General Discussion

procon

(15,805 posts)

43. Its troublesome, to be sure, and very confusing for a lot of seniors.

Sat Apr 29, 2017, 03:02 PM

Apr 2017

I think most people just want a no hassle insurance (like Medicare for all) that works without any huge effort, surprises or gotchas. I laugh in disgust when I hear those Republicans touting "choose any insurance company", as if I want to spend days trying to figure out which company offers the services I might need, and which providers (from MDs, labs, hospitals, pharmacies, etc., are in that plan) No thanks!

Most people don't even know the right questions to ask. They don't know that some providers expect the patient to pay them in full, and it's up to them to submit the supporting paperwork to Medicare for reimbursement. Some providers do not accept what Medicare pays, they demand the full 100%, but the supplemental insurance plans only cover the difference between the amount allowed by Medicare and the amount paid by Medicare, so guess who gets that bill?

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I have Medicare it is not free health insurance. [View all] wasupaloopa Apr 2017 OP

Welcome to DU, wasupaloopa! femmocrat Apr 2017 #1

Thanks. I am not new to DU I just could not use my past log in after the election hack. My email wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #14

By and large, all progressives know that gov't programs are not "free"... Wounded Bear Apr 2017 #2

Well I read many replys to the other medicare thread this morning where posters described Medicare. wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #9

All I'm saying is that we know it isn't "free"... Wounded Bear Apr 2017 #20

What is paid for with payroll deductions is only part A which is coverage for hospital bed days and wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #52

The OP makes a good point however MichMan Apr 2017 #48

In addition, you paid into Medicare through your taxes while you worked. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2017 #3

I have Medicare with no supplemental - but it's through a local hospital and it's great womanofthehills Apr 2017 #36

That sounds wondeful. Can we all get that? wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #53

I have no supplemental- I just signed up with our local Presbyterian Hospital in NM womanofthehills Apr 2017 #65

Buy that policy from a private insurer dpibel Apr 2017 #4

I agree with all you are saying and I am not complainging. When I was working I had a high wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #10

I don't think the OP was complaining about the cost of Medicare, The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2017 #28

Excellent Coverage Description, but as a retired manager at CMS, BlackCherokee Apr 2017 #5

Thanks for the correction. I was under the impression that private companies contracted with wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #11

"Center for Medicare Services a corporation" dpibel Apr 2017 #6

Wonder what you want I don't care. Some where in my past I had occation to have to deal with CMS wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #12

As a government agency it used to be called "HCFA" BumRushDaShow Apr 2017 #30

You're not fuzzy! charlyvi Apr 2017 #37

Thanks for that it gives me hope my mind isn't going too fast. wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #54

There's an informative brochure about Medicare available at Medicare.gov. beaglelover Apr 2017 #17

+1. Don't think most people realize how much beneficiaries pay out of their pocket for Medicare. Hoyt Apr 2017 #7

We need to curb people/organizations profiting off of controlling healthcare killbotfactory Apr 2017 #8

I agree with that. wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #13

Healthcare should be universal and everyone should pay for it Yavin4 Apr 2017 #15

Sales taxes do pay for some health care. I worked for a CA county Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #16

Desn't Canada pay for theirs with a 15 % GST tax? nm MichMan Apr 2017 #49

I am not familiar with Canada's system wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #51

The cost of medicare would go down shockey80 Apr 2017 #18

somehow we would need to make it permanent like a constitutional amendment saying health care is a wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #19

I believe in Medicare for all, but I do not believe it is going to lower the cost more than 8% or Hoyt Apr 2017 #25

I have an Advantage Plan, PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2017 #21

The basic truth about Medicare is that... Wounded Bear Apr 2017 #22

I also have an Advantage plan, aka Part C. ginnyinWI Apr 2017 #23

I do too. Had Kaiser before I went back on employer's plan. I liked it, but didn't have much choice Hoyt Apr 2017 #27

I've had Advantage through Kaiser for over a decade. procon Apr 2017 #33

I liked Kaiser too. Plus, with Advantage plans, there is a cap on how much you pay out-of-pocket. Hoyt Apr 2017 #39

Its troublesome, to be sure, and very confusing for a lot of seniors. procon Apr 2017 #43

I was under the impression that Medicare was an extension of ...... northoftheborder Apr 2017 #24

You are eligible at 65 for Medicare, period. No husband, employment, or retirement needed. But there WinkyDink Apr 2017 #35

"A lot of people are never in the system in their work"---Not in the US, there aren't. WinkyDink Apr 2017 #38

There is a penalty if you do not start Medicare at age 65 radical noodle Apr 2017 #40

So people who never paid in are still eligible? MichMan Apr 2017 #46

Not exactly. You aren't eligible for Social Security unless The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2017 #47

You pay for Part A only through payroll deductions. It covers hospital bed days only and there is a wasupaloopa Apr 2017 #55

I'm pretty much in your position, but I don't understany why your supplemental insurance is $180... George II Apr 2017 #26

Depends on what the supplemental policy covers. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2017 #45

The cost of your supplemental not only depends on what DURHAM D Apr 2017 #59

We're 69 and 68 years old, and our UHC plan actually went down to $25 from $29 the prev. year. George II Apr 2017 #61

I believe you have medicare advantage, not regular medicare. nt DURHAM D Apr 2017 #62

bravo for the post AllaN01Bear Apr 2017 #29

I've been saying this for over a year radical noodle Apr 2017 #31

There is no such thing as free healthcare. mwooldri Apr 2017 #32

My late 91-yr-old mother's AARP Supplemental cost $250/mo. If our taxes can pay for the Pentagon and WinkyDink Apr 2017 #34

I have Medicare and I NEVER chillfactor Apr 2017 #41

I have Humana as my supplement... chillfactor Apr 2017 #42

Sounds like you have an advantage plan, not regular medicare supplemental. nt DURHAM D Apr 2017 #60

I am 73 and have an Advantage plan Mickju Apr 2017 #44

This is all so fascinating as it appears we all pay OldHippieChick Apr 2017 #50

I'm on Medicare and can't really afford supplemental insurance. Vinca Apr 2017 #57

I am no expert, but I think this may be the secret. Don't buy all those Humana, OldHippieChick Apr 2017 #58

Where you live also determines supplemental costs. erinlough Apr 2017 #66

But... El Supremo Apr 2017 #56

Medicare for all would save businesses tons of money. Ilsa Apr 2017 #63

Maybe; maybe not MichMan Apr 2017 #64