Bad Decision Looking for Texas Health Care Data going Full Time

[Steven@147]

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

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.

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.

Thanks guys for trying to lead me through the woods on this. I am not receiving SSDI, just regular SS. Although in my mind I maybe somewhat disabled after reading through all the information on Medicare last night. I get the Parts A,B,C, D and what they are. What gets me a little confused is the Medicare Supplemental versus a private supplemental policy. In other words a policy to pay what Medicare doesn't pay. I just need to do more research, write down a list of questions and talk to a Medicare representative direct before I sign up, which I believe, if I read it right, is within 90 days before I reach 65 (July 2021). Or if I don't sign up before I reach 65, I have to wait until the next open enrollment, which I think would be In January 2022. Without some kind of penalty because I didn't sign up before I turned 65.

But then I would need a private medical policy to cover the time between when I'm 64 (July 2020) and (July 2021) when I turn 65. I don't know if a private policy can be canceled or stopped at any time once in enrolled. If not will there be some overlapping of policies. Probably not a bad thing but then there is the affect of primary and secondary policies.

This really isn't the forum to get in depth on Medicare, does and does not, do's and do not, but many people face these life decisions when deciding to retire early and go fulltime RVing and traveling months on end through many different states. Pre-Medicare PPO versus HMO policies and how much time you might be living out of your home state location. The wife and I just need to set down get it all sorted out, whats best for us, the risks to take and the cost potential of our decisions.

Thanks guys

 

[powerscol]

Have you looked at what AARP offers?

 

[Steven@147]

Have you looked at what AARP offers?

That is kind of a difficult thing. I can't get just anonymous quotes or estimates without giving them my phone number and I will never again give any one of these estimators my number. Once you do they will harasses the crap out of you, calling all the time trying to get you sold so they can make their quota and pay bonuses for signing people up. If you call them they got your number and still harasses you. Th last time I looked as estimates and put in my phone number it took me months to get these jacklegs to stop calling me multiple times a day!

Now I have a fake e-mail address and a fake phone number and try again.

 

[powerscol]

That is kind of a difficult thing. I can't get just anonymous quotes or estimates without giving them my phone number and I will never again give any one of these estimators my number. Once you do they will harasses the crap out of you, calling all the time trying to get you sold so they can make their quota and pay bonuses for signing people up. If you call them they got your number and still harasses you. Th last time I looked as estimates and put in my phone number it took me months to get these jacklegs to stop calling me multiple times a day!

Now I have a fake e-mail address and a fake phone number and try again.

Strange I am a member (good perks like cell phone discount). When I went online I was pretty much able to determine pricing and coverage and who they got discounts with. They were close to my Anthem medicare advantage plan that I have through my retirement plan. I had called to ask questions and received no follow up calls. However in talking with them I asked them not to call me.

Good luck

 

[Chuck.N]

I realize this is an old thread, but it applies to us. I'm 67, wife turns 65 in August. The plan is for me to retire in early September, and hopefully start full timing in October. We're currently Arizona residents, but are planning to change domicile, possibly to Florida (I still hold a valid Florida DL).

Anyway, Medicare is definitely on the horizon, and I'm unsure whether to get supplemental plans in AZ, or wait until we change domicile.

Of additional huge concern is pharmacies. We currently use Safeway/Albertsons, so we're ok in most western states. We know Walmart is available almost everywhere. The issue is I'm prescribed a controlled substance to help manage nerve pain as a result of a cancer surgery in 2014. My small (minimum) dosage works fine, and I should have no problem getting what I need monthly from Safeway every 30 days. Yeah, I can get 30 days from them whereas Walmart won't do more than 7 days.

Hopefully ya'll can see the dilemma of making sure we're near a Safeway as that 30 days comes close. It will definitely impact our travel.

We're open to any and all ideas on how to manage Medicare and potential pharmacy problems.

TIA!

 

[Wicked ace]

I realize this is an old thread, but it applies to us. I'm 67, wife turns 65 in August. The plan is for me to retire in early September, and hopefully start full timing in October. We're currently Arizona residents, but are planning to change domicile, possibly to Florida (I still hold a valid Florida DL).

Anyway, Medicare is definitely on the horizon, and I'm unsure whether to get supplemental plans in AZ, or wait until we change domicile.

Of additional huge concern is pharmacies. We currently use Safeway/Albertsons, so we're ok in most western states. We know Walmart is available almost everywhere. The issue is I'm prescribed a controlled substance to help manage nerve pain as a result of a cancer surgery in 2014. My small (minimum) dosage works fine, and I should have no problem getting what I need monthly from Safeway every 30 days. Yeah, I can get 30 days from them whereas Walmart won't do more than 7 days.

Hopefully ya'll can see the dilemma of making sure we're near a Safeway as that 30 days comes close. It will definitely impact our travel.

