QUESTION: I am losing my group health coverage with General Motors, 1-1-2009, that I have had since I retired. Now I must find a Medicare Supplement and make sure my benefits are as good as what I had. How do I compare these plans, it is so confusing?

ANSWER: We have been contacted by MANY General Motors retirees about this very subject. Keep in mind you will only have 63 days to get your Medicare Supplement with no underwriting on a guarenteed issue basis. EVERY STATE & SUPPLEMENT COMPANY HAS DIFFERENT PRICES FOR EACH PLAN. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE BENEFITS ARE ALL THE SAME ON EACH PLAN NO MATTER WHAT STATE OR COMPANY YOU CHOOSE. THAT IS WHY YOU NEED A COMPARISON OF MEDIGAP PLANS SO YOU CAN FIND THE BEST PRICE IN THE STATE YOU LIVE IN, FROM THE DIFFERENT CARRIERS. Let me run down the best Medicare Supplement plans and what they do and do not cover for you.

Plan J - This is the Cadillac of Medicare Supplement Plans. Some people like to pay for all the bells and whisles even though they may possibly not need them, just to have that extra luxury. Plan J has everything all the other plans have plus the following:

Prevenative Care - This is an extra $120.00 per year for prevenative care such as a physical. However, if you have any health issues your doctor will do all the bloodwork anyway and you will end up getting the equivalent service.

Home Heath Care - This is $40 per day up to $1,600.00 of unskilled care per year, such as bathing, household chores. If you need this type of care you are probably getting skilled care as well and this is covered under other less expensive plans. You can’t get much for $40 a day these days.

Excess Charges - Plan J will cover 100% of any charges over the limit that Medicare allows for your illness that your doctor bills you. This means that if Medicare allows your Doctor to charge you $3,000 to blast away your Kidney Stones, but the Doctor charges you $3,450, this Plan J will pay for it anyway. LEGALLY, YOUR DOCTOR CAN ONLY CHARGE YOU 15% OVER WHAT MEDICARE WILL PAY.

Part B Deductible - There is a $135.00 yearly deductible on a Medicare Supplement. Plan J covers this for you, however, you may be paying more in premium for this $135 than it is worth.

Plan F - Plan F is the Oldsmobile of Medicare Supplements. It covers everything plan J covers except the following:

Home Heath Care - $1,600.00 per year

Preventative Care - $120 per year

Plan G - Plan G is the Chevrolet of Medicare Supplements. It is the most cost effective plan if paying the premium is an issue for you, yet it still has good coverage. Plan G has everything including Home Heath Care except:

Prevenative Care - $120 per year

100% Excess Charge Coverage - This plan does pay for 80% of excess charges. Which will be more than sufficient in most cases. This means that if Medicare allows the Doctor to charge $2,000 to remove your Gallbladder, and the Doctor charges you $2,300 this Plan G would cover it all but $60.

Part B Deductible Coverage - Keep in mind that if you want your plan to pay for the $135 a year deductible you may be paying more in premium than it is worth.

Plan C - is the same as the F plan, but it does not cover ANY EXCESS CHARGES.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT A MEDIGAP PLAN - SELECT WILL LIMIT YOUR CHOICES OF HOSPITALS. IF IT HAS THE WORD SELECT IN THE NAME, YOU MAY NOT WANT IT.

As you can see, there are many things to consider. It all comes down to how much premium you want to pay for coverage you may not need. Some people want it all and don’t mind paying a higher premium per month to get it. All Medicare Supplements pay the 20% of all your doctor and hospital bills that Medicare does not cover with their 80%. You can decide if you want all the extras, or maybe you don’t mind rolling up your own windows or not having heated leather seats. It is up to you!!

At My Part D USA we can consult with you and help you choose the plan that would be best for you based on YOUR NEEDS and DESIRES. We can also help you get your Supplement, no matter what Plan you choose at the lowest prices.

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS should be avoided, unless you cannot pay the monthly premium on Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement/Medigap Plan.

