Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

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brownie
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Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:08 am

Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by brownie »

I will be turning 65 in June and have been researching Medigap policies. I'm so glad I discovered this forum - it has been very helpful . But I don't think my questions have been addressed yet.

Since premium information is not available at the government Medicare site, I talked to a broker called United Medicare Advisors. Although I thought I was interested in Plan F, she encouraged me to consider Plan G which covers EVERYTHING Plan F covers EXCEPT the Part B deductible ($147 for 2013). Her point was that the lower premium for Plan G usually offsets the out-of-pocket deductible, or can even result in additional savings (i.e., if the annual premium difference between Plans G&F is equal to or greater than the Part B deductible, there is no cost or possible savings to the consumer). If the consumer doesn't go to the doctor at all for reasons subject to the deductible (only for preventive care), the entire difference in premium is saved. Because of my overall good health and because I prefer to keep money in my pocket if the risk is reasonable, I am intrigued by Plan G. The $147 is certainly a lot lower risk than I have been carrying all these years ($2500-$7500 deductibles!). When I challenged her on the probable increase in the Part B deductible each year and therefore my increased exposure, she said since the insurance companies will have to pick up that increase in Plan F, they will undoubtedly factor that into their annual rate increase for Plan F (plus whatever other rationale they want to come up with in addition to age to increase the rate each year).

Does anyone have any comments about Plan G vs. Plan F?
The lowest rates she had for Plans G and F were from CSI (Central States Indemnity of Omaha). Does anyone have experience with this company? Our current broker doesn't deal with CSI and so has no information.
I have had Anthem BC/BS for my regular insurance for many years, yet she had negative comments about them as a Medigap provider. Does anyone have experience with them for Medigap?
I hesitate to change to an unknown broker with an unknown company. Does anyone have any comments about CSI and/or United Medicare Advisors?

Thanks for your time.
samjuno
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by samjuno »

Just signed up for Plan G for all the reasons you mentioned.
Went w/ cheapest company (in my state) for that Plan (GPM) which is administered by MofO. Don't know if
that's good or bad since this is my first year w/ them.



-sam
apk
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by apk »

I think Kaiser Health just did a study on Medigap policies. One of its conclusions was that the monthly premium for the same plan varied dramatically from company to company. Calling a slew of companies is time-consuming. Also, in many cases you are asked for your name, address, and phone number. An agent will eventually call you back.

Recently I went through this process for my wife. With some companies, I did not have to give my name, etc. I was able to immediately speak with an agent and the agent was low-key, i.e., he/she did not try to sell me a plan. He/she responded to my question about the monthly premium by giving me the premium cost.

Here are several companies along with their toll-free numbers:

Aetna - 1-888-436-9678.
Humana - 1-800-872-7294.
Medico - 1-800-228-6080.
State Mutual - 1-855-764-4000.
USAA - 1-800-845-8026.

In all, I found 14 insurance companies that were able to give me quotes immediately. The five above have been randomly (but not alphabetically) selected. All these companies sell Plan F, which is what I was interested in. They may or may not sell Plan G.
BruDude
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by BruDude »

Plan G is usually the better choice for the reasons stated by your agent. Most of the time the Plan G premiums are at least $147/year lower than the Plan F premiums, at least in my state.
ResNullius
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by ResNullius »

No offense intended, but I don't see that there's a whole lot of difference.
jimkinny
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by jimkinny »

I just enrolled in Medicare and bought a Medigap policy. I first bought a plan G, mainly because it was sold by BCBS and the BCBS price was the same as or better than other insurers. It was significantly less costly than plan F and basically had the same benefits.

I had second thoughts and within the 6 month window (3 months =/- age 65years) enrolled in a plan F high deductible and cancelled the BCBS policy.

Plan F HD has a deductible of $2070 per year.

