Health insurance for elderly Americans

[SKY]

I pay nothing for the Part B Supplemental insurance. To date I have had 6 operations in the US. Three of them major. One I was in intensive care for a week and the hospital for 12 days. My total out of pocket cost. " The middle of a donut"
.

 

[SKY]

Not to misrepresent what I mean. Of course I pay the part B price, but I pay nothing for the supplemental insurance that means all my medical needs are completely covered.

 

[cobraboy]

The figure $134 is pretty liquid also. I opted out when I turned 65 due to the fact that I was not physically in the USA, and last Feb I contacted them about how much it would be if I wanted in now. It came to $178. My brother on the other hand has had Medicare since he turned 65 and it was $104 at that time, and there is a clause that medicare will not go up faster than the COLA raises (cost of living allowance raises). So since such raises for the last several years have been minimal he is paying less than the $134.00.
On the other hand the supplemental insurance can be very cheap. My sister in law pays $8.50 per month and according to her "Everything is covered." She even goes to a podiatrist to get her toenails cut since she has had problems with them over the years that $40 is paid by her supplemental policy.
Der Fish

I pay $134 for regular Part B. It is what it is.

My rationale is that if I had a situation that I wouldn't trust to the local system I have a back-up plan.

 

[judypdr]

It is the cost of drugs that makes the US so expensive...even with deductibles and full coverage of a supplemental plan, most adults end up spending about $13,000 or so on insurance, deductibles and the part of prescriptions and doctors visits that the medicare supplement plans do not cover. That is the equivalent of most elder Americans social security payments for the year. I'm not sure how so many of you here are getting your supplemental coverage for free...maybe from your previous employer? Even paying for everything out of pocket here is much cheaper than in the us... I couldn't afford to live there!

 

[SKY]

Getting supplemental coverage for Medicare is no secret. If you are alive, have a TV and get US programming from October to December you are bombarded with commercials for this.

That is the period that you can sign up, or change providers for supplemental coverage.

 

[AlterEgo]

It is the cost of drugs that makes the US so expensive...even with deductibles and full coverage of a supplemental plan, most adults end up spending about $13,000 or so on insurance, deductibles and the part of prescriptions and doctors visits that the medicare supplement plans do not cover. That is the equivalent of most elder Americans social security payments for the year. I'm not sure how so many of you here are getting your supplemental coverage for free...maybe from your previous employer? Even paying for everything out of pocket here is much cheaper than in the us... I couldn't afford to live there!

Some people choose to "exchange" their Part B Medicare for an HMO.  My parents did that in Florida with Humana.  They controlled their lives, told them which hospitals they could go to, which doctors (they had their own primary care docs in their own Humana facility). I still believe it cost my father his life, because they would not allow him to return to Miami for heart surgery, and required him to have it done in a small local hospital.  Something "went wrong" and he died. A vibrant and otherwise healthy man, still very active, who had the surgery because he wanted to bowl again.  

I'm not a gambler with my life.  I want to know that if the best doctor is in San Francisco, Dallas or Manhattan I have the choice to go there or not.  We have United Health Care Plan F through AARP.  It even covers us in DR (actually worldwide) for emergencies, last I checked there was a $250 deductible. 

I pay $111 a month for Medicare B, Mr AE pays $110, just looked at the statement SS sends before each calendar year.  Not sure why cobraboy pays $134, maybe it's tied to the state one lives in??

 

[playacaribe2]

It is the cost of drugs that makes the US so expensive...even with deductibles and full coverage of a supplemental plan, most adults end up spending about $13,000 or so on insurance, deductibles and the part of prescriptions and doctors visits that the medicare supplement plans do not cover. That is the equivalent of most elder Americans social security payments for the year. I'm not sure how so many of you here are getting your supplemental coverage for free...maybe from your previous employer? Even paying for everything out of pocket here is much cheaper than in the us... I couldn't afford to live there!

I am glad you added the words or so to the $13,000....because wherever you got those figures....they are off by thousands....if your intent was on a yearly basis;

www.medicare.gov

For those retired people over 65 who search for inexpensive plans in the DR, the wrong question to ask is what does it cost? The more important question or questions are, what is covered, the deductibles AND more importantly, do the best hospitals and doctors in the DR accept your insurance.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[playacaribe2]

Some people choose to "exchange" their Part B Medicare for an HMO.  My parents did that in Florida with Humana.  They controlled their lives, told them which hospitals they could go to, which doctors (they had their own primary care docs in their own Humana facility). I still believe it cost my father his life, because they would not allow him to return to Miami for heart surgery, and required him to have it done in a small local hospital.  Something "went wrong" and he died. A vibrant and otherwise healthy man, still very active, who had the surgery because he wanted to bowl again.  

I'm not a gambler with my life.  I want to know that if the best doctor is in San Francisco, Dallas or Manhattan I have the choice to go there or not.  We have United Health Care Plan F through AARP.  It even covers us in DR (actually worldwide) for emergencies, last I checked there was a $250 deductible. 

