Social Security Supplements

[revump]

If you enroll in a SS Supplement that is included in your regular SS payments, how do you work out of area doctors and other things?

[hooligan]

revump wrote:
If you enroll in a SS Supplement that is included in your regular SS payments, how do you work out of area doctors and other things?

Bob- When you enroll in Medicare you will get a Medicare Handbook. That will list a number of Health Plans, show the Premium, deductibles, what's covered, etc. It lists the plans available for your state..
But- There are many questions that don't have ready answers. Beside what doctor or hospital you can use, what is covered and how when traveling, some plans require permission to use a doctor not in their group etc.
But keep asking questions, it can be costly or a great benefit....

More information here: Medicare Supplements

[emzee]

Yes, I had some of that happen over in the "around the campfire-humor"

[2oldman]

emzee wrote:
thanks 2oldman. very disconcerting indeed. I wonder what was so un-postable?

If I repost it then I'll get deleted!

[emzee]

thanks 2oldman. very disconcerting indeed. I wonder what was so un-postable?

[2oldman]

emzee wrote:

jdog wrote wrote:

I can't find this original post??? :h. Why wouldn't everyone who worked get it? :@

The mods have been doing some editing. 🙂

I don't get it either. How does one work ( in this country) legally and not pay SS? And how does one NOT want either?

[emzee]

jdog wrote wrote:


I can't find this original post??? :h


I thought everyone who worked a certain amount of hours qualified for social security at age 62 and medicare when they reached 65. Why wouldn't everyone who worked get it? :@

[john_b1]

jdog wrote:
What makes everybody think "all of us" get SS or Medicare. I DON'T. I do not want or need it!

Many or most f us do as we paid into it all our working life to have this benefit and whatever comes with it. The average working man was not able to become independently wealthy. It is not a handout in most cases so be thankful it is there.
I remember the SS lady when we were signing up remarked wow you worked a lot of years.. But We praise anyone who made it to not need it.jmho,jb

[runaways]

When DH qualified for medicare we were totally clueless about all the different choices. We contacted "SHIBA" which is Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance. They sat down with us one-on-one and explained all the different options in simple English. There is no charge for this. I would really recommend you google senior health insurance benefits assistance for your state.

This program is also called "SHIP" in some states. Senior Health Insurance Program. They are a great organization.

[Water-Bug]

revump wrote:
Yes ... glad you can jump all over someone new at this. I feel stupid enough about this. Thanks for making me feel even more stupid.

conmoto wrote:
Do you mean Medicare supplement?

Trying to figure out what you are asking about is not jumping all over you. If people were flaming you, your ears would be burning. Social Security and MediCare are two different programs and it is possible to be eligable for and enrolled in one and not the other. An early retiree can get Social Security at age 62 and no MediCare until age 65.

[ReadyToGo]

Here in MN the Medigap policies kind of differ. Medica (yes) requires just a phone call to let them know you are on the road. UCare is kind of hit and miss as to whether you are covered or not. Blue Cross covers you everyplace. I know there are nationwide policies also such as the one AARP sells or recommends and something with Omaha in their name.

[NanciL]

My wife and I have a Medicare supplement.
You pay it completely separate and it is not taken out of the SS.
it is the best coverage we have ever had.
I can pick any doctor or specialist I want, and I don't have to go to a primary one.

What ever medicare doesn't pay for is one hundred percent covered by my supplement.

there are several different supplement plans, but each one has coverages set forth by Medicare, so all you have to do is figure out which plan is the best for you, and then shop around for the cheapest insurance co.
In my state (NC) the state publishes a list on line the costs of each insurer, so there is no need to go through a broker.
Depending on your age, it is approximately $2,000 a year

Jack L

[2gypsies1]

docj explained it right....

We have Medicare and then added a PPO supplement. This means that wherever we travel we can choose any doctor or hospital we want. We don't have a co-pay and all our bills have been totally covered. This also includes surgeries we've had. We pay for our PPO supplement separately. Think of it as an additional insurance policy.

Also, we don't have dental or prescription insurance. That would be another extra. Our teeth are good with only a cleaning every 6m and we get generic prescriptions cheaply through WalMart. It's cheaper for us than paying the additional insurance fee.

Everyone has different needs and there are many different options out there. It is definitely very confusing, not only for new folks like you but even for us who've been on Medicare for a while. You just have to wade through it. I'm afraid things will change even more in the coming months. Good luck!

[docj]

To attempt to give you a helpful answer, the standard Medigap policies are usable nationwide, as is Medicare itself. You pay for those policies yourself.

The policies that can have regional issues are those called Medicare Advantage which are basically HMO's or PPO's and often require you to use a specific set of doctors. Quite often Advantage policies don't require an extra premium so that is where you may have gotten the idea that they are paid for out of your SS payment.

Which type of policy makes sense for you depends on how often you travel and how far from home you go. As full-timers we only considered policies that provided nationwide coverage.

[wny_pat1]

There has been a bit of discussion concerning this topic down on the RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues discussion area.