What are your 2020 Medicare choices for Open Enrollment from October 15th to December 7th, 2019?

[RaySharpton]

What are your 2020 Medicare choices for Open Enrollment from October 15th to December 7th, 2019?

May I ask what Provider you may choose and why it is best for your situation?

I am already enrolled in Medicare for 2019, but I need to make choices every year since the prices change so much from year to year. Especially for Part D Prescription if not included with certain plans. And this year I would like to add Dental if available to me.

I live in Atlanta, Georgia, retired, living alone with no family.

As I get older and alone, I worried more about everything with no family. I especially worry about healthcare and being able to be covered if for whatever reason?

I decided to research for a Medicare Medigap Plan F.

I know that I will be paying the maximum price, but I feel like this is for me. I know the monthly payments will be higher and I know that I could use Medicare Advantage for much less if not $0.00 per month for Part B Premium. But this is where I am right now.

I presently have the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Medigap Plan F without Prescription Plan D which I had to use a separate company which was cheaper, and without Denatal and Vision.

And I am researching and gathering information about other Providers like Cigna and Mutual of Omaha and Aetna among others that are available to my zip code.

May I ask what Provider you may choose and why it is best for your situation?

Especially for Prescription, dental and or vision plans that are included or separate plans?

This link is the official Medicare.gov.

www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans

This is a good link that I use for research at eHealth Medicare Plans.

www.ehealthmedicareplans.com

I also like the eHealth Medicare Plans FAQ.

https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq/

Why Doesn’t Medicare Cover Dental Care, Hearing Aids, and Eyeglasses?

https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq/why-doesnt-medicare-cover-dental-care-hearing-aids-eyeglasses/

Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, doesn’t cover everything. Routine dental care, hearing aids, and eyeglasses are statutorily excluded from Medicare coverage. It would take an act of Congress to include routine dental services, hearing aids, and eyeglasses in Medicare program coverage.

Medicare coverage of dental care
Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental care, such as oral exams, cleanings, fillings, bridges, or crowns. However, there are a few situations where you may be covered for dental services:

• Dental services may be covered if they are an essential part of another Medicare-covered procedure. For example, if you hurt your jaw in an accident, Medicare may cover jaw reconstruction if it is medically necessary to treat your injury.
• Medicare may cover extraction of teeth to prepare the jaw for radiation treatment for jaw-related neoplastic diseases.
• Medicare may cover dental examinations prior to a complicated procedure (such as a kidney or heart transplant) that requires an oral exam. You’ll be covered under Medicare Part A or Part B, depending on whether the oral exam is performed in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Some Medicare Advantage plans may include benefits beyond what Original Medicare covers, including routine dental services. Medicare Advantage plans vary in terms of the benefits covered, so check with the specific plan if you’re interested in dental coverage.

Medicare coverage of hearing aids
Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids or exams to get fitted for them. You’ll pay 100% of the cost if you have Original Medicare, Part A and Part B.

You may be able to get coverage for hearing care (including hearing aids) through a Medicare Advantage plan. Since benefits vary, check with the individual Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare coverage of eyeglasses
Medicare doesn’t typically cover eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, Medicare Part B may cover corrective lenses after you have cataract surgery to implant an intraocular lens. You’ll be covered for either one set of glasses or contact lenses following your surgery if you get these items from a supplier that is enrolled with the Medicare program. If you upgrade your frames, you’ll pay any extra costs.

In most other situations, you’ll pay the full cost for eyeglasses and contact lenses. You may be able to get coverage for routine vision services (including glasses or contact lenses) through a Medicare Advantage plan.

What Is SilverSneakers™? Does Medicare Cover This Program?

https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq/what-is-silversneakers/

SilverSneakers is a program encouraging older adults to participate in physical activities that will help them to maintain greater control of their health. It sponsors activities and social events designed to keep seniors healthy while encouraging social interaction.

The program is available around the country, and membership provides access to any participating gym location–including all amenities included with basic level access. Each location is outfitted with an advisor who will introduce you to the program and help get you started. SilverSneakers also includes an invitation to sponsored health education seminars and other fitness-related events.