I pay $111 a month for Medicare B, Mr AE pays $110, just looked at the statement SS sends before each calendar year.  Not sure why cobraboy pays $134, maybe it's tied to the state one lives in??

It is not state specific as Medicare is national.

The difference likely comes from whether you are collecting Social Security or not. The premium is a bit higher for some if they are on medicare and are not yet eligible for ss benefits or have deferred collecting benefits.

And for those unaware, deferring benefits until age 70 for those that can or want to as they are in otherwise good health will give you an approximate 8% increase in those benefits for each year you defer.

Again, while there may be plans available in the DR for less money, for those citizens and residents of the US that can afford the cost of medicare, it is likely a very good option.

As you suggest, gambling with ones life is not a casino game I wish to play.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[Juan Bosch]

Medicare starts at 65 for most people, but does not cover everything, to my understanding.

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/44661

There was a thread that said what I have also heard. In order to be insured in the DR, by a DR insurance company, you have to apply before you turn 65. Someone disputed that, but I don't know of any certain way to get insurance here past 65. So unless and until we discover a plan and its pricing for those over 65 it is unlikely to exist. Also, any plan that does exist here is certain to exclude any pre-existing conditions, making it much less attractive to an elderly person. I see there is a response about 69 being the cut off, I had been told 65 is the cut off.

I have Universal. Its the only ARS with "covertura vitalicia"or lifetime insurance as long as you acquire the plan before 65.

 

[La Profe_1]

It is the cost of drugs that makes the US so expensive...even with deductibles and full coverage of a supplemental plan, most adults end up spending about $13,000 or so on insurance, deductibles and the part of prescriptions and doctors visits ...)

I know I've posted this before, but because I have retiree health insurance from my former employer, I don't need Medicare Part B or Part D. Instead, my costs for doctor visits, urgent care, emergency room, physical therapy, IV therapy, home nursing care and any other item covered by Part B is paid by private insurance. They also pay the Medicare Part A deductible if I were to be hospitalized.

I pay nothing for the retiree insurance, nothing for Parts B or D, and my deductible, not-covered portions of provider visits and durable medical equipment is fixed, by contract, at a total of $600 a year. Lab work and x-rays are covered in full. I am even covered here in the DR for hospitalization with no deductible. Any out of pocket expenses, except for prescriptions, over $600 is paid in full.

My prescriptions cost me $1 per script for a generic and $5 per script for a name brand. Maintenance medications, like blood pressure or cholesterol meds, can be filled as a 90 day supply for the same price. In other words, a year's supply of generic Lipitor costs me $4.00.

Including prescriptions, I generally pay nowhere near the $600 yearly that is the maximum. It makes no sense for me to opt into and pay for Parts B and/or D.

I had a laceration that required several sutures in March. I went to the urgent care provider that was closest, was examined, stitched up and went home. Never got a bill from the place because I got a benefit statement from my private insurer that the urgent care place had filed a claim which was paid according to the contractual amount and the provider had agreed to accept that as payment in full.

It makes sense for me to pay the out of pocket fixed at $600 a year instead of the $134 or whatever a month that Part B costs. I realize that I am atypical in that I have what most people would consider a platinum level of coverage paid for in full by my former employer. I also know that not many people are that lucky, but I am grateful that I have it.

 

[windeguy]

I have Universal. Its the only ARS with "covertura vitalicia"or lifetime insurance as long as you acquire the plan before 65.

Have you absolutely verified this statement that Universal is the only company? It is odd when there is a market place an only one vendor has that option. I suspect marketing hype was at play.

 

[dulce]

It is not state specific as Medicare is national.

The difference likely comes from whether you are collecting Social Security or not. The premium is a bit higher for some if they are on medicare and are not yet eligible for ss benefits or have deferred collecting benefits.

And for those unaware, deferring benefits until age 70 for those that can or want to as they are in otherwise good health will give you an approximate 8% increase in those benefits for each year you defer.

Again, while there may be plans available in the DR for less money, for those citizens and residents of the US that can afford the cost of medicare, it is likely a very good option.

As you suggest, gambling with ones life is not a casino game I wish to play.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

UNLESS you are from Massachusetts. If your SS income is low you can get free part B and D coverage through MassHealth. In my case I could collect SS from my Ex's SS at 66 and then switch to mine at age 70 to take advantage of the 8% each year. If you have to pay for Medicare in MA. $104 a month is the cheapest option for 80/20. People I know pay different amounts according to what supplement they choose. For example my sister pays $129 a month and my Mother pays $240. Neither one of them has any health issues. I don't either. Everyone should look at and access their personal coverage needs , check out all the options and go from there.

 

[playacaribe2]

UNLESS you are from Massachusetts. If your SS income is low you can get free part B and D coverage through MassHealth. In my case I could collect SS from my Ex's SS at 66 and then switch to mine at age 70 to take advantage of the 8% each year. If you have to pay for Medicare in MA. $104 a month is the cheapest option for 80/20. People I know pay different amounts according to what supplement they choose. For example my sister pays $129 a month and my Mother pays $240. Neither one of them has any health issues. I don't either. Everyone should look at and access their personal coverage needs , check out all the options and go from there.

