I just got my 2019 Medicare Supplement Card

[MineralMan]

This year was weird in Minnesota. I've had the same (cost) supplement plan from Blue Cross/Blue Shield for eight years now. It was fine, although the premium had gone up each year a little. For some reason I don't understand, though, that plan was no longer available in the Minnesota county I live in. I still haven't figured that out.

So, every Medicare recipient on a (cost) plan in the urban counties in MN had to switch to a new plan. BC/BS offered me a PPO Advantage plan as a replacement, but it didn't include my doctor or multi-specialty clinic in its network. Screw that, I said, since I've been going to the same doctor at that clinic since 2004.

I looked at traditional Medicare supplements that were available, but their premiums were all about double what I had been paying.

So, it turned out that my clinic, which is a part of a major healthcare system in Minnesota, had hooked up with Aetna to create new Advantage plans for those counties. I looked at them. I picked the second lowest premium, which has $10 copays for office visits and some other costs that were covered in my previous plan, but they're for services I'll probably not need. Its prescription coverage, though, ends up costing me less for the generic meds I take. All in all, it looked OK, so i signed up. The premium is just $47/ month. I'll save a decent amount over the year, assuming that my general good health continues. I also get some minimal dental, hearing and vision support from it, although I'm sure I won't use that. The co-pay for a pair of glasses is twice as much as two pairs cost at America's Best with no insurance at all, including the eye exam.

What's amazing is the amount of advertising the various plans are doing around here. They are spending millions trying to get people signed up for their plans. I'm not sure I get it. It's a complex maze of decision-making for people who had been happy with their existing (cost) plans. Very confusing, especially for elders who are not as sharp as they once were.

Why the change? I haven't found an explanation for that that makes much sense. It has to do with some change in the Medicare laws, but I've yet to figure it out. Anyhow, I'm covered for 2019, so I guess it's all good.

[hedda_foil]

1. The decisions on which areas to cover are always the Insurance Company's

They couldn't get the deal they wanted in your area so they dropped the plan in your part of Minnesota.

[MineralMan]

2. Actually, the (cost) plans went away because of some

federal rule. Something about there being two Advantage plans being available in the same area. They were not longer allowed to offer (cost) plans because there are several Advantage plans available in those urban counties. I'm not entirely clear on why that rule exists, but it must have something to do with money.

So, each of the insurers came up with new Advantage plans, which disrupted the whole network thing. Aetna is new to the area, and contracted with the healthcare company that my clinic is part of. That healthcare company has several multi-specialty and specialty clinics in the area, and a couple of major hospitals. It also has several primary care and urgent care clinics, including the one my primary care doctor works at.

Because of the new contract, that system isn't in the networks of the other insurers. So, I'm sort of stuck with Aetna unless I'm willing to find a new doctor and clinic near me. I looked at some of the other insurer's plans and they're all just about the same, but with different networks.

Like I said, it's weird and confusing. It's going to really mess with some seniors' minds, and will cause great difficulty in their making a decision. I don't like that part at all. Anyhow, it's a big change and there are going to be some bad effects from it for some people, who may not be able to decide what to do and may do nothing. That would be a huge mistake.

[DeminPennswoods]

3. The Medicare book I got had a note beside supplement plans C and D

saying they would no longer be available starting in 2019. AFAIK, these are the two supplement plans that cover the most costs, but there was no reason given for why they were discontinued.

[MineralMan]

4. With the Advantage plans, the Part C and D

are rolled into the plan. The plan pays the 20% copay on Part B coverage, which is called Part C, and adds Part D for prescription coverage. I still have to pay my Part B premium to Medicare, but the insurer gets some of that from the government along with the premium I pay to them directly.

It is a very, very complex equation, but is apparently profitable for the insurers, since they're advertising like crazy to get people to sign up. I'm suspicious of all of it, but what it means is that if I get sick, I'm covered, except for minor co-pays. That's my goal. The rest is not something I worry much about for myself.

[asiliveandbreathe]

5. Important conversation to be having - a complete maze as you say...especially

for those who are in change position...does your plan have an out of pocket Max..yes, I know states are different....just curious..mine, in AZ is $3200..$39 month..Blue Medicare Advantage Plus (HMO)..have had for 3 years..now husband needs to sign up....

[MineralMan]

6. Yes. There is an out of pocket maximum.

If you're OK with your current plan and it's available for 2019, there's no real reason to change it. Here, the problem was for people who had the discontinued (cost) supplement plans. Advantage plans weren't affected. In fact, I was basically forced to switch to one. Mine is a PPO Advantage plan, rather than an HMO Advantage plan. Bottom line for most people is that all the plans will work, as long as you're good with the providers in their systems.

If you like your current plan OK, just keep it. Your husband might be fine with it, too. I don't know.

It's the providers that you have to pay attention to, rather than the actual plan details. That's the most important decision, really. If you like your doctors and the clinics and hospitals in your plan, it will work just fine.