ONE THING TO REMEMBER ON ADVANTAGE PLANS IS DOCTORS SOMETIMES CHARGE THE EXTRA 15% THAT THEY CAN LEGALLY CHARGE PEOPLE ON MEDICARE OVER THE MEDICARE FIXED ALLOWANCE FOR AN ILLNESS. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN DO NOT PAY ANY OF THESE EXCESS CHARGES!!!! THAT IS WHY PEOPLE HAVE MORE OUT OF POCKET COSTS WITH ADVANTAGE PLANS AND DO NOT GET THE COVERAGE THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE GETTING, PLUS THEY STILL HAVE ALL THE CO-PAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES. NOW WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THIS??? THAT COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT YOUR DOCTOR AND HOSPITALS WILL NOT BE CONTRACTED TO TAKE AN ADVANTAGE PLAN’S TERMS OF PAYMENT FROM ONE VISIT TO THE NEXT, IT IS NOT WISE THAT ANYONE WOULD JOIN AN ADVANTAGE PLAN UNLESS THEY COULD NOT AFFORD A MEDIGAP PLAN OR THEY WERE DISABLED AND COULD NOT GET ANY OTHER KIND OF COVERAGE.That is what we recommend and we are standing by this. Keep in mind that you will be approached by many Medicare Advantage Plan salespersons, telling you that their plan is better than Original Medicare, BUT they do not compare against Original Medicare with a Traditional Medicare Supplement. There are many co-pays and hoops to jump through.

THAT IS WHY I CALL THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS THE FORD PINTO OF MEDICARE COVERAGE - - IT JUST MIGHT BLOW UP ON YOU!!

You have worked hard and deserve the BEST COVERAGE!

When you come off your retirement plan you only have 63 days from the end of your group plan to get a Medicare Supplement with NO UNDERWRITING. This is the only time you will have NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED AND A GUARANTEED ENROLLMENT ON THE PLAN OF YOUR CHOICE!

PLEASE CALL US TOLL FREE AS WE WOULD BE HONORED TO ASSIST YOU IN GETTING YOUR MEDIGAP AND PART D DRUG PLAN FOR 2009!!

QUESTION:  I have always had a Group Health and Drug Policy through my retirement plan with my employer.  I have been told that when I join a Medicare Plan I will need to re-enroll and re-evaluate my Medicare Plan each year as I did with my group health.  Is this true?

ANSWER:  No sir, this is not true in most cases.  If you join a Medicare Supplement plan, as I have advised the people who are losing retirement group health benefits, you will not need to ever re-enroll or re-evaluate your Medicare Supplement.  Medicare Supplement benefits never change.  They are regulated by the Centers for Medicare.  They all contain the exact same benefits, no matter if you get a AARP, Bankers Life, Mutual of Omaha, BC/BS etc…They all are the same benefits.  A plan F is a plan F or a plan J is a plan J no matter where you get it or what carrier you choose to enroll with.  The only difference is the price you will pay in your monthly premiums.  So you should MAKE SURE YOU GET A COMPARISON OF SUPPLEMENT PRICES FROM DIFFERENT CARRIERS AND ENROLL WITH AN A-RATED COMPANY.  There are some Medicare Supplement carriers out there that are B-Rated.  Please do not consider these companies.  The only exception of re-evaluating your Medicare Supplement Policy would be to get a lower premium.  That is why you should GET a good rate up front!!! 

YOU CAN NEVER BE CANCELLED FOR HEALTH REASONS ON YOUR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT POLICY.  YOU ARE GUARANTEED COVERAGE FOR LIFE WITH NO RE-ENROLLMENT TO WORRY ABOUT EACH YEAR!  THE ONLY WAY TO LOSE YOUR POLICY IS FOR NON-PAYMENT OR YOU WISH TO CANCEL YOUR POLICY!

I can understand why you would be confused since you had to re-evaluate your group policy each year.  The group health companies change their benefits and prices each year, so you should have had the opportunity to re-evaluate them each year and make changes.

If you choose to join a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN, going against all my best advice, these can and do change.  You can jump from one MAPD to the next.  They may be hoping that you do, because each year they would get a brand spanking new commission every time you changed.  If a Medicare Advantage Plan is not making money in a certain area, they can decide to cancel coverage there.  I have seen that many times.  They do have lower premium rates than Medicare Supplements, but folks, remember that you get what you pay for, especially in this case.

