Beware of Shifting Options Within Medicare Plans.

[elleng]

For millions of older Americans, it is time to sift through the mind-boggling array of Medicare plans.

There is an average of 29 drug plans to digest, and about 18 options for Medicare Advantage, the plans delivered through private insurers. Then there are the 10 supplemental plans that cover what traditional Medicare does not.

The choices can be paralyzing for anyone, and they can be even more challenging as you age. The Medicare open enrollment season, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, gives individuals a chance to rethink it all and reassess whether their plan still fits their needs.

While no broad-based changes are expected, there could be meaningful shifts within individual plans. Maybe your Part D prescription plan will no longer pay for one of your drugs, or you started a new one. Perhaps your Medicare Advantage plan dropped your favorite doctor (or worse, a cancer treatment center) from network.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/04/your-money/beware-of-shifting-options-within-medicare-plans.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpHedSumMediumMediaFeature&module=c-column-middle-span-region&region=c-column-middle-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-middle-span-region

[femmocrat]

1. Yep. We are pulling out our hair over this!

Our Highmark plan went up 25%. (They blamed it on ACA, of course!) We had to drop dental to be able to afford it. So now we are looking at rival UPMC instead (Pennsylvania).

It's a nightmare. I truly feel sad for anyone without the "brainpower" to sort through all of this. Many older seniors have cognitive issues and often less education. I hope they have family members to help them through the process. This is cruel and unusual punishment.

[DakotaLady]

2. Me too...

As an AT&T CWA Retired Union Member we are being "helped" with this dilemma by the AON Retiree Health Exchange.

I have been an inch from a fit with it all.

eom ...

[jaysunb]

3. So far ( 5 years ) I've been very happy with my plan.

I know things could easily change, but so far, I haven't bothered to even look at other plans. I go through United Health which offers me the same HMO I've had for the past 30 years. Same doctors and specialist. No co-pay, 50$ for emergency an up to 30 days in the hospital.

I don't often say it, but I'm completely satisfied.

[elleng]

4. Me too, jaysunb.

I think I've got the best of all worlds, and likely will remain so, as I've got Medicare supplemented with the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan of my choice, and I/we selected the standard BC/BS plan. I've stayed there since my husband passed, leaving me with the option of maintaining that plan or another.