You don't want an Advantage Plan unless you intend to sit in your rocking chair in the old folks home for the rest of your life, which I don't think applies to any of us. An Advantage Plan requires you to use a group of hospitals and doctors, etc. although you do get some extra benefits.
For Part C, which is the supplement that pays for stuff the original Medicare does not pay, I have had AARP's United Health Care's Plan F for the past four-and-a-half years and have not paid a penny of deductible!! Not for doctor's visits or surgery or anything. And in that time, I have had a lithotripsy for kidney stones, two hand surgeries, and just recently rang up $25,000 worth of various tests and a needle biopsy for a suspicious thing on my breast. (It was negative.) Anyway, I chose the most expensive plan because I tend to have medical issues and knew it would be worth it for me.
The best thing is I don't need to get approvals for specialists or pre-approval for anything. I had the kidney stone lithotripsy and two hand surgeries in California and just called a doctor and made an appointment--no referrals needed and no runarounds. The recent slew of tests and procedures were in Michigan. I've also stopped at a bunch of urgent care facilities across several states and had no problems getting it accepted. They also have a nurses line you can call to get advice. Anyway, I pay $192/month for this.
I am not sure, but I think I pay about $57 per month for the prescription Part D. When I first got it, I thought I had to use their mail order plan, which was not true, so now I just get stuff filled at Walgreens. I have copays and have a lot of prescriptions, maybe 12-13, but have never reached that donut hole they talk about.
One last thing, some of the plans pay for medical care in Canada if you plan to travel there.
The good news is once you get through this first filing, the rest will be easy. It took me hours and hours to figure this all out the first time. And Sheila, you really should get some supplement plan. It can only take one thing, like a fall or surgery or serious illness, to really cost you. 20% of that $25,000 I recently spent would be $5,000!! When I had pancreatitis 8 years ago, my hospital bill alone was $120,000 for 11 days in the hospital. 20% of that would have been $24,000.
And for me, the REALLY expensive stuff will probably happen in a few years.
