Any using Medicare Advantage?

[SarcasticDave94]

I'm about to switch to an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan to gain dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Anyone have experiences to share; good, bad, or ugly?

I almost had a plan finalized Monday, but I don't have the Medicare and Medicaid combo, technically that is. Medicaid pays my Medicare B premiums, but I don't have Medicaid coverage. It's Big Gov, so of course it's complicated.

The Advantage plan will very likely be Medicaid paid as current FWIW.

[Deborah K.]

Hi Dave,

Yes, my husband and I just went on a United HealthCare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan as of July 1.  (He just retired on June 1.)  So far I am thrilled with it.  I have called them with questions numerous times, and have been able to very quickly talk to really nice ladies every time so far.  I have never encountered more pleasant, well-informed, and helpful phone workers.  It was one of them who told me that yes, we could definitely get free replacement pap machines due to the recall. She then put me on a three-way call with herself and a person from my DME, and we got it all set up then and there.  Resmed AirSense 10 Autoset machines are on order for both my husband and myself as a result.  They will send us the For Her versions if they get them in stock at the same time, or the regular version if those come in alone and first.

In our case, due to a former employer, not even his most recent one, the insurance is actually better than what we paid about the same for while he was working.  We now have zero copays on every medical appointment, hospital stay, urgent care, ambulance, etc., etc., and very reasonable copays for prescriptions.  We haven't used the dental yet, but it pays 10% more than our prior dental insurance.

I can't speak to Medicaid and how that works.  But I am VERY impressed with United HealthCare.

I hope something works out as well for you!

[Crimson Nape]

I had Cigna Healthspring until I turned 70. It was a great plan but, as I am growing older and a hospital stay chance increases, I don't want to be hit with the possibility of up to a $5000 bill for each stay. I have since dropped back to standard Medicare with secondaries for the copay and drugs.

[SarcasticDave94]

OK copy, thanks. I had United Healthcare prior as my Medicaid insurance, so I might want to check them out. Right now I get Medicare A, B, D via Medicaid paying premiums. Just looking for best choice in getting dental, vision, hearing would be a nice bonus.

FWIW I get Medicare because of the Disability entry. Otherwise a 52 year old wouldn't be less than sedentary as I am.

[OpalRose]

My husband and I are with Humana Medicare Advantage PPO.  So far, it's been decent.  We buy through the Bakers & Teamsters Local Union that he belonged to while working.  

Annual deductible is $200.00 per year.  We also have dental and eye care.  If we use Humana mail-in  Pharmacy, we pay between $6 - $15 per script.  There are some exceptions. Any type medical supply is at 20% cost to us.

Our coverage is far better now than when we both worked.  My husband had full coverage, but in order to keep his wife (me) insured, he had to pay $600.00 a month.  I worked full time, but had no insurance coverage.

As you can see, Medicare coverage can be very different from one plan to another.  You just have to do research and choose what works best for you.

[SarcasticDave94]

Thanks yep there's coverage all over the place for various dollars. Clear as mud of course.

[OpalRose]

Of course, always clear as mud!

[Crimson Nape]

I forgot to add that depending on the county you live in, Medicate Advantage plans can differ or even not be available. I had to wait a year after I became eligible, because the plan I wanted was only offered in adjacent counties and not mine.

[StratCat48]

Up until a few years ago I had a BCBS Advantage plan, but switched to a BCBS Supplement plan (MEDEX2) which works better for me costwise and for selection health providers. The dentist I've gone to for many years didn't accept the BCBS Advantage insurance coverage and I wasn't going to switch dentists. I wasn't using many of the 'extras' provided by the Advantage plan. If you have a dentist or other health providers that you want to stick with make sure they accept whatever plan you are considering

[Deborah K.]

As you can see, Medicare coverage can be very different from one plan to another.  You just have to do research and choose what works best for you.

Yep.  In our case, we have maybe the best coverage United HealthCare offers thanks to his having worked for Valero as one of the prior owners of the refinery.  The retirement insurance offered by Suncor, the present owner, is not nearly as good and costs more.  I thank God for the plan we now have.