is AARP worth it for $9 a year???

[Captante]

None of that is true. Advantage and Gap plans are part of Medicare. You can have basic Medicare without them, but coverage is very limited. Those plans add quite a lot, but they vary widely and many are only available in portions of states.

This site does a pretty thorough job of comparing them: https://q1medicare.com/

This is the official Federal site: https://www.medicare.gov/

Have at it then... as usual you know best.

(lol)

 

[Torn Mind]

I did.

I had one selected, but at some point in the enrollment period, I got a phone call. The plan I was on up to that point had assigned account managers. This guy told me they had looked at my details and were going to put me on this special Dual Eligible plan that I didn't even know about. I looked at it and didn't think I was eligible. He assured me I was. I even kind of argued with him a bit because I didn't want something to come back on me later. This is my second year on it.

Can't really go into more detail, but as I suggested on another similar thread, you might want to see if your insurance company has one similar.

I signed my mom up for something similar, but with United Healthcare; that's why I have such a negative opinion of them. They also are so brazen in some denials, it riled me up and I helped write some appeals for their decisions...they're part of the reason I have become "lawyerly". They give "healthy food and OTC" benefits, which includes food, first aid, vitamins/supplements, etc. Great if you have no problems but if you actually need the "insurance", the experience is pure garbage.

Basically, low-income and disabled individuals can get Dual plans. The healthcare, on its face, is apparently "free". You even get dental, vision, and hearing.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I signed my mom up for something similar, but with United Healthcare; that's why I have such a negative opinion of them. They also are so brazen in some denials, it riled me up and I helped write some appeals for their decisions...they're part of the reason I have become "lawyerly". They give "healthy food and OTC" benefits, which includes food, first aid, vitamins/supplements, etc. Great if you have no problems but if you actually need the "insurance", the experience is pure garbage.

Basically, low-income and disabled individuals can get Dual plans. The healthcare, on its face, is apparently "free". You even get dental, vision, and hearing.

Great, our health insurance through my wife's employer just switched from Blue Cross/Blue Shield over to United Healthcare on January 1.......

 

[Torn Mind]

Great, our health insurance through my wife's employer just switched from Blue Cross/Blue Shield over to United Healthcare on January 1.......

I was on Medcaid and somehow got defaulted to UHC for whatever reason(I thought I picked Maryland Physicians Care) and I couldn't change out. This was before mom getting Medicare Advantage.

Nevertheless, I got a laceration, and well, I took a couple lessons from attempting to get care. One, many docs don't take it because they're a bitch to docs too.

First doc, they ordered some bloods, but that was about it. Referred me to a specialist, but the specialist doc doesn't take it.

Second Doc, well, again, they ordered some bloods, but again, their referred docs don't take it. Eventually, I just wore out and stopped trying. Also, they denied my doc's claim at first and he was able to successfully appeal. While not responsible for payment, these events gave me a "sense" that something was rather deficient about UHC.

They're publicly traded, so every attempted denial is treated as an opportunity to keep the money to themselves.

I mean, they denied capecitibine(approved and covered under Medicare Part B) for my mom on the day or just a few days before the infusion was to start. So the Medstar Pharmacy basically paid UHC rather than bother appealing the decision. $$$ made, basically. I wrote out an appeal and UHC approved it, but ultimately, the Pharmacy was the one that had to go through with the demand of returned payment, and I think the Pharmacy did not.

Also, the UHC directory is a load of bull. Most of the docs listed may take an upper tier plan but not the "Community Plan". Since your insurance is employer-based and not Medicaid/Medicare, things may be a bit less obstructive, but this issues may still present themselves because of the stock market incentives.

 

[Captante]

Seriously everyone.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you even consider TOUCHING any Medicare DIS-advantage plan pimped by American health-insurance "robber-barons" to avoid fvcking yourself over HARD in the the long run.

Don't go by the opinions expressed here by those trying to justify what almost certainly was a foolish decision on their part and/or a scam they were duped into accepting.

There's a dang good reason the 100% profit-driven health insurance companies are so gung-ho promoting these plans and if you think it has anything to do with helping you and I, you need to think again.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Seriously everyone.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you even consider TOUCHING any Medicare DIS-advantage plan pimped by American health-insurance "robber-barons" to avoid fvcking yourself over HARD in the the long run.

Don't go by the opinions expressed here by those trying to justify what almost certainly was a foolish decision on their part and/or a scam.

There's a dang good reason the 100% profit-driven health insurance companies are so gung-ho promoting these plans and if you think it has anything to do with helping you and I, you need to think again.

Yeah, I would be about as likely to buy anything from someone selling it over the phone as I would be to post my social security and credit card info online....

 

[Muse]

So.... no Dunkin in your part of the world?

(Only 10 "free" donuts per year and you're in the green!)

Gotta buy their coffee to get the "free" donut, you say. 10 coffees would buy me many pounds of coffee beans with which I could probably make 10+ X as many cups of coffee. And as noted, donuts are not good for you. Knowing this, I can't enjoy them like I used to.

 

[Captante]

Gotta buy their coffee to get the "free" donut, you say. 10 coffees would buy me many pounds of coffee beans with which I could probably make 10+ X as many cups of coffee. And as noted, donuts are not good for you. Knowing this, I can't enjoy them like I used to.

