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Medicare Open Enrollment 2015

Bob Vineyard · September 1, 2015 ·

best medicare supplement plan F

The Medicare open enrollment 2015 edition opens October 15 and closes December 7. If you are turning 65 you will be making decisions along with 48 million retirees looking to change their plans. Significant Medicare changes are expected in 2016 so plan accordingly. Medicare premiums and deductibles will rise next year and so will Medicare supplement premiums, especially for Medigap plan F. Medicare Part D drug plan costs will move higher as the donut hole gradually closes before 2020 when it disappears completely.

Also, Medigap plan F will be retired in 2020. The result will be even higher prices for plan F than you see now. Don’t be roped into buying a plan that will soon be cost prohibitive.

Instant online GA Medigap quotes. Shop and compare up to 30 plans side by side.

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Expect fewer Medicare Advantage plans, especially in rural Georgia. More PPO plans will go away and be replaced by HMO’s. Advantage premiums probably won’t change much but look for higher copay’s, higher deductibles and more plans will move to $6700 out of pocket maximum.

Keep in mind the MOOP (maximum out of pocket) only applies to IN NETWORK APPROVED claims (excluding drug costs).

Post summary:

  • What you need for open enrollment
  • Turning 65, new to Medicare, open enrollment not for you other than Part D
  • Losing employer retiree plan? Check out your options
  • Shopping online? We can guide you through the maze
  • Upcoming surgery? Medicare Advantage probably the wrong choice

Medicare Open Enrollment

All Medicare drug plans and Advantage plans run on a calendar year basis. Your current plan may or may not renew but whether it renews or not you need to be prepared for the Medicare open enrollment in 2015.

Here are a few pointers if you are new to Medicare or have been to this rodeo before.

  • Update your list of medications and dosages
  • Make a list of your doctors including name and address
  • Evaluate your health. Is it better or worse than last year?
  • Update your health care budget
  • Consider what you pay every month in premiums AND your out of pocket health care costs
  • Any planned surgeries or tests? You may save money having them done this year ….. or next.

More on planned surgeries coming up below in this post.

If You Are Turning 65

Turning 65? If you are not receiving Social Security, you need to sign up for Medicare A and possibly B. The easiest way is to go online using this link to Social Security.

happy birthday 65

I did this in June. It took about 10 minutes. Three days later I received my Medicare letter and about 10 days after that my Medicare cards.

If you will be covered by an employer group plan you may not need Part B. However, you may need Medicare Part D if your current plan is not considered creditable.

If you have Medicare Part A, have been covered under an employer group plan and you want to enroll in Medicare Part B only you will need to complete forms CMS40B and CMSR297 then mail to Social Security or take it to their office for processing.

If you do not sign up for Part A when you turn 65 you may encounter delays and penalties in the future.

Losing Retiree Health Insurance

Many large companies including IBM, GE, UGA are terminating existing retiree health insurance and employees are being told to talk with consultants like Towers Watson and One Exchange.

If you are part of a group losing your retiree health plan there are things you need to know.

  • You may be required to purchase at least SOME coverage through the “exchange” to receive HRA monies
  • Most exchanges only show you a small sampling of plans in your area
  • The advisers are encouraged to push plans that pay a higher commission, even if that choice is to your detriment
  • Most of the Medigap plans on the private exchange are over-priced
  • Many times you can preserve your HRA bonus by purchasing Part D only through the exchange

There is no charge to consult with Georgia-Medicare Plans. You can run quotes on our website through this link and we will also email information on the lowest priced Medigap plans in your area.

Medicare open enrollment is your chance to shop and compare.

Shopping for Medicare Supplement Plans

confused senior medicare

Instant online rates are available for about 30 different GA Medigap plans through our quote engine. You may find that helpful but the real savings may lie among the more than 170 different Medicare supplement plans in Georgia.

Online quote engines are limited to half a dozen carriers. We have Medigap rates for over 30 different carriers.

Some carriers offer lower non-tobacco rates to tobacco users when you meet the criteria. A few carriers have household discounts of up to 7% but many times the savings are mostly smoke and mirrors.

It doesn’t matter if you are new to Medicare or feel you have been given bad advice in the past, we are ready to listen to your concerns. There is never any obligation to buy from us (although we do hope we are given a chance to earn your trust) nor is there a charge for our time.