Jim
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midareff
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by midareff »

I turned 65 last December and enrolled in Medicare and AARP United Plan F. No deductibles at all and no copays.
LillieRoss
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by LillieRoss »

I chose F - the price difference pretty much equaled the deductible. I wanted a plan that would cover the physicians I was already using. Even though the Medicare websites seem to present many many companies to chose from, when it came down to actually getting details I found that there were restrictions, provider networks, plan memberships, ... and many insurance providers weren't actually selling products in my geographic area (central California). At the end I had three companies to choose from, and two had poor customer reviews. I ended up choosing AARP and United Healthcare and have stayed with them.

It's all so overly complicated!

Sylvia
mur44
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by mur44 »

If you are from New York or Connecticut, consider a Medicare Advantage plan
as you will have continuous guarantee issue to buy a Medigap plan at any time.

Else, consider Medigap Plans 'C, 'F', High Deductible 'F' or 'N'.
Plans "C', 'F' and 'N' are popular Medigap plans.
Go with the cheapest insurance company plan as long as customer service
is acceptable.

Your county SHIP (State Health Insurance assistance Program) counselor
can provide valuable tidbits. You can find your SHIP telephone number on the
back of Medicare and You handbook or Medicare.gov. SHIP counselors
provide unbiased advice.


Disclosure: I am a Certified Volunteer Medicare Counselor from NJ
jimkinny
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by jimkinny »

mur44 wrote:If you are from New York or Connecticut, consider a Medicare Advantage plan
as you will have continuous guarantee issue to buy a Medigap plan at any time.

Else, consider Medigap Plans 'C, 'F', High Deductible 'F' or 'N'.
Plans "C', 'F' and 'N' are popular Medigap plans.
Go with the cheapest insurance company plan as long as customer service
is acceptable.

Your county SHIP (State Health Insurance assistance Program) counselor
can provide valuable tidbits. You can find your SHIP telephone number on the
back of Medicare and You handbook or Medicare.gov. SHIP counselors
provide unbiased advice.


Disclosure: I am a Certified Volunteer Medicare Counselor from NJ
Yes, contact your state's SHIIP. My state's SHIIP office sent me a booklet that had a list of all Medigap providers in the state, what Medigap plans they offered and the premiums. This was a valuable tool and made the work a lot easier. Maybe your state's SHIIP office does this also. This booklet did not have any of the Medicare Advantage plans, just traditional Medigap insurers.

BTW, I contacted a local salesperson about Plan F HD. He initially told me that a high deductible plan F did not exist. Perhaps the premium and commission is lower or as the salesman later told me, if he sells a plan with deductibles, people forget and call him with complaints when they get a bill so he was simply not aware of the HD plan because he never sold it.

jim
obgraham
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by obgraham »

The benefits should be consistent for a given plan (F,G,A,etc) from company to company, but the customer service definitely will not be. And the selection of doctors available might vary a lot. That's why simply choosing the cheapest might not be your best choice.

Look carefully at the available providers -- hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies (for drug plans). After you've determined which will suit your needs, then you can shop price.

The brokers love to go with the cheapest. I've heard many tales of unhappiness with that choice.

And bve very careful before choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.
apk
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by apk »

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are choosing a Medigap policy, then you can use any doctor you want. The limit on doctors only applies if you are choosing a Medicare Advantage plan. With Medigap, the only potential limit on doctor choice is if the doctor you want does not accept Medicare as payment in full. Then, you would have to pay the difference between what Medicare pays (including your Medigap policy) and what the doctor charges. Some Medigap policies also cover the excess cost.
btenny
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by btenny »

My wife and I both choose Medigap Plan F High Deductable from Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It is very cheap, $37.24 per month ($453 per year) when you auto deduct. It allows me to use any doctors I want in any location as long as they take Medicare. It pays 100% after the $2K deductable. It covers excess charges if they apply. It covers foreign travel. So I get good insurance for small annual costs that covers any big medical bill. It is great.

Why would you want to spend $1550+ per year EVERY year on a Medigap Plan F or Plan G? Do the math and some forecasting on what you spend every year on doctors and medical tests and hospital visits? I am pretty sure there is no way will you spend anywhere near the extra $1100 you will be giving to the insurance companies. In order to spend this much you will need to spend $5K or more at medicare rates EVERY YEAR on just Doctors office calls and lab tests. This means you would have to have some sort of major big problem requiring multiple CT scans and out patient surgery every year. Look at some bills sometime. I think you will find this just does not happen. So the High Deductable plan is much better IMO.

