Bad Decision Looking for Texas Health Care Data going Full Time

[Steven@147]

Was looking into what it would cost for Texas based health insurance (HMO/PPO) and or supplements on a Texas.gov web site once we go full time and a few months before one of us turns 65. Just to get an idea of what it might cost, plan names, limitations and coverage. You cant get any information unless you enter a phone number and e-mail address, that should have been a red warning flag! Well I entered information into the web site and now I have all these cockroaches coming at me from all over the country trying to sell me their health policy crap! What does someone from Ohio, Florida and other states know about Texas health care policies?
Its like I opened all the flood gates of H311! I should have known better, put in bogus email and phone number information, but had a lapse in brain function. These cockroaches are calling me constantly 3, 4, 5 times, emailing me, texting me bothering me constantly trying to sell me. They only want to give you a monthly cost number hard sell but not hardly any information about what is or is not covered. God I hate these kind of people! Now I'm spending time blocking all these a$$????? from my phone and e-mail. Its like I have a virus eating at my phone and e-mail and I'm like an octopus trying to stop it!

One thing I did get out of it was Texas is not the most hospitable state for health insurance before age 65.

Tried to go to like the Escapees site to get info from them, but its frustrating to say the least on their site. Watched one of their health care plan videos and was more confused after listening to them hum, pause and bad video sound, just ended up stopping the video. They never did in the portion I tried to listen to really explain what the individual plans entail, cover or cost.

This is not going to be an easy, anonymous non-obtrusive thing to come up with decision making data in the going full time process.

Sorry for rant, gosh I made a bad mistake!

 

[TucsonJim]

I hear ya. I go on Medicare in four months. I made the mistake of going on line to look for supplement plans. Now I'm getting dozens of phone calls and emails per day.

Jim

 

[arhayes]

Was looking into what it would cost for Texas based health insurance (HMO/PPO) and or supplements on a Texas.gov web site once we go full time and a few months before one of us turns 65. Just to get an idea of what it might cost, plan names, limitations and coverage. You cant get any information unless you enter a phone number and e-mail address, that should have been a red warning flag! Well I entered information into the web site and now I have all these cockroaches coming at me from all over the country trying to sell me their health policy crap! What does someone from Ohio, Florida and other states know about Texas health care policies?
Its like I opened all the flood gates of H311! I should have known better, put in bogus email and phone number information, but had a lapse in brain function. These cockroaches are calling me constantly 3, 4, 5 times, emailing me, texting me bothering me constantly trying to sell me. They only want to give you a monthly cost number hard sell but not hardly any information about what is or is not covered. God I hate these kind of people! Now I'm spending time blocking all these a$$????? from my phone and e-mail. Its like I have a virus eating at my phone and e-mail and I'm like an octopus trying to stop it!

One thing I did get out of it was Texas is not the most hospitable state for health insurance before age 65.

Tried to go to like the Escapees site to get info from them, but its frustrating to say the least on their site. Watched one of their health care plan videos and was more confused after listening to them hum, pause and bad video sound, just ended up stopping the video. They never did in the portion I tried to listen to really explain what the individual plans entail, cover or cost.

This is not going to be an easy, anonymous non-obtrusive thing to come up with decision making data in the going full time process.

Sorry for rant, gosh I made a bad mistake!

Been there....done that. Under 65 healthcare in TX is pretty darn expensive. I turn 65 in July and we’ve been at this as full-timers for 5 years. My first 18 months we had COBRA, then joined a healthcare sharing ministry. At the time Obamacare was going to be $1800 a month. It is effectively a catastrophic plan, but is one third the cost of Obamacare and does cover annual physicals, mammograms, etc. we are using GoodRX for prescriptions which was less costly that’s getting them thru the ministry plan.


Alan

 

[Richter]

I hear ya. I go on Medicare in four months. I made the mistake of going on line to look for supplement plans. Now I'm getting dozens of phone calls and emails per day.

Jim

Came up with a way to block unwanted calls.

On an iPhone, go to "Settings", then "Do Not Disturb". Go down to "Phone, Allow Call From" and change it to "All Contacts". If the call is from someone that is in your Contacts List (friendly incoming), the call will ring through. If not (foe), it will not. They can still leave a voicemail (if it's important), and you have the option to call them back.