We're open to any and all ideas on how to manage Medicare and potential pharmacy problems.

TIA!

Albertson's comprises more than you think. Acme and Safeway (I never realized they were part of the group which explains why some come and some go) are popular here in the northeast.
https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/about-us.html

 

[powerscol]

I realize this is an old thread, but it applies to us. I'm 67, wife turns 65 in August. The plan is for me to retire in early September, and hopefully start full timing in October. We're currently Arizona residents, but are planning to change domicile, possibly to Florida (I still hold a valid Florida DL).

Anyway, Medicare is definitely on the horizon, and I'm unsure whether to get supplemental plans in AZ, or wait until we change domicile.

Of additional huge concern is pharmacies. We currently use Safeway/Albertsons, so we're ok in most western states. We know Walmart is available almost everywhere. The issue is I'm prescribed a controlled substance to help manage nerve pain as a result of a cancer surgery in 2014. My small (minimum) dosage works fine, and I should have no problem getting what I need monthly from Safeway every 30 days. Yeah, I can get 30 days from them whereas Walmart won't do more than 7 days.

Hopefully ya'll can see the dilemma of making sure we're near a Safeway as that 30 days comes close. It will definitely impact our travel.

We're open to any and all ideas on how to manage Medicare and potential pharmacy problems.

TIA!

Anthem (BCBS) has several medicare advantage plans that includes prescriptions. Its good out of state (CO) as long as the place takes Medicare. As I have a pension, they use SilverScript for prescriptions. You can do mail order through them. Don.t know about your controlled substance, but I know it varies by state. When I had shoulder surgery I got a 21 day supply through Right-Aid - now Walgreens. I use Walmart as they actually have better service the than Walgreens. Never tried Albertsons (no Safeway here, but as Safeway bought Albertsons it might be the same.

I do know one thing it was confusing as he** figuring all this out and my local social security office was less than helpful.. Do you have an senior centers or public help places around that might advise you?

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Chuck.N]

Albertson's comprises more than you think. Acme and Safeway (I never realized they were part of the group which explains why some come and some go) are popular here in the northeast.
https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/about-us.html

That's good to know. We need to do more research for sure, and possibly talk to corporate. The web site didn't show anything up there... but I might not have looked very hard. I wish their merger with Rite Aid had been successful. That would have solved a lot of problems.

We're looking forward to keeping our doc while we travel. She'll do teleconference visits with us, and will send our prescriptions wherever we need them. She's all for the FT RV gig. It's the pharmacy question that's unnerving. Getting old bites!

 

[Chuck.N]

Anthem (BCBS) has several medicare advantage plans that includes prescriptions. Its good out of state (CO) as long as the place takes Medicare. As I have a pension, they use SilverScript for prescriptions. You can do mail order through them. Don.t know about your controlled substance, but I know it varies by state. When I had shoulder surgery I got a 21 day supply through Right-Aid - now Walgreens. I use Walmart as they actually have better service the than Walgreens. Never tried Albertsons (no Safeway here, but as Safeway bought Albertsons it might be the same.

I do know one thing it was confusing as he** figuring all this out and my local social security office was less than helpful.. Do you have an senior centers or public help places around that might advise you?

Good luck and stay safe.

Thanks for the quick reply! I think we'll eventually get the Medicare bit sorted out. As others have stated in the thread, you need to be careful who you give your phone number to, or they'll chase you at all hours. Lesson learned.

I've not yet tried local senior centers. That's a great idea! The median age in Prescott is around 56. Half the town is Olde Farts. Someone is bound to know.

Our current doc takes Medicare, and will do teleconference visits. I only need to see her face to face on a quarterly basis. I see her tomorrow, and am hoping I can talk her into once per trimester. I love Arizona, but don't want to have to come back here every 90 days. That'll mean a lot of miles on the rig just to see the doc. Every 120 days would be much better.

The prescription is another matter entirely. Walmart's stance makes them a non-starter. However, my wife is paying our local Walmart pharmacy a visit tomorrow to see if there are any exceptions to the 7 day limit rule. Everyone went so overboard on the opiod crisis that they put those who really need them in a terrible bind. A new prescription every 7 days means 4 copays/month instead of 1. It's also a PITA for the doc.

For those wondering, I take a single 5mg oxycodone every 3-4 hours. It's the smallest dosage available. The pain isn't gone... it just helps me not notice it. I've tried many alternatives over the last 5 years, but nothing else worked. I had the lower 2 lobes of my right lung removed due to cancer, and the intercostal nerve bundle was severed. 5 years cancer free now, and just getting ready to start the FT RV grand adventure.

TMI? Possibly. I'm just trying to get ahead of any potential "all opioids are bad" comments.

 

[Steven@147]

Thanks for the quick reply! I think we'll eventually get the Medicare bit sorted out. As others have stated in the thread, you need to be careful who you give your phone number to, or they'll chase you at all hours. Lesson learned.