Medicare Advantage plans may cover SilverSneakers
SilverSneakers is considered a basic fitness service and Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, does not cover this benefit. However, Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, may provide this benefit. To see if your current Medicare Advantage plan includes the SilverSneakers program, contact your health plan directly, or visit the SilverSneakers online health plan finder to check.

If you are looking to enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan with SilverSneakers coverage, take a look at our eHealthMedicare plan comparison tool on this page. The tool lets you review a list of Medicare Advantage plans available in your service area and explore your Medicare plan options.

Is Transportation to My Doctor Included in My Medicare Plan?

https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq/is-transportation-to-the-doctor-included-in-my-medicare-plan/

Medicare generally does not cover transportation to get routine health care. However, it may cover non-emergency ambulance transportation to and from a health-care provider if you need to have a health condition diagnosed or treated and other forms of transportation could endanger your health. Your doctor must provide a written order verifying that ambulance transportation is medically necessary because of your health condition.

If you use an ambulance company based in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or South Carolina, you may be affected by prior authorization rules if you need non-emergency, scheduled, medically necessary ambulance services 1) three or more times over a 10-day period or 2) at least once a week for three or more weeks. To find out if these rules affect you, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY users, dial 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For beneficiaries who do not qualify for non-emergency ambulance transportation, there may be transportation services available in their immediate area through local organizations. For instance, your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) may be able to help you find transportation to and from your health-care provider. To locate a State and/or Area Agency on Aging, you can use the SUA/AAA Finder on the organization’s website.

If you are eligible for Medicaid or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), these organizations may also provide transportation for routine medical care. Visit www.Medicaid.gov or www.Pace4you.org for more information.

Is Medicare Part D Optional?

https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq/is-medicare-part-d-optional/
Whether you qualify for Medicare by turning 65 years of age, through disability or by having a condition like Lou Gehrig’s disease, you may have the option to enroll into Medicare Part A and/or Part B. You also need to be an American citizen or permanent legal resident of at least five continuous years to qualify for Medicare.

Depending on your work history and how you qualify, you may be automatically enrolled or need to manually enroll. But one thing people often wonder about is how they obtain Medicare Part D, which is prescription drug coverage and doesn’t automatically come with Original Medicare.

Medicare Part D benefits are available from either a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, which combines Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) benefits with prescription drug coverage. Both types of plans are administered by private insurance companies, and specific benefits and prices vary depending on the service area you live in.

Is Medicare Part D optional?
You’re not required to enroll into a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. However, if you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 or more days in a row after you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty if you enroll into a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan later.

Read below to find out more about what kinds of coverage can help you avoid this penalty, when you can enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, and other information regarding the late-enrollment penalty.

What is creditable prescription drug coverage?
If you have health insurance in addition to Medicare, this might include creditable drug coverage. The plan must tell you each year whether or not the prescription drug coverage is creditable, meaning it covers at least as much, on average, as Medicare’s standard prescription drug coverage does. Some common examples of creditable coverage include (but are not limited to) health insurance from:

• Employer group coverage or union plans
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• TRICARE
• Indian Health Service (IHS)

You can continue to use this prescription drug coverage alongside your Medicare benefits without penalty, as long as it’s creditable.

When can you enroll in Medicare Part D?
To enroll into a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, you need to have either Medicare Part A or Part B, and you have to live in the service area of the plan you choose. If you’re eligible for Medicare because of age, your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period for Part D usually takes place at the same time as your Initial Enrollment Period for Part B, starting three months before your 65th birthday, including your birthday month, and ending three months later. If you qualify for Medicare through disability, you’ll get a subsequent Initial Enrollment Period for Part D when you turn 65 years of age.

The Medicare Part D late-enrollment penalty may apply if you enroll any time after your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D and go without creditable prescription drug coverage for more than 63 days in a row. If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part D when you’re first eligible, your next opportunity will be during the Annual Election Period that occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year. During this time, you can enroll into a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan if you have Original Medicare or get drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. You can also use this period to switch plans or disenroll from your plan.