We have the same plans and rates you can get direct from the carriers. The difference is you don’t have to press 1 for English and you benefit from our 40 years in the industry.

Use this Medicare open enrollment time wisely. Others talk, we listen

Planned Surgery and Medicare

If you anticipate having major surgery within the next 12 months or so, you need to make the right choice when turning 65.

It doesn’t matter if you are having a joint replaced or eye surgery. Enrolling in a $0 premium plan is probably not your best option. Most newly minted Medicare beneficiaries will be much better off with a $0 copay, $0 deductible plan than a $0 premium plan.

With a $0 premium plan the insurance carrier picks your doctor and hospital for you.

With a $0 premium plan you are responsible for the lions share of the cost of your care.

Once you pick a $0 premium plan you may never again have the option of buying a Medicare supplement plan. The annual Medicare open enrollment period only applies to drug plans and Advantage plans. Following your initial enrollment period you may only enroll in a Medigap plan by going through underwriting. This initial enrollment time may be your only chance to pick a Medicare supplement plan.

Choose wisely.

Medicare shop and compare

#MedicareOpenEnrollment #Turning65  #MedicareSupplementPlanF

Medicare medicare advantage plans, medicare annual enrollment, medicare open enrollment, medicare supplement plan f, medigap plan f, medigap rates

Medicare Part B Premiums Rise In 2022

Bob Vineyard · August 14, 2015 ·

shopCompareBig_new2
Medicare Part B premium 2016

Your 2022 Medicare Part B premiums are going up. A lot. So are deductibles. Oh, and Medigap plan F was retired in 2020. The same year the Part D donut hole closes and you pay more in premiums, copay’s and out of pocket.

What does this mean to you? How will this impact you? What will happen to Medicare supplement plans? If you bought plan F plan your exit strategy.

Shop and compare Medigap rates.

Instant online quote.

Your information is never sold.

Medicare shop and compare

Post summary

  • Part B deductible to rise in 2022
  • Part B premiums rise for 2022
  • Changes to deductibles and premiums not finalized yet
  • Social Security COLA for 2022 is just under 7%
  • Medicare supplement plan F retired
  • Instant online Medigap quotes

Medicare Part B Changes in 2022

Hold on to your wallet. Next year is going to be costly for many Georgia retirees on Medicare.

Medicare Part B premiums will rise in 2022 from $148 in 2021 to $178 in 2022.

soup nazi

Think the increase will be offset by your COLA increase?

Nope.

COLA increases are not in the cards for next year.

Your Part B premium increase may wipe out your Social Security benefit increase.

Medicare Trustee Report

For those who want to go straight to the source, here is a link to the Trustee Report.

The summary from Kaiser Health News distills it down to something mere mortals can understand. Kind of.

The report warned that several million Medicare beneficiaries could see their Medicare Part B monthly premiums skyrocket by 52 percent in January — from $104.90 to $159.30. Medicare Part B, which is paid for by a combination of federal funds and beneficiary premiums, generally covers physician and outpatient costs.

The huge rate hike is predicted because of a confluence of two factors: Medicare Part B costs increased more than expected last year, and Social Security is not expected to have a cost of living increase next year. By law, the cost of higher Medicare Part B premiums can’t be passed on to most Medicare beneficiaries when they don’t get a Social Security raise. As a result, the higher Medicare costs have to be covered by just 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. This includes the 2.8 million Medicare enrollees new to the program next year, 3.1 million Medicare beneficiaries with incomes higher than $85,000 a year and 1.6 million Medicare beneficiaries who pay their premium directly instead of having it deducted from Social Security. – Kaiser Health News

But wait, there’s more.

Medicare Part B Deductibles Increase in 2022

higher health care costs

If you manage to escape the Part B premium increase you will still participate in the Part B deductible increase in 2022. One way or another, you will pay more.

The Part B deductible should be $233 in 2022

That is up from $103 in 2021.

If you have straight Medicare, you will pay more in out of pocket.

If you have a Medicare supplement plan F that pays your Part B deductible for you, expect to pay more. Plan F premiums will increase by $100 per year at a minimum.