Bill
TheGreyingDuke
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by TheGreyingDuke »

I also went with high deductible F, I can handle the $2100 deductible, and like that once I hit that number, I am 100% covered (for covered services.)

Contacting your SHIP is OK, but here n VT they did not have rates, for that I went to our Banking and Insurance Department and they had the rates online
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
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SpringMan
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by SpringMan »

Blue Cross Legacy Plan C costs $122.86 per month ($1474.32 per year), no deductibles, seems like a better deal for us. Does not include Part D drug benefit. We have First Health Value Plan for drugs, $31.70 per month, no deductibles. We are in MI, each state has different pricing.
Best Wishes, SpringMan
samjuno
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by samjuno »

Local SHIP counselor told us in Medicare class that some medigap companies either won't accept you or allow you to "upgrade" your plan (ex. move from a N plan to a F plan) if you change your mind later. Think that refers to changes once your "Guaranteed Enrollment Period" is past. Also, unless you change in the first year, going from an Advantage plan to regular medicare with medigap can be problematic (underwriting or nonacceptance issues).

I decided to get the best coverage the first year and will probably go with Kaiser later on when finances get tighter.

-sam
rixer
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by rixer »

I'm also shopping for medigap insurance as I'll turn 65 this summer. I hadn't thought about it so when my agent suggested plan F, HD I was a little hesitant. The more I think about it, the more interested I'm becoming. It covers all the expenses plan F does after 2100 deductable. In the meantime medicare pays 80% of most things so you're still not hit with a big bill and if you suddenly need major healthcare, it'll cover all expenses once you reach your ded. Best reason, it's only around $37 bucks a month and the worst you'll be out is $1000 more than with regular plan F if you need lot's of care.

Why shouldn't I choose plan F, HD? Talk me out of it.
mur44
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by mur44 »

rixer,

If your health care needs are modest, Medigap F, HD is a good option.


Disclosure: I am a Certified Volunteer Medicare Counselor from NJ
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midareff
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by midareff »

midareff wrote:I turned 65 last December and enrolled in Medicare and AARP United Plan F. No deductibles at all and no copays.

I also seem to remember that the list of available hospitals was much smaller.
TheGreyingDuke
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by TheGreyingDuke »

apk wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are choosing a Medigap policy, then you can use any doctor you want. The limit on doctors only applies if you are choosing a Medicare Advantage plan. With Medigap, the only potential limit on doctor choice is if the doctor you want does not accept Medicare as payment in full. Then, you would have to pay the difference between what Medicare pays (including your Medigap policy) and what the doctor charges. Some Medigap policies also cover the excess cost.
No Mediagp plan imposes restrictions on doctors/hospitals you can access,no matter the company selling it or the specific plan
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
penumbra
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by penumbra »

Plan F is more generally available, and offered by more companies, compared to F hi-D. I use USAA, which doesn't offer the hi-D option. I researched it, but wasn't happy with the few providers for my area.
That being said, in my first 4 years on Medicare, USAA paid out $7000, 3000, 7000 and 8000 (so far). And I've always been a healthy, low utilizer. You never know. Don't count on always being healthy. Everybody gets something, sometime. Some go on for a while.
rixer
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by rixer »

penumbra wrote:Plan F is more generally available, and offered by more companies, compared to F hi-D. I use USAA, which doesn't offer the hi-D option. I researched it, but wasn't happy with the few providers for my area.
That being said, in my first 4 years on Medicare, USAA paid out $7000, 3000, 7000 and 8000 (so far). And I've always been a healthy, low utilizer. You never know. Don't count on always being healthy. Everybody gets something, sometime. Some go on for a while.
That's very true penumbra, you never know. The way I figured it, it's about a thousand a year cheaper if you just have a couple of dr appts and lab tests going with plan f, hd. it's a max thousand more if you have more issues. It's a crap shoot because we never know what the future has in store. With plan f, hd,it covers everything plan f does. medicare part b pays 80%, you pay 20% until you hit 2100.Then it pays everything so you're still able to get the best care when something comes up. I wasn't open to it at first but it makes more sense to me especially when you look at the price of planf, hd. At about $37 per month, it looks better all the time.
LAbob
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by LAbob »

