Health coverage provider while traveling

[Unclematt]

I will be signing up for Medicare next month part A and B. What do you people use for a supplemental that will cover you while traveling. My first big trip is The Great Loop starting in May 2022. AARP pushes United, I now have blue cross with high deductibles. I have a call into my companies Blue Cross provider to get their options. All advice and opinions are welcome.

 

[DavidM]

It is important to get a plan that has coverage in all states. As a result a Medicare Advantage plan probably won't work.

I have the AARP UHC Supplemental Plan G ($200 deductible) and a low cost Humana (their value plan I think) prescription drug plan. After the $200 deductible which I most always meet each year I pay nothing for Medicare Part A and B. My Humana coverage typically costs $12 for three months of generic cholesterol, hypertension, and heartburn medication.

This plan lets you see any Dr that accepts Medicare without a referral including specialists.

I think that the UHC premium is about $200/mo and the Humana premium is about $20/mo. You do have to pay a separate Medicare premium, maybe $250/mo.

David

 

[BandB]

From the experiences of friends and family, I recommend the AARP/United Plan F or G Supplement.

One warning. At initial sign up time do not just compare prices among carriers and choose the cheapest because the plan is the same regardless. The cheapest may be a plan or carrier with very little business or a unique pricing strategy. That carrier can increase disproportionately. AARP's Supplement will increase annually but the volume of participants is so high that the increases are reasonable.

You may hear that you can change plans during the annual enrollment. On supplements, that is a limited right. The insurer you want to switch to has the right of declining you. So, you may well find yourself locked into a plan that has out of control increases.

I knew someone on disability and they picked the only carrier offering Plan F in their state to those under 65 and on disability. It was something like $150. Before they turned 65, it had risen to well over $650 because the plan had such adverse selection by insured persons, only those with high costs. They tried to switch but were turned down. Fortunately at 65, they became newly eligible and AARP then took them. This is a seldom discussed topic but think of your selection of supplement plans as a lifetime selection when deciding. Choose a carrier with a lot of Medigap customers in your state.

I strongly discourage Medicare Advantage. Even with the best, you may face a limitation on doctors and hospitals available to you. The worst situation I knew was a patient who needed a lung transplant. Lung transplants require you to live close to the hospital so you can get there immediately if a lung becomes available. Also it requires you to live near for six months or so after the transplant and to have a caregiver with your there. Their plan only had three hospitals in the country for lung transplants. One in FL, one in MN, one in AZ. They lived in NC near one of the best transplant centers in the country. Fortunately, they survived until enrollment time and moved to traditional medicare and a supplement. They received their transplant 10 miles from home. It's not enough to check your existing doctors to see if they are on a plan. You have no idea what the future holds.

 

[hmason]

I have AARP plan F. I’m told they no longer offer that plan but I’m grandfathered.

 

[BandB]

I have AARP plan F. I’m told they no longer offer that plan but I’m grandfathered.

G and G2 have essentially replaced F plus a lot of newer plans. Plans C and F and F High Deductible were all discontinued for new enrollees by Medicare. They were the only plans that covered your Part B deductible. G is identical to F in every other way.

Now, AARP/United has unique pricing in that they've priced the plan and then discount based on age. So the price doesn't change, the amount of discount does. A technicality that is to your benefit.

Plans are priced three ways. They may be community priced, the same prices for all, although discounts may be given based on age. They may be priced based on age at time of purchase. They may be priced based on your attained age.

 

[DavidM]

I had the original F zero deductible plan for a half dozen years. But then I discovered that the lower premium for the G plan pays the G's deductible, at least for UHC. No brainer to switch to G.

F is no longer available for new enrollees. G is better anyway with a small deductible that is lower than the premium difference.

David

 

[Unclematt]

I did not know there was a part G. I have only seen literature with A B C & D. Time to dig deeper. Thanks for the eye opener.

 

[alormaria]

Check if you are covered in Canada if you intend to do their canals too.

 

[BandB]

I did not know there was a part G. I have only seen literature with A B C & D. Time to dig deeper. Thanks for the eye opener.

There isn't a part G. Among Medicare Supplements, there are many different plans and one of those is Plan G. Just parts A B C D and Medicare Supplements to cover what parts A and B don't.