[The Math Tutor]

Contrary to the opinions of some, I have been happy with the Part A and B health insurance. Part D is another story. There is no oversight by the government and the insurers have been given a license to steal. In fact, I caught my insurer doing just that. It took months of fighting to get my money back and during that time I discovered that no one in the government cared that there was a problem. Watch your charges at the pharmacy carefully!

Also, the companies can change the premium (mine went up by 82%) and drop benefits even more.

The good news is that there is a program you can use on the Medicare.gov website that allows you to see all plans available in your area and to compare them three at a time. You may input your prescriptions and your pharmacy and see the total yearly out-of-pocket expense, including the premium, for each plan. I was able to knock about $700.00 a year off my costs by using the program to change to a new plan. The program is not perfect, but it is very good for comparing plans.

If you have a problem using computers, I'd be glad to help if I have time and usually do. I don't sell insurance or make money this way, I'm just an old fart who likes to help.

[Allorrah Be]

Hey, old fart who likes to help: Thanks for those words of advice. I would add that I joined Secure Horizons from United Healthcare on the advice of AARP. It didn't cost anything extra to get the Part D, and the co-pay was very reasonable.
I was out in Hawaii when I joined, but I'm here in Santa Rosa now. I discovered that there were only 2 doctors in my town who would accept my plan, and I had a terrible experience with one of them. Finally, after a couple of months of jacking me around, she sent me for the lab tests I needed, then dropped me like a hot potato!
But the pharmacy was totally helpful and above-board. I will use the website you referred to to check things out before I sign up this year. Thanks again for the advice, even though it's pretty old (like us!!)
Regards,
Rev. Allorrah Be

The Math Tutor wrote:

Contrary to the opinions of some, I have been happy with the Part A and B health insurance. Part D is another story. There is no oversight by the government and the insurers have been given a license to steal. In fact, I caught my insurer doing just that. It took months of fighting to get my money back and during that time I discovered that no one in the government cared that there was a problem. Watch your charges at the pharmacy carefully!

Also, the companies can change the premium (mine went up by 82%) and drop benefits even more.

The good news is that there is a program you can use on the Medicare.gov website that allows you to see all plans available in your area and to compare them three at a time. You may input your prescriptions and your pharmacy and see the total yearly out-of-pocket expense, including the premium, for each plan. I was able to knock about $700.00 a year off my costs by using the program to change to a new plan. The program is not perfect, but it is very good for comparing plans.

If you have a problem using computers, I'd be glad to help if I have time and usually do. I don't sell insurance or make money this way, I'm just an old fart who likes to help.