United Health Care has a very useful chart that explains the nuances of each Medicare Supplement Plan the applies to all insurance carriers not just UHC.
goo.gl/wrH5Ah(edit - Using Google's URL shortener, that long link that did not work can be shortened)
It does not matter which insurance carrier you go through. a Plan F is a Plan F everywhere and ditto for Plan N is a Plan N, etc. The differences are premiums which vary by zip code, tobacco user or not, etc. and also the reputation and level of claims customer service that varies from company to company.
I found it useful to go to my medical providers and ask the admin staff which companies they preferred to deal with.
For those of us with high Gleason scores, I think it is a no brainer to go with a Plan F or a Plan N that pays all copays and all deductibles in exchange for a relatively slightly higher monthly premium to fix our costs. It's only a matter of time before we end up with a very expensive treatment procedure or drug.
You do have to separately enroll in a Plan D Drug coverage, not necessarily with the same insurance carrier as your Medicare Supplement Plan, and Medicare has a useful site to help you decide
www.medicare.gov/part-d/ but you can save some time by going directly to
/www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspxSo Medicare Advantage which is extensibly free or very inexpensive depending on your zip code, gets expensive real quickly when you have to pay 20% every trime you file a claim.
The year you turn 65, you will be deluged with calls from every insurance company and you become eligible on the first day of the month you turn 65, not your birthday unless of course you were born on first day of the month. Above 65, Medicare enrollment is about
this time of year.
I assume the same timing applies to those who became Medicare eligible due to disability rather than age.
Anyway, not pushing UHC per se, just sharing their useful chart that works exactly the same for Humana etc.
LupronJim