Forum Discussion
Scottiemom
Dec 24, 2015Nomad
Well, Medicare has been a blessing for us. My DH has been on disability since he was 50. He was able to get on Medicare two years after that. Yes we had to pay for part B and the supplement. For many years, we had to pay for his drugs because there was no Part D. His drugs cost us over $6000 a year JUST FOR MEDS. He was worth it though ;)
Now with the Part D plan, we pay around $600 in premiums and co=pays for all his generic meds.
Fortunately, he was able to get very good medical care. He's even been through cancer treatment and his insurances all paid for his care. Medicare a rip-off? I don't see that.
Now we are both on Medicare, have the AARP United Healthcare Supplement, a Part D plan and we continue fulltiming, traveling for the last 11 years. We are covered wherever we go.
The Part D plans I have found need to be re=evaluated every year. It seems they give you a really good rate for one or two years, then hike up that premium the next year. You have to be alert to that and make the change to another plan.
If your meds are new and not covered in the formulary, take the formulary in to your doctor and have them look through the list of approved drugs to see if there is one or a combination of drugs that can be used to substitute. I know down here in the Rio Grande Valley, the doctors want to put you on the latest and greatest meds which are way too expensive for the average retiree if the insurance won't pay. I went through this with my Dad and I just flat out told the doctor they could not afford those fancy meds that cost more than their SS every month. Surprisingly there were other options.
If you think Medicare/supplements/drug plans are expensive, try being hospitalized for a week or going through cancer treatment.
Dale
Now with the Part D plan, we pay around $600 in premiums and co=pays for all his generic meds.
Fortunately, he was able to get very good medical care. He's even been through cancer treatment and his insurances all paid for his care. Medicare a rip-off? I don't see that.
Now we are both on Medicare, have the AARP United Healthcare Supplement, a Part D plan and we continue fulltiming, traveling for the last 11 years. We are covered wherever we go.
The Part D plans I have found need to be re=evaluated every year. It seems they give you a really good rate for one or two years, then hike up that premium the next year. You have to be alert to that and make the change to another plan.
If your meds are new and not covered in the formulary, take the formulary in to your doctor and have them look through the list of approved drugs to see if there is one or a combination of drugs that can be used to substitute. I know down here in the Rio Grande Valley, the doctors want to put you on the latest and greatest meds which are way too expensive for the average retiree if the insurance won't pay. I went through this with my Dad and I just flat out told the doctor they could not afford those fancy meds that cost more than their SS every month. Surprisingly there were other options.
If you think Medicare/supplements/drug plans are expensive, try being hospitalized for a week or going through cancer treatment.
Dale
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