Not familiar with Android, but there is probably something similar.

 

[D2Reid]

I feel your pain. I pretty actively block robo call numbers. The good news is I no longer spend much time in the area code that I established my phone number in, so when I get a call from my old area code that is not in my contact list I pretty much know it's a sales pitch, red button - block call. It doesn't end it, but it helps some. Oh yeah, Android.

Health care for full timers is and issue. Our health industry has an at home philosophy, you get a primary care doctor you see them year after year for your needs. When you start traveling you loose that relationship and end up with the latest doc in the box mentality. I was aghast when I watched a PA read through a flow chart and ask me questions then pronounce the diagnosis based on the flow chart information. I hate stupid. I really really hate a supposed professional not thinking. All I have to say is that I feel very fortunate that I am healthy because I have no confidence in 90% of our health care industry today. Rant ended.

On the flip side there are a few doctors out there that are willing to treat you remotely once you explain your situation. Once they see you don't have any major underlying illness they are willing to prescribe routine prescriptions. It takes a bit to build that trust, the key thing is to acknowledge that it is not the "best" way and to acknowledge that you are taking a risk of misdiagnosing yourself and expressing the methods you have in place to take in the event things get to be other than normally ill.

 

[Bamaman]

You're obviously in between--needing regular healthcare for a relatively short time before going onto Medicare as a full time RVer.

Let me warn you that many of those selling insurance online are trying to sign people up for HMO type programs and Medicare Advantage plans after age 65. These type programs do not work well for RVers because doctors are being paid on a "per head" basis month by month. If you're traveling, you will not be able to see your "home" doctor. State specific Blue Cross Blue Shield also has these type of programs, and you must live within their coverage area.

RVers do best signing up for a nationwide insurance plan like United or Anthem--that companies with employees all over the U.S. use. My Medicare Supplement is purchased through my ex-employer, and we don't get hit for "out of network" if we use an out of town or out of state doctor.

Much advertising is being pushed about Medicare Advantage that works like an HMO. There are many hospitals (that accept regular Medicare) that refuse to accept the pittance monthly amount they're paid for Advantage. I know one hospital in particular that has purchased hundreds of doctors' practices throughout a 7 state region, and they refuse to accept Advantage patients. Those patients with Advantage have been forced to go to change physicians for care and go to other hospital chains--often 50-75 miles from their homes--for treatment. Advantage looks good on paper, but in reality it doesn't work well for those traveling around.

 

[powerscol]

Something is strange here. All advantage plans are not the same.Its based on a larger company . I have one through Anthem BCBS. Its primary while Medicare is secondary. Folks have been flawless so far. and it has made a hug reduction in my medical costs. Its accepted anywhere that takes Medicare.

While I have not looked myself I got information from AARP the other day that looked OK, but it was for 65+. I think they use Hartford as the base medical insurance.

Good luck in your search.

One other place to check is some auto plans like State Farm are offering health plans. Might be worth a look too.

 

[Steven@147]

i apologize for posting a rant instead of calmly discussing the issue. Anymore I have a short fuse for the kind of stuff I've gotten subjected to over the last few days.

Anyway currently our health care is through the hosp my wife works at here in Austin TX and is an HMO type of thing. Several years ago while visiting the kids up in Ohio I got sick and ended up in a hospital up there. The wife called the insurance company and told them what was going on. The end result was that most my care was paid for by the insurance because it was an emergency situation. But that is not always the case. The doctors from Ohio were great and transferred information to my doctors in Tx.

Our plans are that we will return to Texas through the winter months and will be close to the Livingston Tx area and will have to relocate our primary care physician and health care to the Livingston area instead of where it is now around Austin. This is still in the planning phase also.
Nether one of us (yet) have health issues and don't need costly prescriptions. The wife wants to retire right after she turns 62 because she is just mentally burned out. If she doesn't retire as planned and works longer just to keep our status quo, I am afraid it will start to affect her health. As we've planned I'll be 7 months shy of 65 when she retires so you can see the issue we have to plan for.

I have a budget spreadsheet, income Vs expenditures, I created. I keep changing the numbers based on best estimates and its calculated out to when I turn 65. Right now the best estimate I have plugged in for what it might cost per month for a health care plan is $300 for each of us. That is kind of a 80/20 plan based on information I got from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas HMO type of thing.

