My Medicare supplement thru AARP will go up 2 bucks a month in 2015.

[CTyankee]

We have pretty thorough coverage and I was a bit worried about a dramatic increase. This is a relief...I thought we might get socked with a big jump. With all the noise from the RW about wild jumps in the cost of health care, even I got nervous.

One less thing to worry about...

[B2G]

1. It's going up dramatically in NC

Turmoil in Medicare Advantage hits North Carolina seniors hard

By Ann Doss Helms
[e-mail]

Posted: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014

North Carolina senior citizens who choose private Medicare policies are seeing an unusual level of turmoil this year, with more than 57,000 notified their plans won’t be offered in 2015 and others seeing rates more than triple.

The upheaval involves Medicare Advantage, a program that lets people 65 and older choose private policies instead of federal health coverage. About 475,000 in North Carolina have those policies, including about 35,000 each in Mecklenburg and Wake counties.

No other state had so many people lose their current Medicare Advantage plans, according to a national tally by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group that tracks health trends. New York was second with just over 55,000 enrolled in canceled plans.

While some year-to-year change is normal, the extent in North Carolina is out of step with what’s happening across the country, according to the Kaiser report and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/11/17/5323124/turmoil-in-medicare-advantage.html#storylink=cpy

[rickford66]

2. What is the monthly premium?

They won't let you know unless you send in an application. I know there's no set number, but there must be a range.

[CTyankee]

3. IIRC, about $220. My husband handles this job to take a burden off of me (he is somewhat

disabled and I have had to do lots more so we divvied up the research/phoning, etc, which he CAN do).

Normally, I don't have lots of medical bills, but he does. However, you never can tell (esp. at my age which is 75) what can happen. Or what condition might develop that I don't have now, requiring god knows what in costs.

He could do this by phone, I guess because we've been on this supplement plan for several years.

[rickford66]

4. So, your premium is $220.

Does your husband also have the plan?

[CTyankee]

5. yes.

[rickford66]

6. Maybe I'm not asking this correctly.

You each pay $220 for a total of $440?

[CTyankee]

7. yes and he has more health problems than I do.

[rickford66]

8. Thanks

My wife and I are 68 and 69. Me in good health. She has some problems the medical establishment won't help with anyway. My parents had AARP and it covered most of the excess not covered by Medicare. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons.

[LongTomH]

9. What kind of deductibles and co-pays do you have?

[CTyankee]

10. office visits completely covered. No deductibles.

I forget what the formula was for physical therapy, but I got a lot of it before any co-pays kicked in. Or at least enough for my arthritic spine to get better after my diagnosis for my back pain. I loved my PT but I was given great exercises to do at home which is wonderful.

I am going to the eye doc tomorrow for some damn problem with redness and itchiness so I'll know about that then.

Basically, I have a primary care doc who handles a LOT and my rheumatologist for my arthritis, both at full coverage for office visits. The rheumatologist will give me injections in my spine and knee which are completely covered.

So far, OK.