Probably more in the order of $130 – $150+.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan you will pay more. Higher premiums, higher copay’s, higher deductibles in any combination.

The only way to avoid paying more is to stay healthy and not incur any outpatient (Medicare Part B) charges.

Lock in lower premiums for plan G now. Shop and compare rates. We have access to over 170 different Medicare supplement plans in Georgia. One is right for you.

Georgia Medigap plans & Prices
Georgia Medigap plans & Prices

What Happens in 2022?

The good news is, the Medicare Part D drug plan donut hole will go away. About 93% of Medicare beneficiaries never hit the donut hole but in 2020 no one will find themselves there.

medicare shock

The bad news is, between now and 2022 your Part D premiums will rise as will your copay’s and deductibles. In other words, funding the closure of the donut hole means EVERYONE pays more, including those that would have otherwise hit the donut hole at one point during the year.

There is no free lunch.

The donut hole was included in the plan design to keep costs affordable. Eliminating the donut hole, billed as a benefit of Obamacare, makes your Part D premiums and out of pocket less affordable.

Also, the folks in Congress believe retirees go to the doctor too much and are encouraging them to stop going so much by retiring plan F.

In the interim plan F premiums will skyrocket.

There are two types of people that buy plan F.

Those that just want to budget for premiums and not have to pay Medicare Part B deductibles and coinsurance. For them, it is easier to pre-pay those expenses  by paying a higher premium for plan F.

Then there are retirees that have never been told about anything other than plan F. The salesman or the carrier pushed plan F on them without showing them how they could save $300 per year or more with plan G.  Why did they push plan F?

Because the higher premium means the agent and the carrier make more money.

But you won’t have to worry about that much longer. In 2022 Medigap plan F will be retired, but Plan G remains competitive

As a result of legislation just passed by Congress, starting in 2020 Medigap plans will no longer be allowed to offer coverage of the Medicare Part B deductible, which is currently $147 (in 2015). However, current Medigap policyholders and those buying policies before 2020 will still be eligible for the deductible coverage after that date. – Elder Law Answers

If you have plan F now, you can keep it.

But understand that plan F premiums that are already overpriced will become even more so when the plan is no longer an option for new entrants.

Lock in lower premiums for plan G now. Shop and compare rates. We have access to over 170 different Medicare supplement plans in Georgia. One is right for you.

Georgia Medigap plans & Prices
Georgia Medigap plans & Prices

You can read more about changes in Medicare at California Health Advocates along with links to the law.

Why are Medigap Premiums Increasing?

Medicare supplement plan F has never been a good buy. Look how much premium difference there is today for an age 65 female living in Clayton, Georgia.

AARP (United Healthcare) plan F premium is $166.

Best rate for plan G with a carrier that has been in the Medicare market for 18 years, $97.

What are you getting for that extra $828 per year?

A bigger hole in your bank account. Next year when the Medicare Part B deductible increases that gap could be $1,000 or more.

Do you really think it is wise to pay a Medicare supplement carrier $1000 to cover your (2016) Part B deductible of $223?

Every time Congress raises your Medicare deductible, plans (like F) that pay the deductible for you will increase premiums accordingly.

Most of my clients have been purchasing plan G for years.

My job is not to convince you of anything. Life doesn’t work that way.

What I will do is educate you on your options and show you Medigap carriers with a proven track record of 5+ years in the Medicare market.

That 5 year threshold eliminates

  • Omaha Insurance Company (less than 2 years in the Medigap market) and does not have an A M Best rating
  • Aetna Health and Life (less than 3 years in the Medigap market)
  • Manhattan Life (less than a year in the market)
  • Catholic Greek Union, CSI Life, Companion Life, CIGNA

And if you want plan G don’t go looking for it with

  • AARP (United Healthcare)
  • Blue Cross (BCBSGA)
  • Humana

They don’t offer plan G.

You have questions. We have answers. We also have the best rates, guaranteed.

georgia_medicare_fb_cvr

Additional links:

Your Medicare Premiums Could Soar Next Year

COLA Wars in Medicare Part B Premiums

Medicare Trustees Report Projects Large Increase to Part B Deductibles

#MedicarePartBPremium #MedicarePartBDeductible #MedicareSupplementPlanF #DonutHole

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83-year-old LA man on Social Security is charged $24,000 by AT&T for using dial-up internet with faulty modem 

Bob Vineyard · April 30, 2015 ·

Ron Dorff, of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, first contacted the telecommunications giant after seeing his monthly phone bill rocket from $51 to $8,596.57.

