Health

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I currently have a Medicare part B supplemental plan and a Part D drug plan. Can I drop the Plan D for 2025 and then re-enroll for a plan D for 2026? 

My AARP/United Health Care Plan F Premium went up by a whopping 10%.This plan is listed as a "Community Rated" plan, which I understand to mean that the premium's rate is the same  regardles of age attained.  The plan has provided good coverage, with not problems with any claim, but I am uncertain of how well informed the customer service agents are.  One agent who was nice enough, told me that the increase had come about because I am a year older.  This contradicts the information about this plan that appears on a Medicare page listing Companies offering Medigap plans, where AARP/United Health Care appears listed.  (Medicare.gov, navigate from Home to View All Medigap Policies-Medigap Policy Details-Companies Offering Medigap Policy). Then she transferred me to a different department.    The second agent, not as nice, told me that the change in rate happened becasue my state no longer received a "multiple member" discount.  Then s

Can I live in Canada and see Provider on US soil and use my Medicare benefits? What if I receive my mail in the US?

Great Resource if you want to understand it and why it is the way it is -Before any suggestions on how to change it - learning how it works now may open some incite into where and how it can be changed to improve or change it. Overall, the question is would you pay more for what you may want? KFF.org - 05/28/2024. - MEDICARE 101  From the linkFuture Outlook Copy link to Future Outlook Looking to the future, Medicare faces a number of challenges from the perspective of beneficiaries, health care providers and private plans, and the federal budget. These include:How best to address the fiscal challenges arising from an aging population and increasing health care costs through spending reductions and/or revenue increases.Whether and how to improve coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, including an out-of-pocket limit in traditional Medicare, enhanced financial support for lower-income beneficiaries, and additional benefits, such as dental and vision.

*** 1 comment so far on the AARP WEBSITE. Stop by to read comments and add yours. *** FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! 5 Medications That Interact With the Flu Shot. Some drugs can make the influenza vaccine less effective. By Terry Ann Donner, AARP. Published November 13, 2024. Imagine showing up for a pain injection and your pain management physician cancels your appointment because you just received the flu vaccine. John Meyerhoffer, an 85-year-old retired police officer, has debilitating knee pain. He receives steroid injections every three to four months to manage his pain. https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2024/flu-shot-medication-interaction.html

: Does this impact getting established with Physicians? Does this make it difficult to get established with a Physician?Does changing your Medicare Advantage Plan have an impact on getting established with a Physician?

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I have been enrolled in the AARP UHC Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) for the last 4 years and have been reasonably satisfied with it. But this year, I am considering a Supplemental plan instead (probably Plan G). As you all probably know, MAPs come bundled with dental, hearing, and vision insurance of some sort, but with a Supplement, you pretty much have to cobble this all together on your own. The AARP UHC Supplemental Plan G + Wellness, however, comes bundled with dental insurance, some vision coverage, and a gym membership. The premiums are a bit higher than the regular Plan G, but it might be worth it. I don't know yet.Anyway, the sticky point is the dental insurance. I have an excellent dentist and I want to get dental insurance that has my dentist in-network. At one point, I thought I read that UHC dental insurance was through Delta Dental. I may be wrong about that. My dentist's web site says they accept many different insurance companies including Delta Dental and

*** 10 Comments so far on the AARP WEBSITE. Stop by to read comments and add yours. *** FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Annual deductibles for Part A and B are also set to rise in the new year. By Rachel Nania, AARP. Published November 11, 2024. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B — the part of Medicare that covers doctor’s visits, routine cancer screenings, home health care and other outpatient services — will be $185 for 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Nov. 8. This is an increase of $10.30 from 2024 and is similar to the nearly $10 monthly premium hike seen in 2024, from 2023. Part B beneficiaries with annual individual incomes greater than $106,000 will pay more than the standard premium, though how much more depends on their income. CMS says income-related monthly adjustments affect roughly 8 percent of people with Part B insurance. https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2024/m

  Has anyone explored Medicare Supplement Insurance that offers an annual MEDICARE premium reimbursement?   I actually have Aetna Health Insurance that has a Health Fund and Dental Fund accounts.  The insurance deposits $1000.00 in Health Fund and $300.00 in Dental Fund annually. The Health Fund has a maximum cap of $5000,00 in the fund account so Aetna doesn't have to make that $1000,00 deposit.   You have to use Health Fund for expenses before the actual insurance pays.  I don't have much in annual medical expenses so I file a claim for MEDICARE Premium reimbursement every year.  I deposit that payment in my own savings account to offset the annual insurance deductible that is still required after I exhaust the Health Fund Account.   I do this so Aetna has to make the deposit annually.  You do need to monitor these Health Fund and Dental Fund account balances but it's worth it.. 

Today, 10/23/24, I used the Wellcare website to change my PCP.  First, they needlessly assaulted me with a requirement to change my password.  That's half an hour of my life that I will never get back. For your amusement, what's wrong with this picture?:There's talk in the News about how difficult it is to cancel subscriptions. After all, all a service provider has to do is move bits at the speed of light. The above time delay is going to cause me a lot of trouble because I have an appointment with my new PCP tomorrow.  What else should I expect from a company that provides a fake phone number? I wonder how many senile senior citizens actually call that number?  There are so many ways to abuse senior citizens with declining mental faculties and health care organizations take advantage of them! 

