Seniors weigh in please.

[rancher hicks]

I'll be 65 soon and would like your advice.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ABOUT MEDICARE PLANS ? What has been your experience with doctors/dentists?

(yes I know the internet is full of information, but I like to go to the horses mouth. If you don't know what that means you may not be a senior.

)

 

[drumstick diva]

Don't know much about (mind gone - "hear" today - "forget" by tomorrow. But, Medicare does NOT cover dental expenses. I do know when my friend enrolled in Medicare, she could not afford part b. When she tried to get it later, the premiums were out of this world. So it's best to get part A & B at the same time if you can possibly afford it.

Have you checked out the Medicare website for info?

 

[rancher hicks]

Don't know much about (mind gone - "hear" today - "forget" by tomorrow. But, Medicare does NOT cover dental expenses. I do know when my friend enrolled in Medicare, she could not afford part b. When she tried to get it later, the premiums were out of this world. So it's best to get part A & B at the same time if you can possibly afford it.

Have you checked out the Medicare website for info?

Not yet.

Folks who have experience can sometimes help us avoid the pitfalls of things. Too, we sometimes misunderstand things considering how somethings are written.

Certainly there are a lot of articles and information out there but talking to those who have experience can save us a lot of time.

Case in point. None of the magazines and books on chicken keeping mention the negative parts of the hobby. Some books are written from the commercial angle.

The magazines don't address the difficulty of winter keeping. Rather they show us this beautiful commercial coop that wouldn't house one large bird safely much less the four in the picture. They show this beautiful neatly clean coop but don't show us the same coop after 30 days covered with poop.

This coop will soon have a mud hole underneath, but don't expect to see a picture of that.

Few of us want to be like a guy I know who ''sifts" through the litter each day, wears gloves to pick up the pieces of poop. He has just three hens at most. Even with all his care he still loses hens to illness. Go figure.

So I thought I'd start here. ( I hate FB and don't use it). I did not know about the dental things. We have dental right now but we're paying through the nose.

 

[donrae]

I'm not a senior, but I've been on Medicare for the last year-ish due to disability. I also have a little experience dealing with it from the other side, I've been a nurse for 25 years.

No vision or dental.

Well, medical type vision things are covered. Like diabetic eye exams, or other medical eye issues. Regular exams and glasses aren't. I think cataracts and surgery are.

Straight Medicare vs a managed care plan......I'm straight Medicare. Working different places, I've seen folks on the managed care plans having to fight to get services authorized, and I didn't want to deal with that. Granted, I guess the managed care plans can save you some money, depending on your health. I just have to see a lot of specialists and have some procedures done, and I didn't want to have to mess with getting approval, etc.

My part B costs about $100 a month. It's deducted from my disability check so I never see it. Works for me.

I do not have a supplement, but am looking into that. Medicare basically covers 80%. If you're pretty healthy, you could probably get by without one. But a few trips to the ED, or a diagnosis that requires a lot of doctor's visits,diagnostic tests, etc, and that 20% starts to add up.

Most doctors take Medicare in this area, but it's my understanding some areas it's really hard to find providers that take it because the reimbursement is so poor. If you're established with a provider, ask them if they take it, and I'd ask what their experience is with your local managed care plans (if any).

If you're not established with a provider now, you might start looking. If you don't have serious ongoing health issues, I'd say look for a Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant. They're mid-level providers that can have their own practice, order labs and diagnostic tests, prescribe meds, and treat most illness/injuries and manage most chronic conditions. They also seem to be more patient centered than a lot of physicians and spend more time getting to know you, and working with you for preventative care with your lifestyle. as opposed to just treating your illness.

Does that help at all?

 

[rancher hicks]

Yes somewhat. What's the difference between "Part A" and "Part B" ?

I have health insurance now but when I turn 65 will automatically be enrolled in Medicare. I think because I am on S.Sec. DW worked in the billing department of a hospital and she says our insurance will drop a lot when I have to move to Medicare.

I do have providers, Primary care and a Dentist. Though I will be switching dentist. My old one retired and I do not like the replacement.

Most insurances only cover 80% as far as I know. I will most likely keep the insurance I have now WITH the Medicare. If we can afford it.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[donrae]

Basically, part A covers inpatient, part B covers outpatient. That's simplified, but the gist of it.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...s.html&usg=AFQjCNGnoDuk8_7ONjQasYdr9mFNcAgpwg

That's a good link. The Medicare website is actually pretty good and easy to understand.

I'm not sure how it works to have Medicare and a regular insurance. When I looked into it, it didn't seem worth it. I would still have to pay the 20%, it's not like the secondary would pick up that amount Medicare didn't pay. Plus, that secondary is expensive, at least for me. Supplements are different, they're what picks up the 20% Medicare does not cover. AARP is a leader in supplement plans, but lots of other places offer them also.

Something else to keep in mind is medications. I'm not at all familiar with part D (that's the part that covers medications) because I have what they so sweetly call "Extra Help" cause I'm poor and disabled. So I can't help with that part, sorry.

 

[rancher hicks]

I had forgotten about the in patient and out patient thing. I recall reading an article about a woman who because she was not "admitted" but still held for "observation" at the hospital learned she wasn't covered for the hospital bill.

I do know when we had two insurances we had a dickens of a time with billing. Often the primary was billed second or vice versa.

I wonder if Medicare will be my primary or secondary. If not billed correctly insurance companies will reject it.

Too the medication situation. Right now we get them filled at the hospital pharmacy. I expect they will know. I'll have to ask the next time I go.

 

[rancher hicks]

Can anyone here tell me about HARP? Home Affordable Refinance Plan?