It's Open Enrollment for Health Insurance; But Don't Buy a Medicare Advantage Plan

SEX! Now that I have your attention, please read this post about Medicare. If not for your sake, then perhaps for someone else you love. It is now OPEN ENROLLMENT, and you can either sign up for Medicare for the first time or switch plans.

If you are just getting Medicare for the first time, do not make the mistake of purchasing a Medicare Advantage plan. Buy a private supplemental plan and a separate Part D plan. "D" stands for Drug plan.

The supplemental plan may cost you less than $200/month and the drug plan less than $50/month. With this combination of plans, Medicare pays for the first 80% of all of your bills and the supplemental pays for the next 20%. You pay a premium, but after that your bills are pretty much nonexistent. My mother's hospital bill was over $1,000,000 and she was billed $0.00.

The private supplemental plan is guaranteed issue if you purchase it when you first become eligible for Medicare. After 6 months, if you have not purchased this plan and you get sick, you may not be eligible for it anymore and will be stuck with a Medicare Advantage Plan for the rest of your life. Please believe me when I tell you this is not the plan you want when you need care.

If you have had a Medicare Advantage plan and are still healthy, you may also be able to switch to a private supplemental plan during open enrollment. Run, don't walk to your favorite broker and change your plan.

Many of my battles are helping people get access to care they deserve but can't get. Do you really want to fight the system when you are sick and vulnerable?

Every year at this time, I get so angry at the commercials on the television lying to seniors about the benefits of Medicare Advantage plans. On the contrary. Please believe me.

If you want more information, please contact me. This is my public service. I will not charge; instead, I will help to educate you so you or your loved one can make the best decision for yourself. I do not sell insurance or make any money from insurance. I just really care.

IF YOU LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND ARE A SENIOR PLEASE BEWARE

Car insurance companies in Michigan offer a special lowered premium for seniors if you choose to make Medicare your primary plan if you have an accident. In other words, your car insurance will not pay for any injuries if you have an accident.

Please do not accept this ridiculous offer. I had a client who was involved in a horrific car accident and broke pretty much everything south of her pelvis. Her Medicare Advantage plan didn't want to give her more than 40 days in a rehab facility although her benefit includes up to a 100 day stay and because she had opted out of car insurance paying for injuries, she couldn't access those benefits.

Remember, insurance isn't for when you are healthy, it's when you are sick or injured.

Send anyone you want to me and I will happily help educate. My website is http://www.propatientadvocacy.com