Turning 65 & Need Help With Medicare Choices.

[Buffalo]

I'm turning 65 in April & have to decide what to do about Medicare choices. At this time, I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Arizona (expensive, even with a $7500 deductable but, a good deal when I started with them) & they are sending me info. regularly.



I understand there are quite a few good choices available but, have no idea what choice to make. I'm just starting to investigate options & thought I'd ask, here, for advice. Any thoughts from those of you that have "blazed the trail", before me would be appreciated.



Thank you. Do i need to register as a "fossil" now?



Joe F.

 

[jgillott]

I am not a Medicare expert, but I did help my parents with their medicare choices. Right now, they are using "Freedom Blue" as their enrollment selection. It is one that has a $0 net premium increase over standard medicare and a $1500 annual deductable. Basically, it is supposed to cover 100% of most medical expenses over the deductable. There are some items that are covered at an 80/20 ratio, but I can't quote you exactly what those are without having the information in front of me.



Anyway, my mother suffered a major stroke last fall that ended up with her having a month long hospital stay, several procedures, in-patient rehab, life flight ride, several ambulance trips etc. All in all, they ended up paying the $1500 deductable to this point. There are several bills, for the life flight for example, that were only covered 80/20. But, I believe that was applied to that deductable. I hope they never need it again, but it seemed to work as described and without surprises.

 

[SRath]

The future fate and stupifyingly convoluted contents of ObamapelosireidCare would make such decisions even more difficult. I have never given it much thought, but I would be utterly lost in the woods in your shoes.

 

[DJW]

Buffalo, I once read in Consumers Report a list of health providers and details of them, the real test is when you need to use them, plus if there is any precondition health problems, many are for profit, with shareholders who need returns on their investment, plus CEOs getting handsome returns. Try for a non profit if there are any in your area. Its a real minefield out there, regardless who they are they have to make a profit to survive, the amount of profit often has little to with service. I belong to Kaiser HMO, in Northern California, some do not care for it, however I've been in it for 40 years and am very satisfied, also the wife and sons when they were at home. In Consumers Report it rate about second or third from the top in patient satisfaction in the whole country. Aside from seeing you Doctor you can do it at home, e-mail questions to you Doctor, make appointments, re-fill prescriptions and have a one hundred days supply of prescriptions mailed to your home etc. Hope you will find one to your satisfaction.