If you change from Plan F to Plan F-HD, is there a problem down the road in switching back to Plan F during an open enrollment period if you, at that point, find you have high medical expenses?
TheGreyingDuke
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by TheGreyingDuke »

LAbob wrote:If you change from Plan F to Plan F-HD, is there a problem down the road in switching back to Plan F during an open enrollment period if you, at that point, find you have high medical expenses?
Any switches after the six-month open enrollment period will subject you to medical underwriting, and you can be refused. If your insurance company leaves your region's market or if you move to a region where your original carrier does not offer service, you are guaranteed coverage; what would happen if you had High Deductible F and no one else offered such a plan in these events is not clear to me.

Oh and open enrollment is ONLY during that six month window surrounding your 65th birthday, although there are some exceptions and some states have mandated greater flexibilities.
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
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fandango
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by fandango »

I was advised by 3 different insurance agents to go with Plan F, and I did. I went with BC/BS of Georgia (which is really Anthem out of Los Angeles) because of their enormous network.
Just about any doctor that you would want to see is in their network because they have 70% of the market in Georgia.

I go into the doctor's office and leave without co-pays or deductibles. No paperwork hassles.

My mother-in-law (85 years old) also has plan F and had a heart catheterization. When we left the hospital, we checked her out, and she owed absolutely nothing.
TheGreyingDuke
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by TheGreyingDuke »

There seems to be some ongoing confusion about "networks" and Medigap plans. There are no Mediagp networks, you go to any Medicare provider, Medicare pays their share, the Medigap plan, whatever company's name is on it, pays the rest.

Now if you are talking about Medicare Advantage plans, that is a different story.
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
BruDude
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by BruDude »

fandango wrote:I was advised by 3 different insurance agents to go with Plan F, and I did. I went with BC/BS of Georgia (which is really Anthem out of Los Angeles) because of their enormous network.
Just about any doctor that you would want to see is in their network because they have 70% of the market in Georgia.

I go into the doctor's office and leave without co-pays or deductibles. No paperwork hassles.

My mother-in-law (85 years old) also has plan F and had a heart catheterization. When we left the hospital, we checked her out, and she owed absolutely nothing.
If Plan F is more than $147/year more than Plan G, then it makes no sense to take Plan F in any scenario. The only difference between G and F is that G does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible and F does. Ex: Plan F is $125/month and Plan G is $100/month, annual difference = $300. Why would anyone want to pay an extra $300 to insure against a loss of $147? People do it all the time though because "Plan F is the best"
PledgePoint
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by PledgePoint »

BruDude wrote:
fandango wrote:I was advised by 3 different insurance agents to go with Plan F, and I did. I went with BC/BS of Georgia (which is really Anthem out of Los Angeles) because of their enormous network.
Just about any doctor that you would want to see is in their network because they have 70% of the market in Georgia.

I go into the doctor's office and leave without co-pays or deductibles. No paperwork hassles.

My mother-in-law (85 years old) also has plan F and had a heart catheterization. When we left the hospital, we checked her out, and she owed absolutely nothing.
If Plan F is more than $147/year more than Plan G, then it makes no sense to take Plan F in any scenario. The only difference between G and F is that G does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible and F does. Ex: Plan F is $125/month and Plan G is $100/month, annual difference = $300. Why would anyone want to pay an extra $300 to insure against a loss of $147? People do it all the time though because "Plan F is the best"
I know this is digging up an old topic, but I wanted to point out that insurance agents are paid commission as a percentage of premium on Medigap policies. It does not surprise me that 3 different agents 'advised' Plan F. Higher premium = higher commission. It very well could have made sense, I just thought that was funny. Most agents dont have a clue
http://ohiomedigapinsurance.com
BruDude
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by BruDude »

PledgePoint wrote:
BruDude wrote:
fandango wrote:I was advised by 3 different insurance agents to go with Plan F, and I did. I went with BC/BS of Georgia (which is really Anthem out of Los Angeles) because of their enormous network.
Just about any doctor that you would want to see is in their network because they have 70% of the market in Georgia.

