Medicare Plans

My wife and I will be 65 in the next 6 months and are starting to think
seriously about Medicare.

We went to a Humana Gold Plus seminar last week and were totally
shocked at what they offer and without any additional cost (excepting
reasonable co-pays). Health club coverage, emergency overseas coverage
and no need to worry about what pescription plan to go with -- theirs
looked great.

Unfortunately, my doctor isn't on their list, but that's about the
only downside I can see. My wife and I are pretty healthy and don't
constantly go to doctors.

Any other opinions?

Rita...

Humana does not offer service in my area, but I have belonged
to two similar Medicare HMOs, one in New York City and one now
in San Diego.

I have been extremely pleased with both and they have saved me
big bucks while providing excellent care. I do not have to
wonder what certain treatments will cost. The plans lay out
clearly what they will pay for and how much. And the costs to
the patient are quite reasonable.

I would never let having to change doctors hold me back. If
you don't like your choice in the Medicare HMO, you can change
to another.

If you don't like Humana, you can always disenroll and go back to
conventional Medicare.

AndyS...

You have a very good approach to this, Tom.

Humana has a very good program... Rita, who posts here,
can fill you in on how it actually works. She is very happy with
it, tho it isn't offered everywhere...I can't get it in Navarro County,
Texas.

Rita...

I don't have Humana, Andy. I have a Medicare HMO offered by
PacificCare called Secure Horizons. There are other Medicare
HMOs, depending on the area in which you live. I would certainly
look into Humana, though, and any other Medicare HMOs offered
so your advice is good.

Regarding your doctor...... Do you like the guy because of his
rapport with you, or is it because you know, from personal experience,
that he is competent, and can give you the best care ?

From my standpont, neither you, nor I, are able to reasonably
evaluate the COMPETENCE of a doctor... Only whether we like his
"bedside manner' or not.....

Rita...

You can change doctors in Medicare HMOs. You are not stuck with
one you don't like. Usually info is available about their
credentials as well.

So, my advice is : Sign up for Humana, and , in a year, if you
are dissatisfied with it, go back to your doctor......

One year ain't too long... dude...

It will give you a chance to see how you like everything..... and it
ain't permantent either....

So don't read more into this decision than it really merits.

You can change anytime you want.... Give Humana -- or

js...

Humana Gold Plus is an HMO product under Medicare Plus Choice. It has
a panel of primary care providers. All of the panel provides services
to Medicare eligibles - not all Medicare providers are participants in
Humana Gold Plus.

Humana Gold Choice is an open panel FFS program that includes Medicare
services plus extras. It is more expensive than Medicare Gold Plus in
that its cost sharing and copay structure is different - but it is an
open panel with more flexibility to select providers.

Tom Miller...

Yes, the Gold Plus is what is looking good to us -- we're in the St.
Petersburg/Tampa area. Are there others who offer plans that are
directly comparable to Humana's?

The only reason I'm posting here is that I was expecting that getting
set up in Medicare was going to be a hassle -- selecting a prescription
plan, etc. Humana Gold Plus makes it all so simple -- sounded almost
too good to be true.

Norma...

It is a good one. My mother has it and she is very happy.

anybody else --- a chance..... Maybe it will be GREAT !!

Maybe it will SUCK, big time, for you....

So give it a shot and see what happens... Nothing is forever..

Andy in Eureka, Texas

Gary James...

It all depends. If your doctor is one of your closest friends and
*also* he is the kind of guy who'll say --- "I won't bother with
billing you for just a quick physical. You can pay for lunch next
week at the club".---- Then I would be concerned about losing him.
Otherwise, I wouldn't.