Source: 83-year-old LA man on Social Security is charged $24,000 by AT&T for using dial-up internet with faulty modem 

telephone old

Dorff, who lives off his $1,530 Social Security checks, explained that he used his phone line for his low-speed AOL dial-up subscription – and insists he could never have used the internet enough to warrant receiving such a huge bill.

It says the company explained that Dorff’s modem, for some reason, had been dialing a long-distance number when it was accessing AOL for long spells, prompting huge charges.

The spokeswoman said this issue had been resolved. But when asked to explain why the sky-high fees had not been spotted and resolved earlier, she is reported as saying: ‘This is a rare occurrence, and we address it on an individual basis.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3060973/83-year-old-LA-man-Social-Security-charged-24-000-T-using-dial-internet-faulty-modem.html#ixzz3YokdjJ00
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Social Security beneficiary can’t pay his bills

Living off Social Security is hard, but try paying $24,000 for internet PLUS finding affordable Medigap coverage.

We can help.

Did you know Medicare supplement plan F will soon be banned?

We helped J. B. of Dallas, Georgia, turning age 65 female, find Medigap plan F for $115 per month.

How much can you save?

Shop and compare now. Your information is never sold.

Georgia Medigap plans & Prices
Georgia Medigap plans & Prices

#SocialSecurity #MedicareSupplementPlanF  #GAMedigapQuotes #TurningAge65

Medicare medicare supplement plan f, Medicare supplement plan rates, medigap plan f, medigap rates, turning age 65

Medicare Supplement Plan F Illegal

Bob Vineyard · April 28, 2015 ·

A new law signed by President Obama will make the popular Medicare supplement plan F illegal. Reforming SGR (the Sustainable Growth Rate), commonly referred to as “doc fix” has been a goal of Congress for years. The new law, passed on a bi-partisan vote and signed by the President saves millions of dollars for Medicare but also will outlaw Medigap plan F.

J.B in Dallas, Georgia bought Medicare supplement plan F for $115 per month.

How much can you save?

Shop and compare GA Medigap quotes. Your information is NEVER sold.

Georgia Medigap plans & Prices
Georgia Medigap plans & Prices

Medicare supplement plan F

The most popular plan among Georgia seniors is Medigap plan F. This is especially true for retirees turning age 65. Most GA retirees lose their regular health insurance plan at age 65 and want to leave behind all the copay’s, deductibles and coinsurance.

plan f

So they buy Medicare supplement plan F. Your plan F pays 100% of approved Medicare Part A and Part B expenses. What could be more simple? 

We think there are better values than F and do our best to educate clients on ways to get the most VALUE for their dollar.

With more than 170 different Medigap plans in Georgia, how do you find the right one?

It’s almost impossible to do that by yourself. Most sites on the internet are data harvesting sites that will take your information and sell it to dozens of agents. The more sites you visit, the more phone calls you will get from brokers trying to sell you anything and everything.

Even the sites (like GA Medigap Quotes) that offer instant rates only have 20 or so plans to pick from. Most carriers do not allow their rates to be illustrated online so the only way to get information on all plans is to talk with a broker specializing in Medicare.

Bob Vineyard has more than 40 years in the health insurance business and focuses his practice 100% on the Medicare market. Bob is a baby boomer, going on Medicare in September, 2015. He can identify with your concerns and will take the time to explain all your options.

New law bans Medigap plan F

obama signs law

Congress wants to “save” Medicare and they will do so by making US PAY MORE.

Higher premiums.

Higher deductibles.

And BANNING Medicare supplement plan F.

President Obama recently signed the most significant Medicare legislation in years–a plan to fix a Medicare formula that threatened to slash payments to doctors every year. The law achieves several positive Medicare reforms, but it will increase some costs for enrollees.

