I am trying to decide beteen 2 inss. from AARP one is Medicare supplement and the other is comprehensive it it

Question

which do you think I should take? The agent said medicare suplament will pay the most.the first ins only pys docs times a year.

Answer 1

Hoo boy, there's a "knowledgeable" agent...

AARP offers all the plans and agents love to bash them because they DON'T PAY COMMISSIONS. And since commissiona re part of premium, guess who winds up paying them? You do!

Medicare HMOs or Medicare Advantage has been around for many years... it's nothing recent. It either has high premiums or high copayments - it's great coverage as long as you don't get sick, when you'll probably pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket for any hospital stay, and $20 or so for each doctor visit. Oh, and the companies that sell them - PAY BIG COMMISSIONS. And the democrats are looking to cut federal payments to fund Medicare Advantage Plans in the next couple of years... meaning the premiums are going WAY UP.

Whatever you choose, make sure you enroll in a Part D drug plan. You can get one either with a Medicare Supplement Plan (separately) or with a Medicare Advantage Plan (call MA-PD). Even a rock-bottom drug plan is much better than nothing.

Answer 2

Go with the Medicare supplement. Anything that Medicare pays on the AARP medicare supplement will pay the balance. HMOs sound good, but never turn out so good in the long run...If you ever need a skilled nursing facility, you will be happy you chose the supplement. Coverage is much better because you can utilize your full Medicare benefit.

Answer 3

I have yet to see the advantage to paying for a supplement if there is an HMO available.
Nowadays, we have the Medicare Advantage plans which are a hybrid between the supp and HMO. There is no premium and it covers everything with only a copay, including Part D drug plan. This plan utilizes the entire medicare-provider network. If the provider accepts medicare, they can accept this plan. They are paid the same and sometimes better.

These plans have just started to cross the country after years of testing with Medicare.

Answer 4

Medicare --and questions about Medicare plans these days--can be confusing! Although supplemental coverage for Medicare is standardized through out the nation, figuring out the best one for you can still be a challenge. Getting the best supplemental coverage and/or a a Medicare Part D plan, for example, depends on several factors, including what kinds of prescription drugs you take, what kind of plan you are willing to accept, and whether the plan you want will pay for the specific prescription drugs you need.

If you want to talk to "real people"--who aren't selling anything, I would highly recommend that you connect with your local Area Agency on Aging. These groups are one of the best kept secrets around for older Americans and their families who are seeking information on Medicare and other kinds of consumer questions. There is one where you live, since this is a national network--and, like I said, they aren't selling anything! The staff there will visit with you and guide you to information you need to answer your question. Since they talk with seniors every day--and answer lots of questions--they will know the "scoop" on the supplemental and Medicare Part D plans available where you live. They will be able to help you compare the pros and the cons of the plans you have identified as options and suggest other information to check out before you "sign on the dotted line."

You can call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find how to contact the Area Agency serving you.

If you do contact your local Area Agency on Aging and like the help that they give you, let your local county officials and your folks in Congress know, too. Area Agencies on Aging don't have big budgets--their funding comes from the Older Americans Act. Your voluntary financial contribution of any amount--which is not required to get the help you need to answer this question--would certainly be appreciated.

Hope this helps! Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 5

If you are enrolled in Medicare parts A and B, I would think the Medicare Supplement plan would be best for you. The standard plan designs are tailored to fill the gaps of Medicare. The biggest gap is in hospitalization. I would make sure that whichever plan you choose, it covers this deductible and coinsurance.

Answer 6

RUN from anything but a medicare supplement. I have seen MANY seniors with a "cheap" medicare health plan that doesn't pay well when they need it. It is worth the extra money to get the supplement. You will pay less over time......

Good luck!

Answer 7

Look at your Medicare and You 2007 booklet. It has the answers you need. Consider a Medicare Advantage company that doesn't charge premiums. Your supplements cost money.