During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP), you may be able to make certain coverage changes. The OEP runs from January 1-March 31 each year.

• You can generally switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, regardless of whether the plans include prescription drug benefits.
• You can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.
• You can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan if you drop your Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan during the OEP.
• However, you can’t switch from one stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to another during this time.
• You cannot generally enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time during this period.
• You also cannot disenroll from a Medical Savings Account plan during the Medicare Advantage OEP.

Outside of these periods, you can’t make changes to your Medicare Part D coverage unless you qualify for a Special Election Period. Certain situations allow you to make changes outside of the regular periods and may include, but isn’t limited to, moving out of your plan’s service area, losing Medicaid eligibility, or moving into a nursing home.

What is the Medicare Part D late-enrollment penalty?
If you’ve gone 63 consecutive days without creditable prescription drug coverage, either because you didn’t enroll when you were first eligible or because you lost your creditable coverage and didn’t get new coverage in time, then you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty when you do enroll into Medicare Part D.

The Medicare Part D late-enrollment penalty is added to the premium of the Part D Prescription Drug Plan you enroll into. Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan determines this penalty by first calculating the number of uncovered months you were eligible for Medicare Part D, but didn’t enroll under Part D or have creditable coverage. Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan will then ask you if you had creditable prescription drug coverage during this time. If you didn’t have creditable drug coverage for 63 or more days in a row after you were first eligible, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan must report the number of uncovered months to Medicare.

For example, let’s say you disenrolled from your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan effective February 28, 2019, and then decided to enroll into another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan during the Annual Election Period, with an effective date of January 1, 2020. This means you didn’t have creditable drug coverage from March 2019 through December 2019, which adds up to 10 uncovered months.

Currently, the late-enrollment penalty is calculated by multiplying 1% of the “national base beneficiary premium” ($33.19 in 2019) times the number of full, uncovered months that you were eligible but didn’t join a Medicare drug plan and went without other creditable prescription drug coverage. This number is then rounded to the nearest $.10 and added to your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan monthly premium cost. The “national base beneficiary premium” may increase each year, so the total of your late-enrollment penalty can also increase each year.

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[debknight]

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T039-C001-S001-two-medigap-plans-to-be-phased-out.html
I don't believe you can get dental & vision coverage unless you choose an Advantage plan -- and those are HMOs.

 

[RaySharpton]

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T039-C001-S001-two-medigap-plans-to-be-phased-out.html
I don't believe you can get dental & vision coverage unless you choose an Advantage plan -- and those are HMOs.

Hi, debknight. Thank you for the link.

Thank goodness I still have Plan F that can be continued to next year.

BCBSGA does offer an extra for dental and vision. I might get this just for cleanings and x-rays.

But I will have to get an outside Prescription plan like I do now.

Does anyone use any other Providers that they like besides Anthem?

 

[georgina]

DH just turned 65 this year. He has regular Medicare parts A & B, and an AARP supplement through United Health Care (I think G?) It was similar to F except he pays the part B deductible. His Part D drug plan was thru Aetna, which has sold it off to someone else and the price is going up quite a bit, so he needs to look at the options there. He hasn't had much of a chance to use the supplement so far. I know he would like to find an outside dental plan also, but hasn't done much research into them yet.

 

[RaySharpton]

DH just turned 65 this year. He has regular Medicare parts A & B, and an AARP supplement through United Health Care (I think G?) It was similar to F except he pays the part B deductible. His Part D drug plan was thru Aetna, which has sold it off to someone else and the price is going up quite a bit, so he needs to look at the options there. He hasn't had much of a chance to use the supplement so far. I know he would like to find an outside dental plan also, but hasn't done much research into them yet.

Hi, georgina. I had a similar situation when I first applied for Medicare. I signed up for Medicare Advantage with $0.00 monthly charges. Then as I had more things happen to me I decided for Medigap without dental. I thought would just pay out of pocket for dental cleanings. I changed my mind this year.

I will research the cheapest Part D Prescription Plan this year since I didn't break even last year and paid more in premium payment than the actual retail cost of the prescriptions.

