay for his supplemental policy a little according to this letter from his employer. Nothing is paid towards my policy. I called AARP who offers different types of plans thru United Healthcare and it is recognized by Medicare and approved.  Supposedly, the employer has something worked out with this company as well, I hope it is a discount. From what I am told because he is 65 he can pick from 12 different plans and I am stuck with one plan, and one plan only. This really burns me, I feel discriminated against, because (1) I am disabled and (2) I am not 65).  The plan for him is great, it pays all of Medicare's deductibles and the other 20% Medicare does not pay. The one for me does not pay the deductibles and the hospital co-pays which is $1,100. I believe this may be per admission. I have to double check this.

Just so you guys know Medicare increased their deductibles this year, drs visits is $155 and the hospital is now $1,100. That little increase in our pay this year does even cover the increase in the deductibles, once again we lose. What a joke.

After speaking with this lady at AARP, I was not aware that Texas is the only state that Medicare allows a person to buy an independant supplemental policy. The policy has to be Medicare approved. I was shocked when she told me this. I asked her what in the world do folks do that live in the other states? She said most go thru high risk pools or some have Cobra for a time. That is just not right.

So my question to those of you that do not live in Tx what are you doing for a supplemental plan? This is just scarey business if you ask me. We are already in the poor house and there is no way I can get by without a supplemtal policy to pick up some of the medical expenses. If I was healthy I would not need any of this, if I was healthy I would be working and one happy person too. GGGGGRRRR just something else for us to have jack with. My mood is in the toilet for the day. I started my day with the dry heaves and trash can in my hand.

I've considered changing my Medicare to one of the HMO's but I like the freedom of choice, although, I'm finding alot of Dr.s are no longer taking Medicare due to the continued reductions in payments to M.D.'s.

I also haven't signed for Medicare D at this point my meds are still affordable....at age 65 according to what I was told by Medicare I will have a chance to sign for Medicare D without paying the fine (or whatever they call it)  for not signing now.

My true feeling is if Dr's and Ins Companies would go back to the way it was years and years ago....let insurances cover Hospital stays and charges, emergency procedures and xrays and stay out of regular office visits......Dr.s go back to $22 office visits which people could afford to pay and Dr's WERE making nice livings.....and Insurance premiums were affordable as well.....oh...hold on...somebody pinch me I think I just landed in OZ.  Sorry couldn't resist!!

XXOO
Patti

PALady,

Off topic again....$22 visit was 1980 to be exact....seems when Insurances started providing coverage for Office Care everything went up including Malpractice insurance which caused OV to go up and so on and so on.  

Sorry Straydog for going off the topic

XXOO
Patti