Its all so difficult to sift through the quagmire of crap, unethical business people, lying sales people, scammers now posing as healthcare associates just to get your information and so forth. Since I have gotten bombarded in the last few days I've gone into hiding. I'll find a better way of estimating the costs after this weekend. Now its time to get away for a little fun, fishing, relaxing and still getting to know our new RV.

Have a safe weekend, and a big THANK YOU to all service men and women.

 

[moterbiker]

FWIW I have been looking into this as well, using the GOV healthcare site I put our info in and the best place for insurance out of the big 3 was South Dakota for us. We plan on hitting the road in July, we will be 53 and most likely pay cobra until the end of the year and do one of those plans after.

 

[cleazenby]

One option to look at might be a Health Sharing plan if you don't regularly have a lot of doctors visits. One I have is Christian Healthcare Ministries. It's $150/mo for the top plan. GoodRX is free prescription coverage for generic or common scripts. With the Health Sharing you will be doing a self-pay cash discount, and then submitting the bills to pay for reimbursement. Works great.

 

[Second Chance]

This discussion takes place fairly frequently over on the Escapees forums and there's quite a bit of good information over there. Bottom line: no two people's situations are the same. Age, insurability, domicile state, pre-existing conditions, current/desired providers, and other factors vary drastically.

Our insurance situation is different from many (retired military with Medicare/Tricare For Life for me and Tricare Select for Laura until she turns 65... no, I didn't rob the cradle). My view of things is also a bit different being a retired health care professional. We had long-term relationships with providers in the Augusta, GA, area before hitting the road and all of them agreed to continue to cover us for medications and to do what they could remotely as long as we make it back periodically for regular check-ups. This is despite the fact that our domicile has been in Texas since hitting the road.

Late winter/early spring of 2018, we both got pneumonia while we were in New Mexico. Laura had to be hospitalized for five days and was really sick. Of course, the hospitalists at the local hospital cared for her while an inpatient and follow-up was at the hospital's outpatient clinic. Tricare paid everything except the TC Select copays. I had no out-of-pocket costs for the urgent care center since TFL picks up as the secondary payer for Medicare. We'll be back in the Augusta area in February for medical and dental visits to keep things going. Eventually, though, we'll have to find new providers when our names come to the top of the lists at Escapees co-op parks in CA and WA and we start spending most of our time out west. We'll hate to give up providers we know and love!

We get our medications through Express Scripts/Tricare and 90-day supplies are mailed to our Escapees mail service address and we have the forwarded to wherever we are. When we land someplace for a while - as is the case at the moment - I enter a temporary service address on the Tricare web site and meds are sent directly to where we are staying.

Rob

 

[Wicked ace]

Steven.......My advice is start looking at Medicare now and how it will affect you. If you choose to collect Social Security at 65 or wait and how the premiums are based. YES there are health care premiums with Medicare. Unless you choose to pay private insurance and can show proof you will need to enroll. Supplemental insurance is another concern should you choose to pursue it. I'm fortunate in that I have a good choice available to me which not only supplements Medicare but provides prescription, dental and eye care.
As for your wife I would suggest you have her inquire as to remaining on her existing plan (you may also be covered as the secondary). If she has a severance or retirement package that includes health care or can it be negotiated.
As far as doctor visits. I'm not full time, actually about 1/2 time as I keep my home as my base. I schedule all my appointments within a three week period twice a year. That way I can plan my wanderings and be home to attend to my needs. Also I make sure all my physicians are available to answer questions in case I need to contact them, either by phone or in the case of my GP patient portal. They being familiar with my case can better assess whether something is an immediate concern or can wait. It's been rare but it does happen. So far that has worked out well. If you are on the road request a current health history to keep with you in case you come across a need to see a local doctor or hospital. My GP as a matter of course gives an updated printout of my current status each time I visit, this lists all conditions and medications.
To add to Rob's post above regarding meds. All generics I get at 90 day supply through the prescription provider I have. I use the local Walgreens for occasional and some specific medicines I take. More than once I had a need to refill while on the road and a call to my local store to have it filled at a location closer to me is all it took. They will do 90 day supplies as well. I'm sure other chains would do the same.

