Re: Medicare in red

HD in NY wrote:

canoli@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

On Sat, 06 May 2006 12:27:34 -0400, HD in NY <error@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


My costs will increase though if I get a long term illness or have more heart problems. Because of the drug plan, Excellus has cut me off


from the better medical plans they have and limited me to their lowest


plan. Where I had $15 copay for doctors visits and $600/year out of pocket costs for hospital stays, I now pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount. One serious illness could drain our savings.
Hugh



I don't get it.
Medicare pays the majority of my costs directly to hospitals and
doctors. I'm not involved with any intermediate payers. My
supplemental insurance picks up whatever is left over after Medicare
pays their share. The supplemental policy costs me about $1800
annually, and that's my total yearly cost for direct care (except for
the deduction for Medicare from my S.S.). no matter what treatment I
need

I didn't sign up for the prescription plan, since I get most of my
meds free from the VA as a 100% disabled vet. Even if the meds weren't
free, all vets are eligible to buy them with a small co-pay, something
in the neighborhood of three dollars.

How and why did you get involved with Excellus? Was it a voluntary
move, or did you sign up on your own? Seems an unnecessarily
complicated and expensive way to go.

Canoli


Okay, you paid $1,800/year for supplemental insurance. I'm paying $240/year. I pay 20% of a doctor visit, was $15 before. The previous plan would make me pay up to $300 per hospital visit. Two visits totaling $600 would clear me for any further payments.

Hypothetical example. Open heart surgery may cost say $30,000. My cost for the hospital stay would be $300. Under SS Medicare only, my cost would be much more.

The Excellus plan is an extension of the Advantage plan, previously only available to residents of large cities. Under Bush, that plan has been extended to larger, less populated areas like Central New York. I have that and my former employers major medical plan which also includes meds. My cost for a 90 day supply of drugs is $5/generic and $10/brand name.

I'm taking advantage of the lowest cost options to get maximum medical service.
Hugh

Here is a portion of one of your previous posts:

"My costs will increase though if I get a long term illness or have more heart problems. Because of the drug plan, Excellus has cut me off from the better medical plans they have and limited me to their lowest plan. Where I had $15 copay for doctors visits and $600/year out of pocket costs for hospital stays, I now pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount. One serious illness could drain our savings."

I see your strategy as gambling by opting for a short term gain against a possible disaster.

If your gamble fails, you'll be one of those in line at the welfare office, whining about your "bad luck" instead of admitting to your poor decision.
LZ

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