I've not yet tried local senior centers. That's a great idea!

TMI? Possibly. I'm just trying to get ahead of any potential "all opioids are bad" comments.

Chuck, its been a while since I started this thread, hope you got it sorted out with your Doc and Pharmacy. Hope you have had good luck.

I must confess we haven't got it sorted out yet. Such a quagmire of crap to sift through. I went out to the Escapee's web site to read up there. did talk to a couple agents but they were less than helpful, Oh you need a PPO, No Kidding! What they do not communicate clearly is what is covered, was is not. They are vague on a lot of details like what is the out of pocket max, Co-pays and such. Is it an 80/20, 70/30, major medical or what kind of plan is it. We got some quote information anywhere between 100-1000 per month for each of us! Well that is not helpful. Now they wont shut up and stop calling. The faith based plans are not for us, I will not subscribe or sign a letter agreeing to believe in a particular religious sects teachings.

they all sound like used car salesman to me.

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

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 **********????? 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!

We recently faced the same issue with one of us not being 65 and eligible for Medicare coverage. We chose to go with the plan offered by the Family Motorcoach Association FMCA (Travel Trailers and 5th Wheels are now eligible to join).

The plan was offered by Philadelphia Life and it worked out very well for us. A couple of suggestions if you choose this plan (note: this is based on our experience and the plan(s) might be different now and also be different because you are in TX): the plan is different than other insurance plans. By this I mean that it is more of a self-administered plan, so, you will need to take an active role in managing your health care. For example: the plan has a limit on how much lab work is covered on a daily basis., consequently, you don't want to let your doctor simply draw blood and submit it to his lab of choice and wait for the bill to arrive, you can get some nasty surprises that way. Instead, there are private lab companies that you can order your labs from and have your blood drawn locally that have a preset price for the lab work you are ordering, you pay that lab by credit card and submit a claim to the ins company for reimbursement. Consequently, the labs your doctor would have sent in, cost only $69 instead of $500. It's not difficult to deal with, just something to be managed.

Additionally, depending on which state you live in, there is a ryder that essentially doubles the coverage, I highly recommend adding this coverage if it is available in your state.

We had this coverage for 3 years and we saved a ton of money based on the insurance we had previously from the employer.

If you would like to talk to the low pressure lady we purchased from, send me a pm and I can get that info out to you.

Additionally, it sounds like you are moving your domicile to Texas to start your full time RVing adventures. Because of the insurance issue, you might want to delay moving your domicile, or consider moving it to a different state than Texas until you are both 65.

Bottom line; we were very pleased with the FMCA/Philadelphia Life insurance for the years we had it.

 

[Steven@147]

We recently faced the same issue with one of us not being 65 and eligible for Medicare coverage. We chose to go with the plan offered by the Family Motorcoach Association FMCA (Travel Trailers and 5th Wheels are now eligible to join).

snip

If you would like to talk to the low pressure lady we purchased from, send me a pm and I can get that info out to you.

Additionally, it sounds like you are moving your domicile to Texas to start your full time RVing adventures. Because of the insurance issue, you might want to delay moving your domicile, or consider moving it to a different state than Texas until you are both 65.

Navigating the health care thing is a mess especially for fulltimers. Also the whole domicile thing with fulltiming. We looked at the same kind of policies you have but through the Escapee's group. We looked into them and decided against them.

We were always Texas residence, at least for the last 20 years, when we sold our Texas home we just had to change our address to Livingston Texas for our USPS mail service through Escapee's.
Using the health care market place and our zip, the Wife was able to get a good new health policy this year for zero copay and good coverage, Blue Cross BS of Texas. The Wife will go on Medicare next year.

I've got a Medicare Advantage Plan endorsed by AARP through United Health Care. Its new for our area Texas this year and is excellent coverage, we both can still keep our Doctors out of Austin in network that we have had for the last 20 years. Mine is primarily a Medicare Advantage HMO but does have good emergency medical care if I need it outside of network. We always return to the Texas area for winter every year Jan-April to get our yearly exams and blood work done, our eye exams and the Wife 's Allergy Dr visit. Its also convenient to get the RV safety inspected and license renewed in Feb

Both of our plans have excellent RX coverage and we have refilled our medication prescriptions all over the country using either CVS or WalGreens, we like Wal Greens the best, we could use WalMart but haven't. Mine cost $6 for a 90 days supply. The Wife's policy just picked up the cost of her Inhaler. Of course it all could change next year.

For our truck, the license plates are due in June and we are not usually in Texas at that time so we renew on-line and self certify we are out of the state so it doesn't need inspected. We get the renewal sticker in the USPS mail forwarded by Escapee's mail service. Once we hit Texas again we have a few days to get the truck safety inspected.