I agree about for some/many the affordability of Advantage plans for some is what is affordable. HOWEVER I do believe there are a fair number of people who don’t study the details and do get confused with the barrage of information that they don’t study or ask enough guidance from the right people. The underwriting if you switch plans under your state’s regulations (meaning you have your medical situation evaluated for the pricing of the new insurance you want making a change during a future open enrollment period).
So true about who your medical providers are, and also if you plan to travel and perhaps then have the risk of out of network for some of the Advantage Plans or other Medigap (Medicare B) providers.
Very important to follow all you need to follow for Medicare enrollment. The initial enrollment is VERY IMPORTANT with also having the right Medigap figured out (Medicare B plus Supplement) or if you indeed feel you can choose a Medicare Advantage (Medicare C) plan. You need to sign up for a Drug Plan (Medicare D) if the MA (Medicare Advantage) doesn’t include. Medigap supplements do not include drugs - the drug plans are priced separately. You can choose a drug plan with that particular Medigap supplement, but you may find better pricing/fit for you based on the drugs you take now. The drug plans are very easy to change during open enrollment period - you research what your current regular drugs are and see if another plan fits you better (DH is on new meds this year, so we will evaluate at the end of the year during open enrollment if he should change plans or keep in same plan). Every year we get what the pricing change is on the Medicare D drug plan we are on, so one can decide to take advantage of the open enrollment period of time.
There is a national 800# for Medicare and your local office for SSA/Medicare has an 800 #. Some enrollment can be done on-line, but it is important to also check on what you are doing. DH’s electronic Medicare/SSA file got internally messed up and it has been a nightmare. It was not complicated but due to SSA/Medicare clerk errors, misinformation by them, etc. - the automation on the system was not working correctly on DH’s file and his Medicare B finally got processed, back dated as months went with their internal system saying ‘being processed’ but it was not being worked on AT ALL. We still haven’t gotten billed for his Medicare B (which began Sept 1 2021, was ‘processed’ Dec 29th where we could get his Medicare B card printed online), so I guess we have to inquire about that if we don’t get a bill by the end of first quarter 2022 (DH would almost choose to have a root canal than call SSA/Medicare office again).
If you find you want the medical providers you have with your private coverage but ‘cannot afford’ the coverage under the Medicare plans that best fit your needs/wants - maybe it is not time to retire yet. Some people do not realize what good health care coverage costs out of pocket until they no longer have their company supplemented policy. One cannot assume you are low enough income or in a financial position to have a state sponsored lower cost option, or qualify for federal help unless you do the research.
DH’s uncle was a union electrician, and he was able to put extra money into a fund so he could retire before 65 and had medical coverage with his wife prior to them both being 65 - I imagine they have company/union provided supplement with Medicare B and drug plan).
Some companies have terrific insurance coverage for retirees. Government employees that had their time in for government retirement.
Most of us can pay COBRA or find something on the open market if that is affordable in our situation to retire before age 65. When DH retired 11 months earlier than planned, my employer health coverage got enabled - which was similar in cost and benefits to DH’s - and saved us about $1,000/month over COBRA costs; saved us a whole lot more than what open market was for our level of insurance coverage. My company had no dental plan and we paid COBRA for DH’s family dental coverage (DH and myself) which was a reasonable cost.
I work too hard, and have saved too much, been thoughtful on saving and investing, to have the signing up for health care at 65 and after getting screwed up. One needs to learn and be properly guided to make the best decisions.
Social Security is more straightforward.
FIRST thing to do if one has not done so is go onto SSA.gov and obtain a log on for self, and if married spouse to also obtain a log on. SSA gave us our original log in ID I believe back in 2014, and we changed our password after log in. We each also have our own email address.
Later one can go on Medicare.gov and set up log in and password for self, and if applicable, spouse to do as well.
Medicare uses SSA.gov for any financial transmission of info - so they have a verification system (double verification) with use of SSA.gov signing in.
It all goes to how the government designed and uses the level of automation and the rules/regs.
One system operates 24/7 and the other shuts down some hours during the night. One has some on-line ‘chat’ support, the other doesn’t.
When talking with SSA/MC office, they have access to stuff you do not see - and they see stuff processed before you may see stuff online.
The amount of information with what comes with the drug plans (listening to long scripts and saying ‘yes’) is all part of the control SSA/MC has on the private companies.
Private companies do what they do - with annoying soliciting phone calls, and lots of mail.
Caveat Emptor - buyer beware.