The only part of your Medicare coverage you will need to look into each year is your Part D drug plan.  These plans DO CHANGE EVERY YEAR.  You will need to get a comparison each year to make sure the plan you are on still covers every one of your prescriptions and at the lowest co-pays and premiums.  Don’t let this upset you, because we have them online every year and you can get this in 5 minutes or you can go to Medicare.gov and get one there as well.

QUESTION:  I have been told that a Medicare Advantage Plan does not ask any health questions, but a Medicare Supplement does ask health questions.  Why is this and wouldn’t it be easier to get a Medicare Advantage plan since they do not ask questions?

ANSWER:  The only questions Medicare Advantage Plans ask about is end stage renal disease, they do not take people with kidney failure.  That is why these plans are good for people on disability or for people who can absolutely NOT afford the premium on a Medicare Supplement Policy.  It is a risky plan.  There are just too many variables involved, such as your doctor can accept a Medicare Advantage Plan at one appointment and refuse it at your next appointment.  They have no set network of doctors or hospitals that quarantee you THEY WILL accept their terms of payment.  You see, Medicare does not pay your doctors and hospitals on a Medicare Advantage Plan.  The actual Insurance Company does it.  That is why many doctors and hospitals will not take the risk of NOT GETTING PAID BY THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.  SO, LADIES AND GENTELMAN, I ASK YOU…….WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THAT RISK?????

With a Medicare Supplement Plan you have a 63 day guaranteed enrollment with NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED AND NO PRE-EXISTING EXCLUSIONS.  That is why we tell you to get one NOW.  After your 63 days you will go through underwriting and may get turned down for health reasons. 

So to answer your question, if you take my advice and go ahead and get a Medicare Supplement now, it is JUST AS EASY to get the best coverage. 

I’d like to say “Thank YOU”, to everyone who has written in to me the last week or so with all the kind and thoughtful words of appreciation for the BLOG.  It means so much to me that you have found the information helpful. 

My Part D USA’s main objective is to be a useful resource for helping you make good decisions regarding your Part D drug plans and health coverage during this confusing time of decision making. 

Medicare has become more confusing the last few years and I get letters everyday from people telling me how hard it is to know the best thing for them.  We are not in competition with anyone else that you may talk to about Medicare.  Our #1 goal is to equip you with he most comprehensive information we have available from our many years of service to Medicare benficiaries, and tell you things that you may not hear from other salespeople. 

I have found that you can be honest and work for the people and still make a living in this dog eat dog economy.  So many companies try to be successful doing what is best for them, instead of what is best for others.  I don’t understand that mind set.  To me it seems so much easier to just do the “right thing”. 

No matter who you choose to work with to get your drug plan and health coverage, please take the advice on the BLOG to heart.  We wish everyone involved with Medicare enrollments the very best, it is not to our advantage to downgrade anyone.  I just wanted to pose questions that you should ask and then it is up to you to evaluate what you consider best for you!!  Now you know what questions to ask and what to look for, no matter where you go or who you talk with for your enrollment needs. 

Questions to ask your healthcare rep:

1.  Can you give me a Part D Plan comparison of plans based on my individual prescriptions and show me the actual  co-pays and premiums of each plan to save the most money?  There are at least 50 plans in each state, all with different co-pays for each drug. 

2.  Do you have a comparison of Medicare Supplement prices for several companies in my State?  Remember all the benefits will be the same, don’t get sold on a company name.

3.  What is the comparison between a Medicare Advantage Plan against staying on Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement and a Stand Alone Part D Plan?  Remember, if they tell you that a Medicare Advantage Plan is better than Original Medicare, that is not the comparison you need!!  If you are considering joining a Medicare Advantage Plan, remember that you may not be able to get anything else after your 63 days of open enrollment without going through underwriting and possibly getting turned down for health reasons.

4.  If you are talking to me about joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with a built in Part D drug plan, can you give me a comparison of the stand alone plans to make sure the MAPD’s plan will save me the most money and cover my drugs?, or can I get a Medicare Advantage plan and still have my choice of Part D drug plans?  Remember, if you really want a Medicare Advantage plan, even after all my warnings, you need to get one that does NOT have a built in Part D plan, so at least you can save the most on your drugs.

You need Two Different Policies:

1.  Lowest Price Med Sup Policy

2.  Part D drug plan that covers meds at lowest prices

Again, I thank you for reading the blog.  Just let me know if you need a copy of the Walmart list for $4 generics. 