I go into the doctor's office and leave without co-pays or deductibles. No paperwork hassles.

My mother-in-law (85 years old) also has plan F and had a heart catheterization. When we left the hospital, we checked her out, and she owed absolutely nothing.
If Plan F is more than $147/year more than Plan G, then it makes no sense to take Plan F in any scenario. The only difference between G and F is that G does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible and F does. Ex: Plan F is $125/month and Plan G is $100/month, annual difference = $300. Why would anyone want to pay an extra $300 to insure against a loss of $147? People do it all the time though because "Plan F is the best"
I know this is digging up an old topic, but I wanted to point out that insurance agents are paid commission as a percentage of premium on Medigap policies. It does not surprise me that 3 different agents 'advised' Plan F. Higher premium = higher commission. It very well could have made sense, I just thought that was funny. Most agents dont have a clue
It's also an easier sale to just say "well Plan F covers everything so it's the best" instead of explaining the difference.
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Sheepdog
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by Sheepdog »

apk wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are choosing a Medigap policy, then you can use any doctor you want. The limit on doctors only applies if you are choosing a Medicare Advantage plan. With Medigap, the only potential limit on doctor choice is if the doctor you want does not accept Medicare as payment in full. Then, you would have to pay the difference between what Medicare pays (including your Medigap policy) and what the doctor charges. Some Medigap policies also cover the excess cost.
You are correct.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
TheGreyingDuke
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by TheGreyingDuke »

There seems to be a widespread myopia when it comes to health insurance, especially as compared to other insurances. When we buy auto or home insurance we calculate what risk we can shoulder, what we cannot, and buy coverage commensurately. But when it comes to health insurance we calcite "what will I get for what I pay in". You can see this most clearly with Medicare Part d where you are encouraged to think of it as pre-payment for medications rather than risk insurance.
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
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Eric
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by Eric »

I see some value in a zero-deductible option, as a safeguard against future mental impairment.

If the deductible is zero, I can follow a simple rule: I shouldn't have to pay anything at the doctor's office. (This assumes that Plan F does in fact cover all charges.) If the deductible is more than zero, then I have to make judgments. At some point in my life that could be a problem. I could wind up paying the deductible three times, because the billing's messed up and I don't catch the mistake. Heck, it's hard enough to follow medical bills now.

Currently this isn't an issue for me, as I'm still in "early middle age." But when I get older, I'll look for little ways like this to structure my life to protect myself. Another example: I may switch to a Target Retirement fund, even at the cost of a slightly higher expense ratio, to avoid the need to make investment decisions.
ddunca1944
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by ddunca1944 »

Eric wrote:I see some value in a zero-deductible option, as a safeguard against future mental impairment.

If the deductible is zero, I can follow a simple rule: I shouldn't have to pay anything at the doctor's office. (This assumes that Plan F does in fact cover all charges.) If the deductible is more than zero, then I have to make judgments. At some point in my life that could be a problem. I could wind up paying the deductible three times, because the billing's messed up and I don't catch the mistake. Heck, it's hard enough to follow medical bills now.

Currently this isn't an issue for me, as I'm still in "early middle age." But when I get older, I'll look for little ways like this to structure my life to protect myself. Another example: I may switch to a Target Retirement fund, even at the cost of a slightly higher expense ratio, to avoid the need to make investment decisions.
+1
This is our line of thinking as well. I am trying (as much as possible) to put our financial decisions on auto so as to simplify the decision making. Right now, I enjoy the process of making financial decisions; but I can foresee the day when it could become burdensome. And if one of us should develop a serious illness, the last thing I want to deal with would be medical bills and decisions.
stampschick
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by stampschick »

btenny wrote:My wife and I both choose Medigap Plan F High Deductable from Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It is very cheap, $37.24 per month ($453 per year) when you auto deduct. It allows me to use any doctors I want in any location as long as they take Medicare. It pays 100% after the $2K deductable. It covers excess charges if they apply. It covers foreign travel. So I get good insurance for small annual costs that covers any big medical bill. It is great.