But I learned last year when I chose Medigap, I was required to have a Part D Prescription by Medicare.

Thank you for responding.

 

[snappy]

My husband and I have a plan G with Mutual of Omaha for our Medicare supplement. The premiums were the second to lowest with us both insured among the 10 or so plans the independent agent presented to us in August 2017 when my husband retired. I checked closely to see whether the annual premiums for plan G plus the annual deductible combined were less than the annual premiums for plan F and they were. I checked specifically in our state for the plans that had the most insureds for that provider and that plan. It took a lot of research. I wanted to be comfortable because in our state you have to go through underwriting to change providers or plans. We are working on the part D drug coverage now for 2020. My husband updated his drugs in his online Medicare account and compared total cost of coverage based on 90 day mail order. The cheapest total cost for him is to stay with his current Aetna plan which is now called Wellcare. He found the Medicare website very glitchy yesterday, better this morning. I need to go through the same process.

My sister and I just did the same thing today for our elderly mom’s part D. She is covered through AON. One of her 3 meds is expensive and will no longer be covered by her current Express Scripts plan. For 2020 we picked a United health care plan that will cover the expensive med and that has about the same monthly premium with the same cost sharing percentage whether you use a preferred pharmacy or not. She has medicine management services at the retirement facility she lives and the nurses order the meds from a non preferred pharmacy.

This stuff is tricky.

 

[RaySharpton]

My husband and I have a plan G with Mutual of Omaha for our Medicare supplement. The premiums were the second to lowest with us both insured among the 10 or so plans the independent agent presented to us in August 2017 when my husband retired. I checked closely to see whether the annual premiums for plan G plus the annual deductible combined were less than the annual premiums for plan F and they were. I checked specifically in our state for the plans that had the most insureds for that provider and that plan. It took a lot of research. I wanted to be comfortable because in our state you have to go through underwriting to change providers or plans. We are working on the part D drug coverage now for 2020. My husband updated his drugs in his online Medicare account and compared total cost of coverage based on 90 day mail order. The cheapest total cost for him is to stay with his current Aetna plan which is now called Wellcare. He found the Medicare website very glitchy yesterday, better this morning. I need to go through the same process.

My sister and I just did the same thing today for our elderly mom’s part D. She is covered through AON. One of her 3 meds is expensive and will no longer be covered by her current Express Scripts plan. For 2020 we picked a United health care plan that will cover the expensive med and that has about the same monthly premium the same sharing percentage whether you use a preferred pharmacy or not. She has medicine management services at the retirement facility she lives at the nurses order the meds from a non preferred pharmacy.

This stuff is tricky.

Hi, snappy. Thank you for your experiences.

I think that I am finding the same thing in my research.

I didn't know about Aetna becoming WellCare.

I need to check that out.

I also need to find out if the Medigap offers discounts for transportation from home and back for medical/physician visits.

I see a few TV ads about this.

I use a wheelchair and for the most part, I can use the Atlanta MARTA bus/rail services for transportation.

I wish I could live in WDW and use the bus/boat/monorail/gondola to visit medical facilities if they had any. WDW really spoils me with transportation...ha...ha!

And it is tricky.

Someone should invent a TurboTax type software this.

 

[snappy]

My husband had to use both his Medicare and supplemental coverage big time this year. Diagnostic tests and procedures at upwards of $180,000 were covered except for the Medicare deductible of $187. We would have been out thousands under the Blue Cross Blue Shield family medical insurance plan through his employer. We lucked out I guess. Didn’t seem like it when we were going through it.

 

[snappy]

I don’t know the answer to your question about transportation. Since the medicare supplement (medigap) plans are the same across providers, if one provider covers it they all should. It might also depend on which plan, F, G, M, etc.

Good luck finding the right plan.

I don’t like it that the Part D providers can change tiers of meds during the year after they notify you. It’s hard to predict and plan for health care variables as it is without the providers changing stuff DURING the year.

Do you find a wide variance in retail prices between pharmacies?

 

[snappy]

Hi, snappy. Thank you for your experiences.