But the plan comes with a significant price tag. It will increase federal deficit spending by $141 billion from 2015-25, and it calls for savings to the government by boosting premiums for high-income seniors ($34.7 billion in savings) and by prohibiting Medigap from covering the Part B deductible for new enrollees beginning in 2020 ($400 million in savings). The plan also will mean somewhat higher Part B premiums spread across the entire base of seniors. – MorningStar

Starting in 2020 the government will no longer allow plan F to be sold.

Presumably, if you have plan F now you will be “grandfathered” in and be allowed to keep it. That’s good news for those who have F now or will be purchasing when they turn age 65.

Why does the government want to tell you what kind of plan you can and cannot have if it is YOUR money?

The goal is to give seniors more “skin in the game,” which conservatives have long argued would lower costs by making patients think twice about using medical services if they know they must pay something for all services they use.
The idea is to encourage enrollees to utilize less health care by eliminating first-dollar coverage. Research confirms that higher out-of-pocket expense will result in people using fewer services, but that’s not always a good thing. A 2011 study by National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) found that beneficiaries may avoid necessary services that worsen their health in the long run, increasing the need for more intensive care and driving up Medicare costs. The NAIC report also found that once patients do seek care, it is doctors and other health-care providers who drive up utilization, not patients.

Apparently the folks in DC think we LIKE going to the doctor. If they penalize us by making us pay MORE to see a doctor this will save Medicare.

But what does it do to us? Will we become sicker as a group when we can’t afford to go to the doctor because Washington wants to do what they think is best?

 

Stop overpaying!

Are you currently paying too much for your Medicare supplement plan? Most people are, by an average of $500 per year. That is money that could be in YOUR pocket instead of going to the insurance carrier.

Check out our Medigap rates with an instant quote.

Georgia Medigap plans & Prices
Georgia Medigap plans & Prices

#MedicareSupplementPlanF #DocFix #TurningAge65 #MedigapRates

Medicare age 65, doc fix, medicare supplement plan f, medigap rates, turning age 65

13 Silent Signs of a Thyroid Problem

Bob Vineyard · April 26, 2015 ·

Symptoms of a thyroid problem are often vague, but if you notice any of the following thyroid symptoms persisting, or have more than one, see a doctor.

Source: 13 Silent Signs of a Thyroid Problem

Does Medicare cover thyroid testing?

As a general rule, Medicare Part B covers most preventive screening including most tests for thyroid issues. Do you have hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid)? How do you know? What kind of tests are involved in checking my thyroid? Will Medicare pay for those tests?

What happens when your doctor checks your thyroid?

thyroid

Your thyroid rests just below your Adams apple. During a routine exam, such as your Welcome to Medicare exam, your doctor may ask you to hold your head back and swallow. While you are swallowing your doctor is feeling for bumps or nodules on your thyroid.

If your doctor detects an abnormality in your thyroid they may recommend additional testing such as a thyroid scan and uptake, imaging testing or perhaps a needle biopsy.

Most diagnostic testing is covered by Medicare Part B. If you have Medicare supplement plan F your out of pocket for approved claims would be $0.

Several Georgia Medicare supplement plans have competitive rates. Often we can save our clients $450 per year or more with no loss of coverage.

Shop and compare now. Your information is NEVER sold. Instant GA Medigap quotes.

Georgia Medigap plans & Prices
Georgia Medigap plans & Prices

What is hypothyroidism? Hyperthyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a medical condition where your gland does not produce enough hormone. If your thyroid is under-performing you may feel sluggish.

Other symptoms may include an irregular menstrual cycle, constipation, loss of hair, unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothryroidism. In this situation your gland produces too much hormone.

Symptoms include quick weight loss, rapid heart rate, you sweat a lot, are moody or anxious.

If you have any of these symptoms you should see a doctor.

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are easily treated with prescription medication.

Other common thyroid issues include:

  • goiter
  • thyroid nodules
  • thyroiditis
  • thyroid cancer

Ask your doctor if you have any concerns, and relax. The exam and testing is usually covered by Medicare and your Medigap policy.

If you found this article to be of help, share this link with your friends.

#MedicarePartB  #13SignsOfThyroidProblems #Hypothyroid  #Hyperthyroid #MedicareSupplementPlanF #GAMedigapQuotes

Georgia Medigap Rates, Medicare hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, medicare part b, medicare supplement plan f, medigap rates, thyroid testing

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