Why would you want to spend $1550+ per year EVERY year on a Medigap Plan F or Plan G? Do the math and some forecasting on what you spend every year on doctors and medical tests and hospital visits? I am pretty sure there is no way will you spend anywhere near the extra $1100 you will be giving to the insurance companies. In order to spend this much you will need to spend $5K or more at medicare rates EVERY YEAR on just Doctors office calls and lab tests. This means you would have to have some sort of major big problem requiring multiple CT scans and out patient surgery every year. Look at some bills sometime. I think you will find this just does not happen. So the High Deductable plan is much better IMO.

Bill
Well, how can you know what might happen next month even? You might have a massive heart attack, you could be diagnosed with cancer, you could have a devastating auto accident. Any number of high maintenance conditions. All of these what ifs's and could be's are what drives many people to steer clear of high deductible Medigap plans and choose peace of mind rather than premium savings.
stampschick
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by stampschick »

rixer wrote:I'm also shopping for medigap insurance as I'll turn 65 this summer. I hadn't thought about it so when my agent suggested plan F, HD I was a little hesitant. The more I think about it, the more interested I'm becoming. It covers all the expenses plan F does after 2100 deductable. In the meantime medicare pays 80% of most things so you're still not hit with a big bill and if you suddenly need major healthcare, it'll cover all expenses once you reach your ded. Best reason, it's only around $37 bucks a month and the worst you'll be out is $1000 more than with regular plan F if you need lot's of care.

Why shouldn't I choose plan F, HD? Talk me out of it.
It depends on what you can finacially afford. If Social Security is your only income, that high deductible might be difficult to pay in a catastrophic occurrence. If you have other sources of income, you shouldn't have too much problem. I, myself, have only SS of $1228.00 per month, so a high deductible could really hit me hard, and then I'd have to start all over again meeting that deductible the next year. For someone like me, that could be devastating. My thought is, I don't want to have that fear hanging over my head constantly about the what if's or could be's. I'll take peace of mind every time.
stampschick
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by stampschick »

mur44 wrote:rixer,

If your health care needs are modest, Medigap F, HD is a good option.


Disclosure: I am a Certified Volunteer Medicare Counselor from NJ
But how can any of us know how long our healthcare needs will remain modest? Just because those needs were few in past years, that's no guarantee against catastrophic events in the future. As the old (but wise) saying goes, better to be safe than sorry!
rixer
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by rixer »

stampschick wrote:
rixer wrote:I'm also shopping for medigap insurance as I'll turn 65 this summer. I hadn't thought about it so when my agent suggested plan F, HD I was a little hesitant. The more I think about it, the more interested I'm becoming. It covers all the expenses plan F does after 2100 deductable. In the meantime medicare pays 80% of most things so you're still not hit with a big bill and if you suddenly need major healthcare, it'll cover all expenses once you reach your ded. Best reason, it's only around $37 bucks a month and the worst you'll be out is $1000 more than with regular plan F if you need lot's of care.

Why shouldn't I choose plan F, HD? Talk me out of it.
It depends on what you can finacially afford. If Social Security is your only income, that high deductible might be difficult to pay in a catastrophic occurrence. If you have other sources of income, you shouldn't have too much problem. I, myself, have only SS of $1228.00 per month, so a high deductible could really hit me hard, and then I'd have to start all over again meeting that deductible the next year. For someone like me, that could be devastating. My thought is, I don't want to have that fear hanging over my head constantly about the what if's or could be's. I'll take peace of mind every time.
I think you're overestimating the risk. Go look at out of pocket expenses for the plans. First of all, Medicare negotiates the price they pay down to a fraction of what the charges are. Then, they pay 80% of that leaving nothing but a small amount due. It's hardly devastating.
This is approx what a person 65 pays for the two different plans.

Plan F HiD $450.
Deductible $2100.
Out of pocket...$2550.