 

[AustexGP]

Check with FMCA (family motor coach association). I think that they have started offering a Medicare supplemental plan. Membership is required but it seems like it offers coverage in all 50 states.

 

[Steven@147]

Steven.......My advice is start looking at Medicare now and how it will affect you. If you choose to collect Social Security at 65 or wait and how the premiums are based. YES there are health care premiums with Medicare. Unless you choose to pay private insurance and can show proof you will need to enroll. Supplemental insurance is another concern should you choose to pursue it. I'm fortunate in that I have a good choice available to me which not only supplements Medicare but provides prescription, dental and eye care.
As for your wife I would suggest you have her inquire as to remaining on her existing plan (you may also be covered as the secondary). If she has a severance or retirement package that includes health care or can it be negotiated.
As far as doctor visits. I'm not full time, actually about 1/2 time as I keep my home as my base. I schedule all my appointments within a three week period twice a year. That way I can plan my wanderings and be home to attend to my needs. Also I make sure all my physicians are available to answer questions in case I need to contact them, either by phone or in the case of my GP patient portal. They being familiar with my case can better assess whether something is an immediate concern or can wait. It's been rare but it does happen. So far that has worked out well. If you are on the road request a current health history to keep with you in case you come across a need to see a local doctor or hospital. My GP as a matter of course gives an updated printout of my current status each time I visit, this lists all conditions and medications.
To add to Rob's post above regarding meds. All generics I get at 90 day supply through the prescription provider I have. I use the local Walgreens for occasional and some specific medicines I take. More than once I had a need to refill while on the road and a call to my local store to have it filled at a location closer to me is all it took. They will do 90 day supplies as well. I'm sure other chains would do the same.

We have to really dig into how Medicare works and all the parts to it. Didn't know there were premiums to medicare or is that associated with supplements to Medicare? We are still gathering and researching. We are members of the Escapee's group and looking at their offerings. Nope her hospital does not provide retirement plans with medical, just matched contributions to 401s. Does any non government job offer retirement plans with medical now days, a hand full maybe. Anyway after her retirement we could sign on to their cobra plan but its ridiculous expensive and not even considering it.
We'll get there. We just need to get the best plan that is the most cost effective that fits our needs.

Since we plan to winter down here in Texas, we'll stop by the Austin area for between 30-60 days and plan all of our check ups and GP visits and once a year physicals then with the Doctors we have now. They already have patient portals so that is a good thing. We can use Walgreen, CVS or whatever country wide pharmacies we need to base on plans and already use 90 day supplies. Its just sifting through all the plans and crap that gets me down.

 

[Second Chance]

We have to really dig into how Medicare works and all the parts to it. Didn't know there were premiums to medicare or is that associated with supplements to Medicare? We are still gathering and researching. We are members of the Escapee's group and looking at their offerings. Nope her hospital does not provide retirement plans with medical, just matched contributions to 401s. Does any non government job offer retirement plans with medical now days, a hand full maybe. Anyway after her retirement we could sign on to their cobra plan but its ridiculous expensive and not even considering it.
We'll get there. We just need to get the best plan that is the most cost effective that fits our needs.

Since we plan to winter down here in Texas, we'll stop by the Austin area for between 30-60 days and plan all of our check ups and GP visits and once a year physicals then with the Doctors we have now. They already have patient portals so that is a good thing. We can use Walgreen, CVS or whatever country wide pharmacies we need to base on plans and already use 90 day supplies. Its just sifting through all the plans and crap that gets me down.

Steve,

There are no premiums for Medicare Part A (inpatient). The premiums are for Part B (outpatient) and any Part D (drug) or supplemental plans you elect to carry. My current Medicare Part B premiums are $144.60/month. (Tricare for Life picks up all my meds and any co-pays for Medicare. When Laura turns 65, her regular Tricare will convert to Medicare/TFL, as well... we are very blessed).

The civilian hospital from which I retired the second time has health, dental and vision offerings for retirees as part of their retirement plan(s). Since I'm retired military, I did not need them - but they are there.

Have you looked into the (often faith-based) health care co-ops or cost-sharing programs? If neither of you have significant health issues or underlying diseases at this point, one of these programs might fill the gap for you for routine stuff until you're Medicare eligible.

