I'm 67 and have been retired for about 1 year.
I currently have Part A and B.
At the present time my prescriptions are not expensive and I just pay out of pocket.That could change in an instant so I should be looking for a prescription plan going forward.

My main concern is hospital stays. I have two knees that need replacement and two bad shoulders (rotater cuffs). I know the knees have to be fixed, the shoulders I may just live with.
I would like to possibly get a supplement plan to help with the Medicare shortfalls.

There a zillion choices and I think 95% might be bad.I don't want to make a bad choice and end up paying for the mistake for years to come.

Any suggestions from those that have fought this battle?

I'm looking into a Medicare Advantage plan this year. Lower costs,better coverage. And mine would be a PPO instead of a HMO due to the area we reside in.

And as a plus,my Cardiologist is a participant.

For some background I've got some help with looking at the various plans. My ex-employer's insurance company could not cover my wife unless we went COBRA which was economically impossible. But to their credit they referred us to another agent and company who could.

He wrote my wife's coverage as she is not yet 66 and wrote us a dental and vision plan for a reasonable rate through BC-BS.

He also has been watching for me as he told me for 2017 and 2018 I had the best deal through United Healthcare available and that he could not come close but this year through BC-BS or Aetna that things have changed. So next week we are meeting and if all goes well......

If you want to do some research on your own for Medicare Advantage Plans
Type in
US News and World Report Medicare Advantage plans 2019
It may say Presciption Plans at first glance, but it also includes that.
Type in your zip code and it will show all the plans offered in your area and the ratings.
After you figure out the site, and it’s easy, you’ll find they are not all created equal. There’s more to it than monthly copays. Be sure to see what Max OOP is.
The whole scenario is pretty confusing when you start looking. But this site helps to make you a better consumer.
Once you narrow down a few plans, get some paper and write down costs, deductibles, OOP, monthly copays, for each Plan. Easy to compare side by side. You’ll end up being knowledgeable before you talk to someone.
Remember it’s all by area and zip.

If you go with a Supplement, I’ve never heard a bad thing ever about Bankers Life.

I'm looking at these plans, too. Aetna has a couple Advantage plans in my area, one of them no-cost, the other $24/mo, and there are substantial reasons to go with the better plan. I can't, though, and this is an important consideration, because the hospital I want to use won't take Aetna's better plan. Ironically, they'll take the no-cost, but for now, I'm still looking. Hospitals around here are for shit, and I don't want to die at the hands of some incompetent Indian doctor.

Mine too is a no cost and 40 dollars a month adds more coverage. Add Silver Sneakers also.

So in total about a hundred and a quarter less per month.

I have regular A&B, a inexpensive drug supplement since I don't take any medications and Part G medigap.
G has a $183 annual deductible and covers pretty much everything that Medicare doesn't so you won't have any bills after the small deductible.
After paying the recent "Affordable Care premiums until this year, they all seem cheap.

if you have regular Medicare, a supplement will cover a lot of things but they are usually very expensive. The "Cadillac" version of most Advantage plans, while they don't cover as extensively as the supplement, are about 1/3 the cost. Mine will be $73/month and since it includes dental I think this is a pretty good deal.

See of you can get one of the insurance reps to come to your house and explain it all.

Both my wife and I are using Medica Advantage plans. They came out to the house and sat down with us and explained everything about advantage plans. I've been a member for a few years now and my family Private Physician is in their participating doc's and he said it was very good plan. So far I've paid very little for co-pays with prescription meds, even my heart medications. I picked up 4 prescriptions yesterday and zero copay. A couple months ago I had a heart attack and they had to do stents and clean the lower valves. The only bill I've had to pay so far in three months was $145 for the Rescue trip to the hospital. So far, so good.

I highly recommend calling "Health plan One"
They are paid by the various ins companies.
They can compare the companies available to you quickly and far more efficient than I could.
For what I saved in monthly, primary & deductible(= now 0 cost). I bought a dental premium.
Greg Keener helped me.
877-581-5373 ext 817

I got the Mutual of Omaha Plan G Supplement a couple days ago. It's supposed to cover everything except the Medicare once-a-year $185 deductible.

I don't know which drug plan to get, since I have no idea what ails me (at my age it's got to be something, though. Right?), so maybe the Humana plan for about $15/mo.

quote:

There a zillion choices and I think 95% might be bad.I don't want to make a bad choice and end up paying for the mistake for years to come.

Any suggestions from those that have fought this battle?

If you choose a Medicare Advantage Plan and wish to change, the Part B supplement can charge you a PREMIUM if you have any preexisting issues. This sort of thing is NOT allowed intially. The Medicare Advantage plans are cheaper because they restrict where you can go for care and often require authorizations. Insurance companies are paid a set dollar amount from the Federal government. They make more money if you go to the doctor less and use fewer services. People become angry when they need to go a regional Cancer Center for example, and find that it is out of network. It is an important and complicated decision.