I wanted to go over several things we discussed at the meeting in Ohio last Wednesday.  We also wanted to thank Tony Landers, Pat Moylan and Rosie Janus for inviting us to visit with you.  Also, a thank you must go to Paul Hansen, HR Director for 42 years at the Lordstown Plant, for putting us in touch with such a great group of Retirees.

The first speaker was a local pharmacist, Zen Forosty.  I was more than thrilled when I heard him talk about the very drug savings tips I have been writing about all year.  It means so much when a professional person gives such good advice and I’m sure people will have much more confidance in hearing it from him than from little ‘ole me. 

Here is the LIST OF TOP 10 TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR HEALTHCARE AND DRUG SAVINGS.

1.  Not all Part D plans are the same.  There are over 50 plans in each state. 

2.  A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL approach is very dangerous. 

3.  You must choose your drug plan based on your individual needs and the actual drug names that you use.  If you take a generic, look up the generic name.

4.  You must do a comparison of the drug plans based on the drugs you take.  You can do your own pencil work or we can help you do this during the AEP, beginning Nov. 15 - Dec. 31st.

5.  Beginning January 1, 2009, buy as many of your drugs OFF THE PART D PLAN as possible.  Over 400 drugs are listed on Wal-Marts generic drug list for $4 for a 30 day supply.  You can also go to other large retailers if you don’t like Wal-Mart.  I WILL EMAIL YOU THIS LIST IF YOU WRITE ME WITH A REQUEST.  This tip will keep you OUT of the “DREADED DONUT HOLE” longer in 2009.  Please read my other blogs with details of how to do this!

6.  When your doctor prescribes a new medication for you, as him for samples FIRST, or as a very helpful lady at the meeting told me, get a 5 or 10 day supply.  The reason for this is, you may not be able to take the new med because of the side effects or it may simply not work for you.  Every prescription you purchase goes TOWARD YOUR FALLING INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE”.  So don’t get a full prescription until you know you will be taking this medication.  Please read my other blogs about drug savings tips.

7.  Make SURE YOU GET A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT FIRST, before you choose a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.

8.  You have what is called a 63 day Guarantee Issue Period in which to choose a Medicare Supplement with NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED, and NO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS EXCLUDED.

9.  Remember a Plan F is a Plan F, a Plan J is a Plan J, no matter which insurance company you choose.  All these Medicare Supplement Plans are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and contain the exact SAME BENEFITS!  The only difference is the price you will pay for your premium, and folks there is no sense in paying more than you absolutely must pay to these insurance companies!

10.  If you get a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN first, you will FORFEIT your right to get a Medicare Supplement with no underwriting!  In order to have a 12 month FREE-LOOK period, you must first have had a Medicare Supplement policy before joining a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Ladies & Gentleman, some of you may think you want to try out a Medicare Advantage Plan.  That is fine and good and your right to choose whatever plan is best for you.  HOWEVER, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO GET A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT FIRST, SO IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN, YOU STILL RETAIN YOUR RIGHT TO GET BACK ON YOUR SUPPLEMENT WITH NO UNDERWRITING.   You could be turned down for health reasons if you join a MAD first.  Don’t let this happen to you and your family.  The Medicare Advantage Plans will not and do not tell you about this VERY IMPORTANT CHOICE TO HELP YOU MAKE THE BEST DECISION.  As I said before, you may ask yourself, why WILL THEY NOT TELL US?……IT MAY BE BECAUSE THEY GET PAID MORE.  The commissions on these MA Plan’s are at least double than if they helped you get a Med Sup first. 

I have been very concerned that GM Retirees will join plans that may be harmful for them because of the aggressive marketing of the Medicare Advantage Plans.  We have tried to get in touch with as many Retirees as possible, but of course we don’t have any way to do that and just rely on them coming to the website.

It truly is a sad day in our country when this kind of marketing is allowed, just like the crash of the housing markets, the Medicare system is going to fail if it does not get more regulations to make sure our Greatest Generation such as you GM Retirees do not have to be confused about the best coverage for you and your families!!!  I could go on and on, but will get off my soap box now.   

