Sorry it's been so long but I've been VERY busy these past weeks!! You know, the MESS we are in right now, is so very complicated! The problems we have did not come about overnight, and are not solely the blame of one party or President or within the past few years. They have been mounting for many, many years and are far beyond what is being discussed these days. But, the problem, as I see it, and am guessing regarding the lack of doctors in any government-run health-care system is that without a promise of monetary reward for services provided, many of our young people will see no advantage of incuring serious debt, to be educated for a field that is and will be lacking the incentive of 'significant' income. It's the way it is! Real life, tells us that unless someone has a 'carrot' dangling to spur them on a very hard course, they will settle for medicority, since it's the easier course. Most physicians, enter the field in horrendous debt because the extended years of their required education. Not ALL doctors are living 'the dream' of financial wealth, at least not early on. If they 'seem' to be, it is most likely that they are living in increased debt to have the lifestyle they want to project indicating 'success' they hope to achieve, but like many in our culture today, are living WAY BEYOND THEIR MEANS. Those who are now in the system as doctors who have been in the saddle for awhile, are already scheduling stacked appts., where 4 or 5 persons are coming in at the same time. Most are seeing Physicians assistants when they do finally get in the examining rooms and will only see the physician if it is an extremely serious situation! It's how they are already preparing to handle the reduced income they will experience with a government plan, hoping to increase their profit by doubling and tripling and more their patient load on any given day. As far as some of the benefits or 'advantages' of our Advantage plan we will lose, there are a few of the comparisons that come to mind. But, we have a THICK book on our benefits as compared to regular Medicare, and unfortunately I just don't have the time to relay all of that to you on this forum. You can go to Anthem's Medicare Advantage site and read what they have to offer, if you're interested--we're very happy with our plan through them. Here are some of the comparisons of Medicare Advantage to government run Medicare: Better co-pays, i.e. $30 for specialist and $15 for primary care as compared to 20% of the billing under Medicare. With Medicare Plan D you pay extra for a drug plan, above the $97, and a deductible amount along with copays while with the Advantage plan it is included at no extra charge, (under the same $97 deducted from SS check) with a copay as well! With Medicare Plan D (drug plan) you have a deductible but not with Med. Ad. Medicare--Covers med. and hospital cost depending on which of the plans, A or B you choose. With Med-Ad you have all plans under one head, with lower over-all costs, not sourced out with separate entities you have to deal with and having add'tl paper work and costs involved. Free gym membership at the YMCA included with Med-Ad.!! Now, if hubby COULD only use it, it would be wonderful!!!

It is confusing, Mare...and that's what got me into trouble in the first place. Let me see if I can explain my particular issue to further clarify why I'm being charged a penalty. When my husband died a few years ago, all my benefits died with him due to an agreement he had made with the PBA long before he even knew me. His decision, unfortunately, was irreversible. Throughout our married life...all contact involving his benefits package had to be made by him even though I was covered under all his plans, therefor I was often left in the dark about what the plan included and who the carriers were. I was already enrolled in Medicare when he passed and knew that I would have to replace the supplemental policy he'd had for me with BC/BS. I did so immediately. What I didn't know was that I had to replace the Medicare D policy. I had never needed it and had no idea what it was let alone the fact that it existed as part of his benefits package. To make matters worse, the PBA didn't notify me that I had to replace this coverage with a policy of my own choosing. I went for almost 4 years without realizing that I was in default with Medicare. Fortunately, it was brought to my attention and I applied for a policy but in so doing, I learned that I was going to be penalized for the time that had lapsed between the loss of my husband's coverage for me and my "awakening". The penalty is based on a formula...1% of the policy monthly premium...times the number of months that one goes without coverage. It was a substantial amount to me and I had limited recourse. I contacted Medicare and filed a challenge. They agreed that I had a basis for my challenge. They reduced the penalty by 12 months...but said ignorance of the law was no excuse and I was left responsible for the remaining month's penalty. The penalty is NEVER removed. From now until the day I die...I will have that penalty added to whatever Medicare Part D plan I carry. My only hope to be relieved of this burden is that two US high courts agree with me...that the penalty, along with the Federal edict to force people to carry health insurance above and beyond Medicare...is illegal. If the Supreme Court agrees with the two lower courts, the entire forced insurance system will be reversed and my penalty will be dropped. Needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting their decision. I hope this gives you a little more info. If you are already enrolled in Medicare, the booklet that they send out every year will give you more information. Or, you can call their office. I've found them to be very helpful...even thought I don't always agree with them. As long as you get Medicare Part D coverage as soon as you're eligible, you shouldn't have to worry about a penalty...unless somewhere along the line you decide to drop the coverage...and then pick it up again at some later date. You'd be penalized for the lapsed coverage time. HTH Anne

I'm sorry I looked. Either I'm not figuring right or there are bugs. I entered our zip; chose CVS and Walgreens; entered DH's two daily meds. The plan sorter rates plans by total annual cost. The premium for the top pick is $22.50/mo. ($270/annual) with a $400 deductible. That's $670 annual cost to have the plan, right? But the plan sorter says Annual Cost to DH (premium, deductible and meds) is $586.

We have access to licensed health insurance advisers (brokers) through my DH's former employer. After I ran the numbers on the Medicare Part D site, I called these people to verify my understanding of the two different plans I had selected for us. They could tell me nothing about the one I selected for myself because...it's not one that they 'broker'. So -- I wouldn't rely on just what one broker offers. Mutual of Omaha is new in our area in 2020. I enrolled in their Value Part D plan because it was among the cheapest when combining the cost of the premium and the cost of my meds. (Advair is my big expense at $450 retail per month.) I'm OK with their preferred pharmacy being CVS. I'll pay $22.80/month premium, and a total of $1232/month average out of pocket including known meds. (My 2019 Part D plan with United was completely overpriced for 2020 when I ran the numbers on the Medicare guide.) My 2020 Part D card arrived in the mail within two weeks of our October enrollment sign-ups; impressive. DH has so few meds that he rarely exceeds the deductible, so a low premium is a goal for him. (Nearly all Part D plans in our area have a $435 deductible in 2020.) He'll have WellCare Select Part D for 2020. Premium is $15.50/month; total with meds averages $249/month. (He also has to pay an $8 penalty in addition to this, dating from when he did not take a Part D plan the first year it was required.) We're OK with this CVS plan. His Part D card has yet to arrive -- despite two letters confirming enrollment; not impressive. We choose to have premiums paid by deduction from our Soc. Sec. benefits. No coupons. No direct withdrawal from bank account.