*** 1 Comment so far on the AARP WEBSITE. Stop by to read comments and add yours. *** FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! 3 Latest Medical Breakthroughs to Know About in 2024. A closer look at recent and potential approvals that could help older adults. By Rachel Nania, AARP. Published November 08, 2024. Research continues to revolutionize the way doctors and patients diagnose and treat a range of health conditions. Here’s a look at some of the latest medical advances and how they could help improve the lives of adults 50-plus. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2024/medical-breakthroughs-in-2024.html

I am curious as to how much will be taken out of the 2.5% increase with the Medicare premium jumping to $ 185.00.  With two Seniors living mostly on SS since Our retirement got wiped out in 2008, during the crash, like many others.  Can someone explain how this is calculated and works ?  Thanks.

EDIT: I'm adding in the "star" rating from the Medicare.gov website for each plan listed below.  Not sure if the ratings reflect this year or the previous year, but they are calculated based on customer service, member complaints, member experience with the plan, drug safety, accuracy of pricing. ***********************************************************************I have traditional Medicare (a supplement plus a Part D plan). I currently take 2 cheap drugs for hypertension.  For 2025, the cheapest Medicare Part D plan available in my neck of the woods (Missouri) is Wellcare Value Script (PDP). Plan ID: S4802-152-0  .  Does anyone have any experience with this plan? If so, please advise of your experience. Thank you. I've posted all the plans available to me below. Besides the one I mentioned above, do you think any of these other plans are worth considering, even though they are more expensive? I understand that as one gets older, costs are going to

Just started water aerobics and it's working wonders for strength and balance 

Anyone know why UHC has dropped this plan in 2025?  I just got established with my doctors on this plan & I am really angry that I will most likely have to find new doctors. What UHC plan is similar to this that will be offered in 2025?thank you.  

 Both me and my wife are taking Victoza injection for type 2 diabetes treatment. Victoza was covered by Part D plans in my area (zip code 27526) since 2020 when we first enrolled in Medicare. Now when we are shopping for Part D plans for 2025, none of the 19 Prescription Drug plans cover Victoza? This is due to Biden's bill which limits the maximum drug cost to $2,000 in 2025. In order to keep the cost down all the insurance companies will stop covering name brand drugs for diabetes treatment. Premiums will go up more than inflation for Part D as well to cover the $2,000 cap.AARP should have advocated to make sure that insurance companies cover all the drugs they were covering during 2024 for 2025 and onwards. Want to know anyone else in similar situation as we are and what they are doing about drugs not covered during 2025 Part D plans.

  I am thinking of changing current UHC Medigap Plan G to another Insurer company for Plan D or G.  Wondering what is involved - is it only questions about health.  Thank you.

Do all companies provide Renew Active with Plan G Medigap Insurance?

  Many of the residents at the last nursing/rehab facility that I attended (marking my sixth month recovery from intestinal surgeries) had strange habits. One woman spoke gibberish to her imaginary friends while she obsessively stroked every hair of her beloved, bedraggled dog-eared teddy bear. Another woman devoted much of her time methodically embracing two stuffed animals from The Lion King, Simba and Kiara. She didn’t talk to them. Instead, she groomed them with precise strokes.I, on the other hand, was proud to have more constructive things to do: checking a few news websites, following the baseball playoffs, watching thrillers on Netflix, and reading historical romance novels.But last week I had an epiphany.  At one point in my stay at Queen’s hospital, I was blessed with two stuffed animals; one represented courage and the other, gratitude. Occasionally I latched onto them with the fervor displayed by the two women who doted on their stuffed animals. I am not asha

 TO: AARP Bulletin Editor Member Services For a number of years, correct as years, I have contacted AARP Senior Management regarding the extreme high cost of Long Term Care Insurance. Request was their direct evolvement in providing lobbying to secure financial assistance to those that are self-funding the Long Term Care Insurance. The TransAmeruca LTC policy in CT monthly premium cost is:  $905.67 The requested financial assistance would be State and Federal US Income tax and/or credits based upon the LTC premium cost. The policy owners have adopted the personal responsibility to fund a portion of their LTC health care rather than having Government taxes fully support with Medicare or Medicaid. To date, I never received any type of reply from the AARP Senior Executives or anyone else in the AARP organization. Your assistance is requested to raising the visibility of the extreme cost ( monthly premium of $905.67 ) of Long Tern Care Insurance and securing G

All: I was just reading the Oct 2024 AARP Bulletin Article pgs 24-25: What you'll pay out of pocket on Medicare by Brandy Bauer. In 2 of the 4 scenarios, with Original Medicare your out of pocket expenses are less than if you have Original Medicare plus part D plus Medicare Supplement. This does not make sense that you would pay less out of pocket if you have the 2 extra coverages. Please explain.

Lots of changes are happening in Medicare Advantage plans and Prescription Drug Plans for 2025.  Notices of change are beginning to go out before open enrollment begins the middle of October. Don’t just look at the premiums - look at the details of the plan and just make sure you have one that meets your needs be that meds on a formulary, its price or pre-qualifications of getting it or a network provider - doctors and hospitals - or even your MA deductible limit and of course, premiums.. Remember IF your specific Medicare Advantage insurer or plan disappears from your geographical area for some reason, this might open up a guaranteed period for you. It is just real important that you review everything for this 2025 policy period because of all the legislative and CMS rule changes that have gone into place for the up and coming year.  As with all insurance products - expand the benefits and everybody share in the cost of coverage. In addition, Part B premi

Hi, I am going to be turning 64 this October. I have been receiving medical insurance through my STBX's former employer, but that situation has gotten tenuous since we are close to getting divorced. I am too young for medicare, but will need insurance. Does AARP have any health care plans that will cover me? After all, not everyone waits to retire at 65/66. Thank you.