Which Medicare Advantage Plan will you be choosing for 2025 & Why?

We moved from Humana to Devoted Health last year, after a recommendation from our medicare insurance broker, who went over the plans with us a year ago. He recommended Devoted because they are a Five Star company, and both the doctors and the patients liked the company and recommended it. They have exceptionally good extra benefits.
Last year was the first year in Alabama for Devoted, so it is still pretty new, even this year, but growing.

Our hospital system just announced that they are having some kind of irreconcilable differences with United Health Care (the one recommended by AARP), so none of the doctors or facilities who belong to the HHS will be accepting UHC insurance next year. I do not know if other parts of the country are having the same issues with UHC or if it is just our hospital, but in any case, a lot of people here depend on the Huntsville hospital and its doctors, so people will be changing from UHC to some other plan.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
We moved from Humana to Devoted Health last year, after a recommendation from our medicare insurance broker, who went over the plans with us a year ago. He recommended Devoted because they are a Five Star company, and both the doctors and the patients liked the company and recommended it. They have exceptionally good extra benefits.
Last year was the first year in Alabama for Devoted, so it is still pretty new, even this year, but growing.

Our hospital system just announced that they are having some kind of irreconcilable differences with United Health Care (the one recommended by AARP), so none of the doctors or facilities who belong to the HHS will be accepting UHC insurance next year. I do not know if other parts of the country are having the same issues with UHC or if it is just our hospital, but in any case, a lot of people here depend on the Huntsville hospital and its doctors, so people will be changing from UHC to some other plan.
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Devoted Health isn't in my area yet. Thanks!
 

Another mostly healthy person that has been fine with current plans so avoids switching. Have had KP since retiring in 2017 and before that while employed since 2010 KP also. My 4 top rated KP doctors treat me as one of significant public importance. There is a large new modern KP hospital with highest level facilities just a few miles drive that as a senior, does provide reasons to continue living here versus say moving to some smaller city. Also offices just a mile away where next Tuesday for example will walk-in without an appointment for free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
 
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David777 said:
Another mostly healthy person that has been fine with current plans so avoids switching. Have had KP since retiring in 2017 and before that while employed since 2010 KP also. My 4 top rated KP doctors treat me as one of significant public importance. There is a large new modern KP hospital with highest level facilities just a few miles drive that as a senior, does provide reasons to continue living here versus say moving to some smaller city. Also offices just a mile away where next Tuesday for example will walk-in without an appointment for free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
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What does KP stand for?
 
Original Medicare with a G supplement plan. It costs more up front, but pays to have it when you need it.
Advantage plans are low cost up front, but have high deductibles. Many of the costs related to an illness are not covered by the plans and don't go toward the deductible either.
Some care facilities won't accept patients with advantage plans because of the negotiated prices.
Either way you choose, it will cost you. In premium prices, or out of pocket.
 
I will not be choosing any of them. I'm very satisfied with my state of N.J. retiree benefits insurance, which is Aetna PPO. I had Aetna HMO before getting on Medicare and the state seamlessly slid me into the Aetna HMO Medicare plan. Two years ago I changed to the PPO so that I won't have to pay extra should I need an out of network doctor.

My co-pays are $10 (except initial post surgery visits are free). I do not have to pay any hospital, surgery, lab or imaging bills. I do not have to deal with paperwork. 35 hours a week of at home care is covered for an unlimited time (I double checked this with a rep) and nursing home care is covered for 120 days per benefit period.
 
One other issue with Advantage plans is that if you don't like it, switching back to traditional Medicare with a supplement may be an issue.

From Google:
When you switch to traditional Medicare, you may also want to consider purchasing a Medicare supplemental insurance policy, known as Medigap. Medigap policies help to pay your cost-sharing requirements under traditional Medicare. Depending on how long you have been enrolled in Medicare Advantage, Medigap insurers may not be required to sell you a policy unless you meet the medical underwriting requirements. You may want to contact a few Medigap insurers directly to see if you will be able to purchase a Medigap policy when you switch to traditional Medicare.
 
Buckeye said:
One other issue with Advantage plans is that if you don't like it, switching back to traditional Medicare with a supplement may be an issue.

From Google:
When you switch to traditional Medicare, you may also want to consider purchasing a Medicare supplemental insurance policy, known as Medigap. Medigap policies help to pay your cost-sharing requirements under traditional Medicare. Depending on how long you have been enrolled in Medicare Advantage, Medigap insurers may not be required to sell you a policy unless you meet the medical underwriting requirements. You may want to contact a few Medigap insurers directly to see if you will be able to purchase a Medigap policy when you switch to traditional Medicare.
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Iā€™m curious which letter medigap policy represents the best value for you and your situation.

My mother had a great medigap plan years ago through United Healthcare that paid for everything but Iā€™m not sure that the twenty five years of premiums put her in a better place than a Medicare Advantage plan with some out of pocket expenses.

I live in a state that allows you to drop a Medicare Advantage Plan in favor of a medigap plan. If my health deteriorates I would consider making the switch during the annual enrollment period.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Iā€™m curious which letter medigap policy represents the best value for you and your situation.

My mother had a great medigap plan years ago through United Healthcare that paid for everything but Iā€™m not sure that the twenty five years of premiums put her in a better place than a Medicare Advantage plan with some out of pocket expenses.

I live in a state that allows you to drop a Medicare Advantage Plan in favor of a medigap plan. If my health deteriorates I would consider making the switch during the annual enrollment period.
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I looked into MediGap but it wasn't going to help me.
 
Teacher Terry said:
A plan g medigap pays after Medicare pays. Once your 240 deductible is paid per year you wouldnā€™t pay another dime. Canā€™t imagine how that doesnā€™t work.
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In my area a Medigap Plan G monthly premium is approximately $150.00/month in addition to the $240.00 deductible.

At this point I come out ahead with a zero premium advantage plan.

If my health deteriorates it may make sense to switch to a plan G.
 
We are keeping the plan we have. Only change is IF emergency room is needed the co-pay goes from $90. 00 to $125.00 This is my wife's latest statement. We haven't been billed yet for the 63 cents but when it comes I'll pay it immediately.
 

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A lot of medical provides in my area wonā€™t accept ā€œAdvantageā€ programs. What is accepted in my area can be vastly different one hour north.

Husband and I had/h e BCBSTN. My passed in April from cancer. BCBSTN paid all but $1,700.00 to the hospital.

It is an expensive plan but they paid all but 4.6% of the hospital bill and paid 100% on the treatments at the cancer center for nearly three years.

I intend to keep my supplemental plan with them as it only takes one hospital stay to bankrupt a person.
 
Trade said:
None. Medicare Advantage Plans are a scam. I'll never leave original Medicare.
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I say it depends on the plan, where you live, and know if your providers are in network our out of network. We have been on Medicare Advantage with BC/BS for over 5 years and love it.

Did you know that to be on a Medicare advantage plan you have to be on Medicare?
 

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