I think that I am finding the same thing in my research.

I didn't know about Aetna becoming WellCare.

I need to check that out.

I also need to find out if the Medigap offers discounts for transportation from home and back for medical/physician visits.

I see a few TV ads about this.

I use a wheelchair and for the most part, I can use the Atlanta MARTA bus/rail services for transportation.

I wish I could live in WDW and use the bus/boat/monorail/gondola to visit medical facilities if they had any. WDW really spoils me with transportation...ha...ha!

And it is tricky.

Someone should invent a TurboTax type software this.

I wonder if the ads about transportation are various Advantage plans? We shied away from Advantage plans.

Medical costs and insurance premiums are going up up up. Lots of consolidations. It’s hard to know if the company you choose won’t just close out a particular company to new insureds and start a new group under another name. Premiuns for the old company go up as the population of insureds age and claim history increases. From my research all the companies do it. It infuriates me.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, snappy. Thank you for all of your experiences. I don't really have anyone to talk to about this and maybe our comments might help others in the same situation for themselves or family members or spouses.

My husband had to use both his Medicare and supplemental coverage big time this year. Diagnostic tests and procedures at upwards of $180,000 were covered except for the Medicare deductible of $187. We would have been out thousands under the Blue Cross Blue Shield family medical insurance plan through his employer. We lucked out I guess. Didn’t seem like it when we were going through it.

Wow! That is exactly what I was worried about! I'm glad you were covered. I hope that I plan enough and that I make the right decisions for myself to avoid huge gaps in coverage.

I don’t know the answer to your question about transportation. Since the medicare supplement (Medigap) plans are the same across providers, if one provider covers it they all should. It might also depend on which plan, F, G, M, etc.

I didn't realize that. Thank you.

Good luck finding the right plan.

Thank you.

I don’t like it that the Part D providers can change tiers of meds during the year after they notify you. It’s hard to predict and plan for health care variables as it is without the providers changing stuff DURING the year.

Me either and I completely agree with you.

Do you find a wide variance in retail prices between pharmacies?

Yes, I do and it is so frustrating.

I wonder if the ads about transportation are various Advantage plans? We shied away from Advantage plans.

Medical costs and insurance premiums are going up up up. Lots of consolidations. It’s hard to know if the company you choose won’t just close out a particular company to new insureds and start a new group under another name. Premiums for the old company go up as the population of insureds age and claim history increases. From my research all the companies do it. It infuriates me.

Me, too!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hi, snappy. Thank you for all of your experiences. I don't really have anyone to talk to about this

Try contacting the Senior Center in your or a nearby city. They typically offer this exact help.

 

[RaySharpton]

Try contacting the Senior Center in your or a nearby city. They typically offer this exact help.

Hi, kaytieeldr. I keep meaning to call our Georgia S.H.I.P. office, but I keep forgetting to do it during the weekday hours since I am usually a night owl from used to working 12-hour nightshifts for so many decades...ha...ha.

 

[lanejudy]

Ray, in addition to a senior center, you might also check with your local library. Both organizations may have someone who comes in to help folks figure this stuff out.

DH has "original Medicare" but is dual-covered with the family coverage through my employer. He initially had a Medicare Advantage plan last year, but it turned out the family plan covered better than expected so he switched to the "original" coverage for this calendar year. Most of his deductible and copays from the family coverage get picked up by Medicare, which sums to more than the cost of his premiums so we come out ahead.

Good luck with your research!

 

[snappy]

Don’t underestimate the value of an independent agent. I sought a referral from a friend who is a state lobbyist. She found a great agent when researching options for her mom. She was invaluable in getting quotes and helping us execute the paperwork. No fees were charged. Much better to find an independent one rather than talk to one who represents only one insurance provider.

I also spoke to someone in our state department of Insurance. She provided the booklet from Ship book which listed all the providers in the state with the plans offered and the premiums.

 

[RaySharpton]

Ray, in addition to a senior center, you might also check with your local library. Both organizations may have someone who comes in to help folks figure this stuff out.

