Medicare plans & travel

[RVcrazy]

Confusion here! Are we better off with Medicare part B, D & Medigap or using a part C like United through AARP? We would prefer a plan where we can travel and get medical care wherever we happen to be and not be limited to emergency only situations. We notice few plans where out son lives in Washington. We will be using his address as our domicile and residence address. We already have Medicare part A and are on group coverage so we will be able to convert to whatever we choose when I retire. Thanks for any light you can share on the subject!

[docj]

earlvillestu wrote:
Anybody who has made the effort to inform themselves knows - that "Obamacare" makes absolutely no changes to Social Security.

In fact, the ACA is the reason that Medicare included some new preventive doctor visits in 2013 and also for the reduction in the prescription drug "donut hole."

[earlvillestu]

Anybody who has made the effort to inform themselves knows - that "Obamacare" makes absolutely no changes to Social Security.

[nbargolf]

skipnchar wrote:
Devils in the details. YOu need a plan that is nationwide (like blue cross plan 65) for gap coverate. Medicare itself is already good nationwide.

BTW we are resident in FL there is no additional monthly cost above the medicare premium for this coverage but with Obamacare who knows?

[nbargolf]

Most PPO type supplement will work anywhere. Just look up a DR in your provider book. We use Humana PPO and it works anywhere.

[skipnchar]

Devils in the details. YOu need a plan that is nationwide (like blue cross plan 65) for gap coverate. Medicare itself is already good nationwide.

[2gypsies1]

We use basic Medicare Plan B plus a supplement. We've had multiple surgeries, doctor visits and lab work during our 16 years of full-timing in different states and haven't had to pay a dime. Our supplement is Transamerica through Good Sam. We don't have prescription. We use generics through Wal-Mart at $4 ea.

[Gau_8]

The happiest day of my life is when I parted ways with UHC. Would not use them again if you paid me.

Stick with Medicare and a supplement.

[WyoTraveler]

Just be careful of plans where you assign your meficare to a specific health care provider. Better to have medicare and just supplement that pays 20%.You can go any where. The supplement plans like kaiser etc. may or may not be limited to areas.

[docj]

I would guess that most full-time RVers on Medicare use traditional Medigap because it is valid anywhere in the US. Medicare Advantage plans usually have regional providers and that doesn't fit well with our lifestyle. If you buy a part F plan plus a good prescription plan (part D) along with your Medicare A and B you are pretty much covered anywhere in the US.

[BarbaraOK]

I think that it depends upon the state where you are domiciled and whether or not the Medicare Advantage plan requires a certain # of days (months) in the state and whether they provide in network payments to other physicians, etc., throughout the country. We have traditional Medicare with a supplement and drug plan. Works well for us.

Barb