I believe that loophole of collecting on one and then deferring to another was closed last year.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[windeguy]

There is nothing simple about health care in the US alone, adding the complexity of the DR to that is more than most elderly want to deal with.

 

[dulce]

I believe that loophole of collecting on one and then deferring to another was closed last year.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

You could be right. I hope not. I got my info from AARP magazine last month. I have not gone to SS office yet to learn of my particular options. I go in November. I retire in January 2018. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

 

[Matilda]

These are a couple of the requests for information from last week or so:

"I want retire early (my husband is 6 years older) but if I do I will have to pay apprx $700 per MONTH (crazy) here until I am 65 when Medicare kicks in (if the US even covers me at 65 the way things are going here ?????? ). I guess the main cost I was worried about was health care, it's getting scary over here in the US and I have been spoiled always having it pretty cheap with great coverage through my job. The last I checked I could get a private health care plan in DR for about $40 per month (per person) and I think that included Dental and Vision....does that sound right to you still in 2017?"

"My wife and I are an elderly retired couple thinking about relocating to the Dominican Republic but we need information.

I am 85 and my wife is 75 and we are concerned about what health insurance would cost us and would it even be available to us at our age?"

So Medicare kicks in at 65 (at the moment) and is more expensive than DR health insurance, but we are not sure how easy it will be to get health insurance for the over 65s?


Matilda

 

[cavok]

I know I've posted this before, but because I have retiree health insurance from my former employer, I don't need Medicare Part B or Part D. Instead, my costs for doctor visits, urgent care, emergency room, physical therapy, IV therapy, home nursing care and any other item covered by Part B is paid by private insurance. They also pay the Medicare Part A deductible if I were to be hospitalized.

I pay nothing for the retiree insurance, nothing for Parts B or D, and my deductible, not-covered portions of provider visits and durable medical equipment is fixed, by contract, at a total of $600 a year. Lab work and x-rays are covered in full. I am even covered here in the DR for hospitalization with no deductible. Any out of pocket expenses, except for prescriptions, over $600 is paid in full.

My prescriptions cost me $1 per script for a generic and $5 per script for a name brand. Maintenance medications, like blood pressure or cholesterol meds, can be filled as a 90 day supply for the same price. In other words, a year's supply of generic Lipitor costs me $4.00.

Including prescriptions, I generally pay nowhere near the $600 yearly that is the maximum. It makes no sense for me to opt into and pay for Parts B and/or D.

I had a laceration that required several sutures in March. I went to the urgent care provider that was closest, was examined, stitched up and went home. Never got a bill from the place because I got a benefit statement from my private insurer that the urgent care place had filed a claim which was paid according to the contractual amount and the provider had agreed to accept that as payment in full.

It makes sense for me to pay the out of pocket fixed at $600 a year instead of the $134 or whatever a month that Part B costs. I realize that I am atypical in that I have what most people would consider a platinum level of coverage paid for in full by my former employer. I also know that not many people are that lucky, but I am grateful that I have it.

I'd be willing to bet that over 99% of retirees don't have what you do. Count your blessings.

 

[Derfish]

It is the cost of drugs that makes the US so expensive...even with deductibles and full coverage of a supplemental plan, most adults end up spending about $13,000 or so on insurance, deductibles and the part of prescriptions and doctors visits that the medicare supplement plans do not cover. That is the equivalent of most elder Americans social security payments for the year. I'm not sure how so many of you here are getting your supplemental coverage for free...maybe from your previous employer? Even paying for everything out of pocket here is much cheaper than in the us... I couldn't afford to live there!

Supplemental coverage is offered on a sliding scale that takes into consideration household income. If one lives alone and the Social Security check is less than average which I read not too long ago is $1280 per month the state may pay for the supplemental coverage. Maine does for example. Tennessee said no since i was living in the same home as my mother one sister two brothers and one sis-in-law. The household income was over $6500 and that meant that I was not eligible for the state to pay for the cost of supplemental insurance.
Der Fish

 

[playacaribe2]

You could be right. I hope not. I got my info from AARP magazine last month. I have not gone to SS office yet to learn of my particular options. I go in November. I retire in January 2018. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Check to see if this is now applicable to your situation;

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html

Tough decisions for those from the US considering retirement in the DR. Especially those who are cash strapped to pay for insurance.

While I am sure that good care exists in the DR, I am not sure all those DR plans cover it (good care, i.e., top hospitals/top doctors). My own private carrier in the US covers me while in the DR, but medicare will not.

I also have health insurance in the DR courtesy of my wife.....so I have multiple bases covered......if needed.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[La Profe_1]

I'd be willing to bet that over 99% of retirees don't have what you do. Count your blessings.

Believe me, I do!