I am shopping for a medicare supplemental plan

[chowmama]

34. Decide on your personal parameters

or wishes, or standards, etc., to limit your choices. If you're looking at everything, it's too much, too complicated and you'll go nuts. Over a really long period of time.

I switched to Medicare and a supplement at 65, although I'm still working and could have stayed with my company's program. I wasn't about to do that because our paycheck contributions were going up by a lot every year. Not just me - everybody's. They were stuck with it, but I'd just gotten an out.

My parameters were: 1) My budget for Medicare and the supplement together was what I was already paying for the company policy.

2) I wanted a non-profit company. (My company insurance group claimed to be non-profit in our state, but they must have a very interesting definition of the term.)

3) I like to buy as local as I can. I'm in the Twin Cities, MN, so this is possible - it may not be where you live. But it helps to know that if I have a real problem, and phones and internet are being...unsatisfying, I can actually go and present myself at somebody's desk. I have the nerve to do it. A plan out of Hartford, CT won't do.

Throwing out every option that didn't meet all these, I still had a few choices. I checked BBB, complaints and general feedback, especially how they handled claims. I ended up with a plan that has good coverage, for only part of what I was paying in my contribution to the previous company (the rest got paid to Medicare) and decided I could stretch just a little to include dental and glasses.

And the experience has been good - after I was on it a year, DH switched over, as well. A month later, he had his heart attack. I think our end cost for the first crisis, not counting the ongoing meds, was $200. He was in the cardiac ward for 2 overnights and got a stent. Now, I'm pretty healthy - for years, no company has had to pay for more than vaccinations and I'm on no meds at all - but I'm starting to work on my teeth, so we'll see how the dental coverage works out. If you live in Minnesota, try UCare. I have UCare Basic, not even one of the upscale plans.

Anyway, these were my preferences. Yours may differ, and your available choices certainly will. Budget's definitely a factor - at least I could afford a supplement that was more than part D. But it's mainly about figuring out what not to even consider - when you try to do everything, you end up accomplishing nothing. Established limits are your best friend and a real timesaver.

Also check reviews and references. Doesn't matter what they charge or promise, if they won't deliver.