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Well, am actually covered by two HMOs. Am a
retired civil servant and the CSC supplies me with a small choice of
plans. I chose Aetna because it was cheaper than BC-BS. The problem
with Aetna is that few doctors accept it here in Memphis so I went to work part
time at the FedEx Hub and signed up with CIGNA, and so far so good.
So why don't I drop Aetna......??? Because I can't. If I drop it I
cannot re-enroll ever (CSC rules) and I don't plan to work at the Hub much
longer. So for now, my payments to Aetna are wasted.
Nobody has urged me to enroll in Medicare, not so
far. We'll see how this one plays out.
As for the docs am seeing, my PCP is a good one
and so are both the ophthalmologists I've been consulting re my impending
(second) cataract operation next spring. With the open source system
now in vogue I can pick any specialist I want, and without a
referral. Nice.
What am not crazy about is how the co-pays have
jumped in price.
Bobberino in Elvisland, where summer finally
played itself out....... (must've been the time change
:>):>):>).
From: Alton Ryder
To: BobbyJim ; tmic Sent:
Friday, November 18, 2005 9:29 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] Re:
Medicare and meds
------------------------------------- I'm surprised your employer does not require it. From the employer's viewpoint, Medicare is a way to get the government to pick up 80% of the costs instead of the insurance company and thereby the entity paying for the insurance. I am lucky. My employer, Digital Equipment Corporation, was acquired by Compaq which in turn was acquired by HP. [I've been retired for 13 years.] My primary insurance is Medicare, my secondary UHC.UHC hides behind Medicare, so, in effect, I have no secondary until I hit major medical, which I did for three years or so. I'm a happy puppy. I go to any physician or specialist I choose, so I get good care. Don't get me going about the years I was victim to HMO's. There are downsides to Medicare. Some physicians will not accept Medicare assignment. It doesn't matter if they at least submit the paperwork to Medicare. If they don't, you have to do a lot of paperwork. I had a few expenses over the years where I had to submit the papers myself; in every case I failed to do so in time and ate the charges. [I've got a problem that way.] Also, Medicare does not cover expenses outside the country. Alton, who keeps detailed spread sheets on medical expenses |