 A HUGE Thank You goes out to all the great General Motors Retirees we met in Niles, Youngstown, and Lordstown, Ohio.  We had a really good meeting there.  The first person to speak was a local pharmacist who talked about how important it is to get a Part D drug comparison.  He also mentioned about buying your generics OFF your drug plan at Wal-Mart or another large retailer’s $4 list so you don’t go into the “dreaded donut hole” as quickly in 2009. 

The main thing we tried to get across was:

DO NOT JOIN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN FIRST!!!!

If you think you may want to try a Medicare Advantage Plan, join a Medicare Supplement first.  That way you will be buying yourself a “12 month security of choice guarentee”.  Medicare states that if you get off a Medicare Supplement to join a Medicare Advantage Plan and decide you don’t like the Medicare Advantage Plan FOR ANY REASON, YOU HAVE 12 MONTHS TO GET BACK ON YOUR SUPPLEMENT WITH NO UNDERWRITING OR HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED.  If you join a MAP first you may be STUCK WITH IT, because you will have to go through underwriting and you will have no guarantee of coverage.

The Medicare Advantage Plans DO NOT TELL YOU THIS!!!!

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

You may ask yourself why some insurance agents are recommending Medicare Advantage Plans?  The commission earned on a Medicare Advantage Plan is more than double what they would get if they recommended a Medicare Supplement and a Stand Alone Part D Drug Plan, which is what the GM retirees really need!!!!  Many other agencies say that Medicare Advantage Plans are better than Original Medicare….BUT, they DO NOT compare Medicare Advantage Plans against Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement and a Stand Alone Drug Plan!!!!  Read my other blogs on this topic.

We have been working with GM Retirees all over the country and we have had some great meetings.  They are so glad that someone out there is providing the best information available so they can make the best decision about their healthcare.  We thank you for all the kind words and appreciate the opportunity to assist you all with such a very important aspect of your retirement. 

If we didn’t answer all your questions in the meeting, please write to me and I will find an answer for you ASAP!!  IT WAS AN HONOR TO MEET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

QUESTION:  I am retired from American Airlines and they are cancelling our retirement health drug plan and I know the health coverage will soon follow.  I have been wondering what to do about choosing between a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN or a MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT.  Could you please help me?

ANSWER:  I would be happy to explain the differences between these two choices you have for your health coverage with Medicare.  I will begin my answer with the Medicare Advantage Plans:

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

IMPORTANT WARNING:   IF YOU JOIN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN FIRST, INSTEAD OF A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT, DURING YOUR 63 DAYS OF OPEN ENROLLMENT, YOU MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO GET A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT, YOU WILL FORFIT YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE A CHOICE, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH  THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.  AFTER YOUR 63 DAYS OF GUARENTEED ISSUE OPPORTUNITY ON THE PLAN OF YOUR CHOICE, YOU WILL GO THROUGH THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR PLAN, AND YOU MAY BE TURNED DOWN FOR HEALTH REASONS.  OUR ADVICE IS TO ENROLL IN A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT FIRST, THEN IF YOU WANT TO TRY A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN YOU CAN DO SO, WITHOUT RISKING YOUR OPTIONS TO CHANGE.  YOU CAN ONLY USE THE FOLLOWING 12 MONTH PERIOD IF YOU HAVE BEEN ON A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT FIRST!! If you have joined a Medicare Advantage Plan and are not happy with it for “any reason”, you have 12 months to get back on Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement policy with NO UNDERWRITING, no health questions.  You cannot be turned down for coverage within that 12 month period PROVIDED YOU LEFT A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT TO JOIN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.   This is the ruling from the Centers for Medicare. 

The Medicare Advantage Plans do not tell you this!! 

Medicare Advantage Plans do not travel well.  You have many hoops to jump through to see a specialist and your doctor can choose not to take this coverage at any time he chooses.  You may have trouble finding a doctor that will take a Medicare Advantage Plans form of payment, because Medicare does not make the payment for your services.  You are not really using your Medicare benefits, because the insurance company is paying your bills.

Also, they usually have a built in drug plan with formularies that are inferior.

Please read my other blogs about Medicare Advantage Plans by clicking on that catagory on the left side of this page!!!

