I need to sign up for Medicare in the next few months. Just got off a call with a highly recommended agent to discuss. H was in on the call since he went through this last year with a different agent (that he didn’t care for) and a lot of research on his own.
It seemed like this guy was pushing a particular company that is mid-priced for the supplemental plan. Our takeaway was that he’s getting a better commission from this company.
I’m interested in Silver Sneakers, which I think is only offered by the Blues or Kaiser. Advantage plans are off the table because we travel too much.
Did any of you use an agent to choose your Medicare setup? Any advice or plans you’re happy with? I’m healthy and mostly only go to routine appointments. Not many prescriptions.
An agent should have access to most plans. But sure, he may have his favorites. Commissions are paid by Medicare.
Have a plan with Silver Sneakers (plus VSP) but it costs a few dollars more.
Kaiser is an HMO, so I assume is Advantage only. Historically Medicare Advantage plans were only HMO’s, but a few years ago Congress changed to law to allow insurers to offer an Advantage PPO.
Medigap plans are under the State insurance commissioner, so all plans are local. Have you reached out to your state SHIP, who provides unbiased and free info?
I have no advice for medicare. I have part A&B and secondary BC/BS and it does not cover silver sneakers.
I do go to a local city rec center gym. It is very inexpensive at $7 a day for any amount of classes. The classes that are silver sneakers are really way too sedate for me. I prefer Zumba. Just a consideration if you have not had a class in silver sneakers.
well now, I can help with CA. Yes, Blue Shield and Anthem (former Blue Cross) both offer Silver Sneakers with their Plus or Extra plans (names keep changing). I’ve had both, but shifted to Shield – aka California Physicians Plan – as it is cheaper in my zip.
The state insurance commish has a site that lists every insurer and pricing in your zip code. (link below) But these would not include the G+ plans, those with Silver Sneakers, just the regular letter plans offered.
Note, the popular AARP plan is listed under the Group tab. Also note the differences in methodology. Both Blues use Attained Age, whereas AARP uses Community Rating with discounts <70. Suggest you check out prices starting out at 65, and then what it might be if you were 72 next year.
(Protip: if you and your H both have the same plan, such as G, both Blues will provide a ~7% discount if you enroll in a kinda family plan – one Member ID, & 1 dependent. Not technically accurate, but it’s the best way I can describe it.)
p.s. Don’t forget that CA is one of ~4 states with teh Birthday rule, which allows you to change plans without medical underwriting around your birthday.
If Silver Sneakers is important…check to see what your gyms actually take. In addition to Silver Sneakers, ours also takes Renew Active which is what I have. Same benefit.
With Silver Sneakers or Renew Active, you can join multiple gyms that take these. Around here a lot of people join the Y for things like swimming…but also join a gym for other things.
In addition, one needs a Medicare supplement anyway (if they want the full bills paid). Might as well choose one that has the features you wish to have.
H really enjoys Silver Sneakers classes in our area, and he’s very fit. I stopped going to the gym during the pandemic (germaphobe) and was recently fine with the the “sit and be fit” class I went to with my mom at her senior living facility. Need to get back in the groove!
We are in CA and are enrolled in AARP United Healthcare’s supplement G plan. We use the plan’s Renew Active for our gym membership. In fact, the plan allows us to be members at 2 gyms, one in CA and another in NYC where we have a pied-à-terre.
Thanks so much @cbreeze! Decision made – that plan is perfect for me. Many gyms in our area. H wants to switch to it too (and can because of his birth month). I’m going with Wellcare Value Script for Part D. I only have one Rx and that’s available generic. So happy to have this done!
H has that plan. He can use RenewActive to get into as many gyms/programs as he wants. There is no limit. I don’t know if that varies by state, but it is pretty great.
A lot of retirees that I know up deciding on AARP UHC Plan G, even if they have no intention of using the fitness benefit. Those who do sometimes use it at more than one place.
DH and I have to sign up in the fall and are just shocked at how much our premiums will be. The same as what we are paying now, maybe a few hundred less, but without dental and vision. I guess our break is not having to pay any more bills, but still. $19,300 a year. He still works.
Now I just have to decide if I take my social security. Mine would pay for our premiums with a little left over. Or do I wait a couple years and get $400 more a month?
Often the advice for SS is to wait as long as possible. But some scenarios can vary by couple. For instance, my husband is 7 years older - that website (and our FA) say that if he defers til age 70 it could make sense for me to start SS at age 62.
I took SS at 62 since H made a lot more money than me during our working years. My Medicare part B payment is taken out of my SS payment.
H started Medicare the year after he retired and was hit by IRMAA. He appealed because our income dropped dramatically after he stopped working. I forget the process, but he was able to have it removed.
We try to keep our income under the limit, I think under $206,000 for married filing jointly. Has been a bit of a challenge this year because we had to sell some investments and didn’t want the capital gains to bump us over.
Just understand that if you go to a broker and they are pushing Medicare Advantage plans when you clearly don’t want one, it’s because they get a significantly higher commission for those. Always good to know the motives behind this.
