Sorry, another question -- Anyone have Medigap Policy?

[JudyJB]

Sorry to keep asking so many questions, but I don't know where else to go. I'll try to pay you all back someday.

This retiring is NOT easy!! I have been spending literally hours online sorting through tons of informational garbage. I finally got my Medicare Part B enrollment done, and now I need a Medigap policy. I originally thought I could get a Medicare Advantage plan, but since those mostly cover local things and I will be on the road and moving, have decided these are not right for me.

I looked up all the Medigap policies available in my area, and I am stumped. Most are companies I have never heard of. (Constitution Life, Continental General Insurance, Medico, etc.) The two I recognized, State Farm and Humana, were expensive and wanted a detailed medical questionnaire filled out and would not guarantee me acceptance. Another choice was AARP, and mostly I do not like that organization--don't know why, maybe due to their sending me so much stuff over the years and the concern that it is political and/or too commercial??? (Really, however, all these companies are commercial, so why am I so concerned?) AARP is reasonably priced and insures through United Healthcare Insurance.

Does anyone have a medigap policy, and are you happy with it? Any recommendations? I am really stressing out with all these things. (Also need to hire movers, find a rental moving van, etc.)

[Sandersmr]

Mom (and Daddy when he was alive) have AARP. It really was easy to work with when Daddy went through all his cancer and stroke stuff and with Mom's cancer. I didn't like AARP's politics with the health care reform but I have to admit they do have some perks.

[BirdbyBird]

my 90 yr old step mother has the United Health Care through AARP.... It works well for her.

[Acadianmom]

Is Medigap the same thing as the medicare supplement policy? My DH has a medicare supplement policy with Blue Cross and mine is with Physicians Mutual. We haven't had any problems with either one but have never tried to use them out of our area. You also need a Prescription Drug plan. If you don't sign up for them when you are eligible they penalize you. There was some confusion changing my DH from my group policy to medicare and he has to pay $1.90 more per month for the drug policy because we were a month late. He has used the Blue Cross a lot. I'm pretty healthy so I haven't used mine much. I think some of the policies have the supplement and the drug together. I doubt that they are any cheaper but one less bill.

Martha

[etexlady]

I assume you have read everything on Medicare.gov? There are several different kinds of medigap or supplemental policies and they all have their pros/cons. You might check the following link to learn what policies are available in your zip code and go from there.

http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/que ... eSupport=1

[snowball]

when my husband retired we looked into using the gap insurance but it was going to cost booko bucks for us to have it so went with out
a few years ago we got the supplemental insurance from AARP we have both RX coverage and medical it has been such a life saver I hope haven't gotten
the rest of the bills after it goes through medicare goes to the supplemental insurance...so we are hoping that it covers lots...I still don't have supplemental insurance but like you feel that I'm healthy....one day I will take time to call and sign up for it
sheila

[pattyk]

I have United Healthcare thru AARP. It is great. We chose to have the best policy when my husband was on it. I didn't have to pay a penny out of pocket thru all his surgeries, oxygen and home health care. I decided I would go with the same plan. The only thing I have to pay for is a small amount for RX's.

[jthistle]

Hi Judy,

I have a colleague that sells Medigap insurance. I met with her recently to "talk biz" and she was telling me stories of multiple people that she was able to save a ton of money for. They offer a huge number of options so you can make the plan exactly what you need and stay within your budget. Would you mind telling me where you live and I can get a contact number close to you? The agents will travel to you as well.

Jessica

[JudyJB]

Thanks, Jessica, but I finally signed up for AARP's plan today.

I will give them a try and then change next year if I am unhappy. Getting information was very frustrating, made even worse by the two people on the phone who insisted that they could not answer questions until they went through their entire spiel of making sure I understood Medicare Part A and B!!

[jthistle]

Hi Judy,

Okay. From what I understand, Medicare is extremely complicated. Over the phone is probably hard for them. The company I would have referred you to comes and sits with you face to face. If you decide you aren't happy with the plan, feel free to message me for the information later.

Jessica