Medicare Supplements or Medigap Coverage

By choosing a Medicare Supplement policy combined with a Stand Alone Part D Drug Plan, you get the most comprehensive coverage and maintain your choice in drug plans.  As you know, Medicare pays 80% of your doctor and hospital coverage.  You need the Supplement to pay the other 20%.  The only out of pocket costs you will have is your monthly premium.  You can go to any doctor or hospital all over the USA, see any specialist at any time you wish, and there are no “extra hoops” to jump through.  All you need to do is get a comparison of prices for supplements.  A Plan F is a Plan F, no matter what company you choose as all these benefits are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and are exactly the same!  The only difference is one company will charge you a higher premium than another one will.  There is no need to pay a higher price for your coverage!! 

Then you will need a comparison of all the drug plans available to you based on your individual medications!  That way you will always have the best drug plan, saving you the most on co-pays and premiums. 

If after you read all the other blogs I have written about MAPD plans and Medicare Sups, and you still have a questions about your specific situation, please call my toll free number and I would be most happy to talk with you!

This time of year your mailbox is probably full of materials from Medicare Advantage Plans. Most of the drug companies that offer MA’s will be advertising for you to switch from your Traditional Supplelment to a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Please be so careful because you may not be able to totally believe everything the salesperson tells you. They will tell you that Medicare Advantage Plans are as good or better than Original Medicare. Well, that statement can be quite deceiving. They do NOT COMPARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS AGAINST A TRADITIONAL SUPPLEMENT!!!

Medicare pays 80% of your doctor and hospital costs. Your Traditional Medicare Supplement pays the other 20%. With a Medicare Advantage Plan you actually are not using your Medicare benefits, but all your bills go through the Advantage Plan company. It may sound better because the premiums are lower, but you may have co-pays for many things. There are many more hoops to jump through to see a specialist, and they just don’t cover every illness as comprehensively as a Traditional Supplement does.

One of the biggest problems people are having is that their doctor that they have seen for years will NOT accept the terms of payment from the MA company. We always tell people, especially if they have an ongoing illness, DO NOT SWITCH TO A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.

These are the reasons to consider a Medicare Advantage Plan:

*If you are on disability and can NOT get any other coverage

*If you are in excellent health and want to risk staying in excellent health

REMEMBER: IF YOU JOIN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN AND DO NOT LIKE IT, FOR ANY REASON, YOU HAVE 12 MONTHS TO GET BACK ON A TRADITIONAL SUPPLEMENT WITH NO UNDERWRITING. IF YOU WAIT AFTER THE 12 MONTHS, YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER HEALTH QUESTIONS, AND YOU MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED BACK ON A TRADITIONAL SUPPLEMENT.

So, readers, please all this this in mind, when you hear the very attractive sales pitch of the Medicare Advantage Plan salesperson.

I am NOT against Medicare Advantage Plans. We recommend them to some people everyday. YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE COVERAGE FOR YOU AND GET THE FACTS!!!

If you have any questions, just call me, Karyn Blake, toll free at 866-752-1795.

If you would like a Senior Consultant to call you to discuss your options, call us or go to the website and fill out a worksheet at:

www.MyPartDusa.com

In addition to changing your drug plan from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31st you can also change your health plans.

Americans with Medicare can choose to receive their health benefits through Traditional Medicare, the program that allows you to see any doctor anywhere in the USA. 4 out of 5 people choose to use Traditional Medicare benefits.

Another option is the Medicare Advantage Plans or Private Fee For Service Plans. These are managed care plans where rules and restrictions apply.

Some MAP’s have built in Part D Drug Plans and others do not. You should compare the drug plan associated with the MAP to make sure you will save the most money. If you find that the Drug Plan is not the best, you can choose a Medicare Advantage Plan that allows you to have a stand alone drug plan. This means that you can choose which ever Drug Plan will be best for you.

Ask Yourself These Important Questions BEFORE you join a Medicare Advantage Plan:

1. Will I be able to use MY doctors?

If you choose Traditional Medicare, you will need a Medigap policy or Medicare Supplement to pay the 20% that Medicare does not pay. Traditional Medicare covers 80% of your doctor and hospital costs. You may already have this type of coverage through your retirement plan or your spouse’s employment. You will also need a stand-alone drug plan. There are up to 40 plans available in each state. That is why it is imperative that you get a comparison of these plans to make sure every drug you take is on the drug plan formulary and that you are getting the very best prices.

www.MyPartDusa.com can help you sort out all these decisions and help you enroll in the plan of your choice.