medicare

[derrickman]

I have been assured by my urologist nurse that my medicare is paying most of my upcoming implant,but early this year I signed up for an AARP plan called advantage does anyone know if this has any effect on the payment part? I have been told that all the benefits are same as medicare part B but am nervous about insurance companies.They run ads all the time so you know it is all about the money.Has anyone used this plan for an implant and have do what the are supposed to do?Any replies would be very appreciated.Derrickman

[chedog]

I am going on an Advantage plan with Kaiser Permanente in California on 9/1. Perhaps another blog participant here can tell you if there are any "non-HMO" Medicare Advantage plans but it's my understanding that they are all HMO-based.

... which means that you do not have a choice of any surgeon and any hospital for your IPP. For me, for example, I need to use Kaiser surgeons and hospitals, and, in that case, close to 100% of the ±$20,000 charges are covered. However, if I went to a rock star/high volume surgeon, including those mentioned frequently here, nothing would be covered.

If you were on Medicare Part A and B without an HMO, there would be coverage but not as much as with an HMO. It seems quite possible to me that you have an HMO through AARP, so you need to check that before proceeding. The question is does your urology nurse understand that there has been a "change in your insurance" with you joining the AARP plan.

... or maybe she has it all clearly in her head and my concerns are baseless. But, if I were you, I'd be certain about for what situations you are covered, and whether the surgery for which the nurse has assured you Medicare is paying is part of your Medicare Advantage through AARP.

Hope that helps.

[jelizondo12]

I have Medicare with Texan plug supplement. what I had to do was find a primary that was in the same group that my uro was in. I went to my primary and got a referral to the uro I wanted. I paid a total of $155 to the hospital and $0 for everything else including the doctor (Dr Cornell) a rock star with hundreds of implants a year.

[chedog]

What is "Texan plug supplement"?

Thanks.

[jelizondo12]

Texanplus is a supplement insurance that works with Medicare. there are a lot of other supplement insurances blue cross blue shield, Cigna , Humana they have open dates one can enroll check them out and save money

[chedog]

Is that a MediGap insurance? The caution I'm suggesting has to do with HMOs that are Medicare Advantage.

For people who have the "rock stars" in network, that's great! For others of us, we have to feel confident in our urologists that are part of the HMO.

I do feel that way though I do admit I sometimes which I could just go to Kramer or Eid or ...

[kidder]

Derrick---I had my Titan put in 5 weeks ago. You have great insurance. Identical to mine--AARP Advantage. They covered everything, even my airfare to Miami. No, just joking about that. But you're free to use any Dr you want. I didn't spend a single penny for the procedure. Good luck.

[Sugarcane]

Kidder: Is your AARP insurance HMO or PPO?