Rob

 

[gbkims]

I read some of the newspaper articles this local lady Toni King https://tonisays.com/ writes about medicare.

 

[Steven@147]

Steve,

There are no premiums for Medicare Part A (inpatient). The premiums are for Part B (outpatient) and any Part D (drug) or supplemental plans you elect to carry. My current Medicare Part B premiums are $144.60/month. (Tricare for Life picks up all my meds and any co-pays for Medicare. When Laura turns 65, her regular Tricare will convert to Medicare/TFL, as well... we are very blessed).

The civilian hospital from which I retired the second time has health, dental and vision offerings for retirees as part of their retirement plan(s). Since I'm retired military, I did not need them - but they are there.

Have you looked into the (often faith-based) health care co-ops or cost-sharing programs? If neither of you have significant health issues or underlying diseases at this point, one of these programs might fill the gap for you for routine stuff until you're Medicare eligible.

Rob

Hey Rob thanks. I don't know all the plans the wife has looked at. We have to set down again and go through what she has come up with. I have been feeding her information I have learned from this forum and we both have looked through the Escapees information.
You are very lucky with the coverage you have. I worked for a well known major computer company for 24.9 years before getting laid off and no benefits. That company done away with all retirement benefits including health and pensions.

We wont need to make a decision until right before Oct this year. That is when the wife retires from a hospital in Austin. At that time I will be 9 months away from age 65. The wife will be 62. I am already receiving SS at a very nice rate. The wife will file for SS at 62 probably in November after her birthday in Oct. Yes we know we are going out early and what that means. We have put away a pretty good chunk of change and we want to enjoy our next 10-15 years closer to our kids and grandkids up north.
My parents both passed away in their mid to late 70s, diabetes and cancer. My Father worked right up to age 65, from age 70, he spent his last few years in a nursing home drooling in his oatmeal. My Mother got cancer at 73, and 6 months later she was gone, burned up inside from chemo treatments. My wife's parents are in their early 80s and for several years now have just set in their house looking at each other, waiting to see who's going to go first.

That is not the way we want to finish out our lives so we plan for the best, enjoy what we have left, and take what we can get.

 

[Wicked ace]

Hey Rob thanks. I don't know all the plans the wife has looked at. We have to set down again and go through what she has come up with. I have been feeding her information I have learned from this forum and we both have looked through the Escapees information.
You are very lucky with the coverage you have. I worked for a well known major computer company for 24.9 years before getting laid off and no benefits. That company done away with all retirement benefits including health and pensions.

We wont need to make a decision until right before Oct this year. That is when the wife retires from a hospital in Austin. At that time I will be 9 months away from age 65. The wife will be 62. I am already receiving SS at a very nice rate. The wife will file for SS at 62 probably in November after her birthday in Oct. Yes we know we are going out early and what that means. We have put away a pretty good chunk of change and we want to enjoy our next 10-15 years closer to our kids and grandkids up north.
My parents both passed away in their mid to late 70s, diabetes and cancer. My Father worked right up to age 65, from age 70, he spent his last few years in a nursing home drooling in his oatmeal. My Mother got cancer at 73, and 6 months later she was gone, burned up inside from chemo treatments. My wife's parents are in their early 80s and for several years now have just set in their house looking at each other, waiting to see who's going to go first.

That is not the way we want to finish out our lives so we plan for the best, enjoy what we have left, and take what we can get.

Steven
I'm not sure you are aware but if you are on Social Security now You will be enrolled automatically in Medicare at your 2 year anniversary regardless of age. Ask me how I know I was surprised when I received the notice last fall as I just turned 64.

 

[Second Chance]

Steven
I'm not sure you are aware but if you are on Social Security now You will be enrolled automatically in Medicare at your 2 year anniversary regardless of age. Ask me how I know I was surprised when I received the notice last fall as I just turned 64.

Per Medicare: "... You have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks for at least 24 months"

Are you not getting SSDI (instead of regular Social Security retirement benefits)?

Rob

 

[Wicked ace]

Per Medicare: "... You have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks for at least 24 months"

Are you not getting SSDI (instead of regular Social Security retirement benefits)?

Rob

I am and because of this statement " I am already receiving SS at a very nice rate" I suspected Steven was too. But then again I may have drawn the wrong conclusion.