Plan F $2040
Out of pocket $2040.

So you pay at least $2040 for reg Plan F per year even if you don't even use it. And as little as $450 for Plan F Hi D if you don't use it and a max of $2550 if you use the heck out of it.

It's nothing to lose sleep over.
drawpoker
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by drawpoker »

BruDude wrote:......If Plan F is more than $147/year more than Plan G, then it makes no sense to take Plan F in any scenario. The only difference between G and F is that G does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible and F does. Ex: Plan F is $125/month and Plan G is $100/month, annual difference = $300. Why would anyone want to pay an extra $300 to insure against a loss of $147? People do it all the time though because "Plan F is the best"
Again, at the risk of repeating myself, any discussion of Medigap rates is based on the many, many variations among the states. Believe me, there are almost no generalizations that can be made when discussing premium rates.
Taking BruDude's assertion above for ex -
In my state, BCBS raises rates on Plan G annually. Not in 5-year age brackets like Plan F. So, when I looked at it, the diff. in monthly premium between Plan F and Plan G in two years (age 67) would be only $10 a month (assuming rates were adjusted for inflation annually in the same general percentages)
So, $10 a month X 12 months versus $147 Part B deductible -
Eureka. Plan F is the "better scenario".
drawpoker
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by drawpoker »

LAbob wrote:If you change from Plan F to Plan F-HD, is there a problem down the road in switching back to Plan F during an open enrollment period if you, at that point, find you have high medical expenses?
You are still in Los Angeles, right?
If so, don't worry. Calif. has the "birthday rule" instead of Open Enrollment. You can switch on your birthday each year forever. (If this has changed in any way recently, please someone from Golden State correct me here)
Boglegrappler
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by Boglegrappler »

I'm looking at this decision shortly and haven't figured anything out yet. My inclination would be to choose a plan that has a relatively high deductible, but that covers far more expenses in the case of some serious long term illness. But it appears to me that possibly none of the plans do that. They really aren't insurance at all, its just prepaid medical care. Kind of like food insurance....you know your going to need to eat, and its not something that can be insured against.


The other issue I have is that I don't want to be a supplicant as I relate to the medical community. Our primary care physician just went to a concierge model, and we switched to another physician. But I don't want to have a plan or an insurer that causes appointment secretaries to give me the slot that available in five weeks. I want one that gets me treated decently, but I'm not sure that exists either.
drawpoker
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by drawpoker »

All good points, boglegrappler. There is a tremendous amount of research you have to do. And, it is best to do this on your own, not rely on others.
And there are always surprises, no matter how much we think we know. After I officially went on Medicare this past June I joked at my first doctor visit "hope you don't drop me now that I am on Medicare....heard you doctors aren't big fans of Medicare 'cuz they are always threatening to cut your dough...."
She laughed, then proceeded to tell me that Maryland has always been at the low end of totem pole for doctors and the private insurance companies. Reimbursements were not nearly on a par with other states.
She actually told me that she was happy to have more Medicare patients than private insurance patients. :shock:
She has been in practice (an internist) for over 20 years here, so I assume she knows what she is talking about.
Point is: Don't believe everything you hear. This whole crap shoot of how to go on Medicare, traditional versus MA, which Medigap plan to pick, and all the rest is very very locality-driven in terms of how it all shakes out.
That is why I caution everyone to research their own state thoroughly. Don't make any assumptions.
In case I haven't mentioned it before - for the benefit of the people who are researching now on the eve of open enrollment = start with your state's insurance commissioner office first to see if they post current Medigap insurers and rates. MD, Illinois, NY I know do. GA doesn't.
If your state offers this online resource, be glad. Use it. It will save you literally hours and hours of legwork, and avoid listening to insurance brokers who may be out to make a commission off of you, rather than giving you solid facts.
kaneohe
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by kaneohe »

Perhaps this site might be useful. It's from a private exchange and gives some provider costs based on geographic area, age, etc. Not all providers show up (AARP UHC in particular)
but you can call the missing ones you might be interested in and have a basis for comparison. You can change the age and get some feel for how rates might change as you age although some component of time variation will still be missing.
https://medicare.oneexchange.com/medica ... care-plans
drawpoker
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by drawpoker »