DH has "original Medicare" but is dual-covered with the family coverage through my employer. He initially had a Medicare Advantage plan last year, but it turned out the family plan covered better than expected so he switched to the "original" coverage for this calendar year. Most of his deductible and copays from the family coverage get picked up by Medicare, which sums to more than the cost of his premiums so we come out ahead.

Good luck with your research!

Thank you, lanejudy. That is what happened to my prescription plan.

Don’t underestimate the value of an independent agent. I sought a referral from a friend who is a state lobbyist. She found a great agent when researching options for her mom. She was invaluable in getting quotes and helping us execute the paperwork. No fees were charged. Much better to find an independent one rather than talk to one who represents only one insurance provider.

I also spoke to someone in our state department of Insurance. She provided the booklet from Ship book which listed all the providers in the state with the plans offered and the premiums.

Thank you, snappy.

 

[maxaroni]

No help for you, but I do find this incredibly confusing. DH is on original Medicare, Aetna as the supplement and Mutual of Omaha as part D. I am not quite there yet. For the 2018 calendar year he had part D which was good for the meds he was taking but then got put on a med that was in a different tier. The cost per month was $1800 as it was in the higher tier. Luckily, the doctor gave samples to help us through . For this calendar year, he changed his part D but that brought it to $400 per month. We are looking into going even higher of a tier that if the monthly payment for part D is higher, if that will offset the cost of the drug.

We have an independent agent, no cost to us.

 

[georgina]

It is a lot of work to wade through all the options! DH's former employer had a service which helped us go through them all when he started in June, plus they give him $125 a month toward the supplement. So the only thing we are really looking at to possibly change is the Part D plans. He is on some basic blood pressure and cholesterol meds. My sister who is on a cancer drug has found quite a difference among who covers it best.

We found the same thing as snappy, the supplement G was less expensive than F for him.

 

[RaySharpton]

It is a lot of work to wade through all the options! DH's former employer had a service which helped us go through them all when he started in June, plus they give him $125 a month toward the supplement. So the only thing we are really looking at to possibly change is the Part D plans. He is on some basic blood pressure and cholesterol meds. My sister who is on a cancer drug has found quite a difference among who covers it best.

We found the same thing as snappy, the supplement G was less expensive than F for him.

Hi, georgina. Thank you for your experiences. It is a lot of work for me, too.

My Part D plans will stay the same with
EnvisionRxPlus (PDP)
Plan D
$14.20-Total monthly premium
$435.00-Drug plan deductible

I could pay more at another provider for $24.00 with a $300.00 deductible, but my prescriptions for now never exceed the deductible either provider.

I choose Plan F because I was worried about emergency room and hospital visits when traveling by myself. Those costs really added up for me in the past.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hey, Ray, good to see you.

Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan G provides the same benefits as Plan F except the Part B annual deductible is not paid with Plan G. However, Plan G annual premium, along with you paying out of pocket for the Part B deductible, should always be less than the annual premium for a Plan F.

Medigap plan (A, B, C, F, G, etc) benefits are the same from one insurance carrier to another. So, as example, a plan C with United Health Care will have identical benefits to a plan C with Blue Cross. A plan G with United Health Care will have identical benefits to a plan G with Blue Cross. And so on. The only differences will be the premiums (typically small differences from company to company, it is competitive) and the actual level of satisfaction in service you get from the companies.

Part D is a whole other bag. And not a good bag, more confusing than the Medigap above. Benefits vary widely from company to company, as do premiums. And the companies most often change the benefits of coverage, tiers and premiums year to year. The suggestion is to use the Part D section of the Medicare.gov website every year at this open enrollment time and enter your personal information, along with the medicines that you currently are taking and also anticipated new medicines you are confident you will take next year, if any. The website will then calculate all the companies in your area, their plans and total costs, including premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and donut holes and rank them, least to most costly. Half the companies you probably won't be familiar with, but all should be fine for the coming year. There will be wide variances. The individual components, premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and donut holes, will be broken out, but most important is the total cost column. This crazy exercise should be done every year.

Hope this helps a bit, Ray, and not too confusing.


(not to be taken as financial advice)