Hence the quotation-marks on the word "free".

And I very rarely eat donuts myself anymore sadly.

 

[Muse]

Hence the quotation-marks on the word "free".

And I very rarely eat donuts myself anymore sadly.

Yeah, it's been 3+ years since I have eaten a donut... we get them for free when we do our radio station fundraisers but haven't had a traditional FR since before covid.

 

[Captante]

Yumbo !!!!!!

I for one miss empty carbs!

 

[Muse]

Yumbo !!!!!!

I for one miss empty carbs!

Funny! A neighbor a month ago left a box of boxes of I think an Indian dry mixture that prepared renders deep fried delights that probably look much like that, in front of their house on the sidewalk. I snagged one while skating and another on a subsequent skate and they sit on my shelf awaiting my acquiescence in proceeding with their preparation.

I do empty carbs virtually daily. Usually it's a Lindt truffle, they are ~77 calories apiece.

 

[Muse]

Seriously everyone.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you even consider TOUCHING any Medicare DIS-advantage plan pimped by American health-insurance "robber-barons" to avoid fvcking yourself over HARD in the the long run.

Don't go by the opinions expressed here by those trying to justify what almost certainly was a foolish decision on their part and/or a scam they were duped into accepting.

There's a dang good reason the 100% profit-driven health insurance companies are so gung-ho promoting these plans and if you think it has anything to do with helping you and I, you need to think again.

My HMO is Kaiser Permanente and they are non-profit and if I can believe what I've read the highest rated HMO around. Still, I find them terrible in a lot of respects.

 

[Captante]

My HMO is Kaiser Permanente and they are non-profit and if I can believe what I've read the highest rated HMO around. Still, I find them terrible in a lot of respects.

That whole "non-profit" thing is some pretty dang shaky stuff in this particular case..... sorta like "free" with the AARP donuts!

It's more like "non-TAXED" !!!

 

[Muse]

That whole "non-profit" thing is some pretty dang shaky stuff in this particular case..... sorta like "free" with the AARP donuts!

It's more like "non-TAXED" !!!

You mean someone's making a killing off my bad health insurance? Come on, make me mad!

 

[Captante]

You mean someone's making a killing off my bad health insurance? Come on, make me mad!

Remember the golden rule!

(he who has the gold makes the rules... and this is how they get it!)

Unfortunately this rule is about the only one that really DOES work!

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Old state had DD's galore, every couple of miles. Easy to get to and usually fairly cheap..

New state had none within a couple of hundred miles. I did without my Apple Spice fix for many years. I had reason to do a short road trip, so checked locations and found one along the route.

Stopped in ..... sticker shock you say? Couldn't believe the prices. I don't remember the numbers now, but easily twice the former price, maybe more.

I got a dozen ... just because.

Since then a location has opened near me, at an intersection I often pass. Pass being the key word as I have never yet stopped into that location. Price being the reason. I'll never pay that again.

 

[Muse]

Remember the golden rule!

(he who has the gold makes the rules... and this is how they get it!)

Unfortunately this rule is about the only one that really DOES work!

"He has observed the golden rule
Till he's become the golden fool." - William Blake

 

[Mermaidman]

We just got an offer through our work to get AARP memberships for $9 a year, for 5 years.

I was offered the same deal when I made a rental car reservation , not exactly an exclusive deal. I wonder if you have to prepay for all five years, so that's a $45 commitment.

 

[allisolm]

They do have 2 monthly publications which cover pertinent legislative actions, pharmaceuticals, money management, travel, retirement, health, taxes, etc. which I have found to be helpful.

They also offer various gifts for renewing membership. I've gotten 2 of these https://www.amazon.com/Upoy-Chargin..._1_2?keywords=upoy&qid=1674863262&sr=8-2&th=1
and 2 of these https://www.amazon.com/dcsiuivy-Car-Trunk-Organizer-Collapsible/dp/B0B15MT266/?th=1. This https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Packing-Travel-Organizer/dp/B014VBGUCA/?th=1 and a bluetooth speaker, insulated lunch bags and other things I've forgotten.

I've certainly found all of that as well as the various discounts to be well worth the small amount it costs.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

We saw what was advertised as "10% savings over the best listed price" on Holiday Inn Express hotels. We like Holiday Inn Express because of the nice breakfasts, and it did appear that the discount saved us about 10% over what I could find elsewhere...... so it MIGHT be worth it after all......

 

[Geekbabe]

Seriously everyone.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you even consider TOUCHING any Medicare DIS-advantage plan pimped by American health-insurance "robber-barons" to avoid fvcking yourself over HARD in the the long run.

Don't go by the opinions expressed here by those trying to justify what almost certainly was a foolish decision on their part and/or a scam they were duped into accepting.

There's a dang good reason the 100% profit-driven health insurance companies are so gung-ho promoting these plans and if you think it has anything to do with helping you and I, you need to think again.

I knew before even looking that having cancer & COPD meant I would need a good plan. Did a lot of reading, choose original Medicare for the freedom to choose doctors. For medigap I looked at premium prices but also looked at the insurance companies offering the plans. I ran away from United Healthcare & figured Harvard Pilgrim or Tufts were my best options. HP’s 1A plan paid out 88% of our premiums on healthcare for its members. HP is also accepted just about anywhere.