[quote="kaneohe"]Perhaps this site might be useful. It's from a private exchange and gives some provider costs based on geographic area, age, etc. Not all providers show up (AARP UHC in particular)
/quote]

This is a website put up by the insurance companies themselves. Not from an indep. consumer research group.
Buyer Beware
samjuno
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by samjuno »

Update:

2nd year on Plan G with Government Personnel Mutual (GPM) & so far no major rate increase. Premium still <$110/month & will turn 70 late next year.
This is in Colorado. Uncertain what their relationship is with Mutual of Omaha, so will see if I'm still in the "teaser rate" period.

-sam
kaneohe
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by kaneohe »

drawpoker wrote:
kaneohe wrote:Perhaps this site might be useful. It's from a private exchange and gives some provider costs based on geographic area, age, etc. Not all providers show up (AARP UHC in particular)
/quote]

This is a website put up by the insurance companies themselves. Not from an indep. consumer research group.
Buyer Beware
This was simply suggested as an easy way to get rates for medigap policies for your particular situation in a few minutes similar to the way that the Medicare.gov site does for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. Are you saying the info is not accurate?
kaneohe
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by kaneohe »

apk wrote:I think Kaiser Health just did a study on Medigap policies. One of its conclusions was that the monthly premium for the same plan varied dramatically from company to company. Calling a slew of companies is time-consuming. Also, in many cases you are asked for your name, address, and phone number. An agent will eventually call you back.

Recently I went through this process for my wife. With some companies, I did not have to give my name, etc. I was able to immediately speak with an agent and the agent was low-key, i.e., he/she did not try to sell me a plan. He/she responded to my question about the monthly premium by giving me the premium cost.

Here are several companies along with their toll-free numbers:

Aetna - 1-888-436-9678.
Humana - 1-800-872-7294.
Medico - 1-800-228-6080.
State Mutual - 1-855-764-4000.
USAA - 1-800-845-8026.

In all, I found 14 insurance companies that were able to give me quotes immediately. The five above have been randomly (but not alphabetically) selected. All these companies sell Plan F, which is what I was interested in. They may or may not sell Plan G.
Have you tried this one? https://medicare.oneexchange.com/medica ... care-plans I'd be curious how your quotes agree with this one.
drawpoker
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by drawpoker »

kaneohe wrote:
This was simply suggested as an easy way to get rates for medigap policies for your particular situation in a few minutes similar to the way that the Medicare.gov site does for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. Are you saying the info is not accurate?
Might be accurate but hardly complete, or comprehensive.
You said yourself that not all companies were listed.
As a test, I inputted my zip code and requested choices for any Medigap plans. Result: 8 choices available.
Ridiculous. At my last check on state insurance commissioner website there are now 28 companies in MD offering plans, two new entrants came on board in March.
Why would anyone waste time on an incomplete listing when there are sources for the full and current listing?
Last edited by drawpoker on Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
kaneohe
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by kaneohe »

drawpoker wrote:
kaneohe wrote:
This was simply suggested as an easy way to get rates for medigap policies for your particular situation in a few minutes similar to the way that the Medicare.gov site does for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. Are you saying the info is not accurate?
Might be accurate but hardly complete, or comprehensive.
You said yourself that not all companies were listed.
Why would anyone waste time on an incomplete listing when there are sources for the full and current listing?
I have no idea how incomplete it is. I only know that AARP UHC isn't listed. I'm all ears if you have a suggestion for a more complete listing of plans and prices.
drawpoker
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by drawpoker »

As I have said many times before - depends on which state you are in. Many progressive states have all this info available on the website of the state office of insurance commissioner (or similar name)
Maryland, Illinois, New York I know for a fact. Georgia, no. Start Googling.
So, if your state offers this, take advantage of it!
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CWRadio
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Re: Medigap Plan G vs Plan F?

Post by CWRadio »

Another place to check rates:
CSG Actuarial's

https://csgactuarial.com/demo/

Paul
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