Chuck
Re: Chuck
My suggestion: take the state 70/30 plan - best drug coverage available - zero premium. Then enroll in the Blue Medicare HMO medical only (doctors/hospitals) zero premium coverage much better than 70/30 plan.
Recap: use 70/30 plan for drugs only, use blue Medicare HMO for doctors and hospitals. Best of both worlds ZERO premium for both.
In my opinion every retired state employee on Medicare should take this approach or talk to licensed/ certified agent.
State needs to be notified by Nov 15 your intentions! Part B Medicare costs still comes out of your SS check no mater what course you take!
Recap: use 70/30 plan for drugs only, use blue Medicare HMO for doctors and hospitals. Best of both worlds ZERO premium for both.
In my opinion every retired state employee on Medicare should take this approach or talk to licensed/ certified agent.
State needs to be notified by Nov 15 your intentions! Part B Medicare costs still comes out of your SS check no mater what course you take!
Last edited by 9Steelman on Thu Oct 24, 2013 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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JCline0429
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Re: Chuck
[quote="9Steelman"]My suggestion: take the state 70/30 plan - best drug coverage available - zero premium. Then enroll in the Blue Medicare HMO medical only (doctors/hospitals) zero premium coverage much better than 70/30 plan.
Recap: use 70/30 plan for drugs only, use blue Medicare HMO for doctors and hospitals. Best of both worlds ZERO premium for both.
In my opinion every retired state employee on Medicare should take this approach or talk to licensed/ certified agent.
State needs to be notified by Oct 31 your intentions![/quote]
I know. I already have but am considering changing my mind before the 31st.
Recap: use 70/30 plan for drugs only, use blue Medicare HMO for doctors and hospitals. Best of both worlds ZERO premium for both.
In my opinion every retired state employee on Medicare should take this approach or talk to licensed/ certified agent.
State needs to be notified by Oct 31 your intentions![/quote]
I know. I already have but am considering changing my mind before the 31st.
a.k.a JC0429
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JCline0429
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Re: Chuck
9Steelman wrote:My suggestion: take the state 70/30 plan - best drug coverage available - zero premium. Then enroll in the Blue Medicare HMO medical only (doctors/hospitals) zero premium coverage much better than 70/30 plan.
Recap: use 70/30 plan for drugs only, use blue Medicare HMO for doctors and hospitals. Best of both worlds ZERO premium for both.
In my opinion every retired state employee on Medicare should take this approach or talk to licensed/ certified agent.
State needs to be notified by Oct 31 your intentions!
How do I enroll in Blue Medicare? Is it available in all areas?
BT. Prescription drug coverage is cheaper under the Humana and United Health coverage. Too, I can now get my Rx in three month supply from my local drug store cheaper than the 70/30 plan covers. I will still look into your suggestion.
a.k.a JC0429
Re: Chuck
Call Van Shore, CMS Insurance, Yadkinville, 336-469-0631. He is licensed, certified and told me today he has help over 100 state retired with this approach.
He is very knowledgable, and you can trust him, give him a call.
He is very knowledgable, and you can trust him, give him a call.
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JCline0429
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Re: Chuck
9Steelman wrote:Call Van Shore, CMS Insurance, Yadkinville, 336-469-0631. He is licensed, certified and told me today he has help over 100 state retired with this approach.
He is very knowledgable, and you can trust him, give him a call.
Thanks, much, 9Steelman. I will.
a.k.a JC0429
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asu66
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Re: Chuck
To all...
I've been on Blue Medicare HMO and the State Major Med Plan for the last year and have been pleasantly surprised. I'm still crunching numbers and thinking, but I'm leaning toward the same solution as last year. I think 9Steelmen is right on the money with his recommendation. During the period in question, I had major, life or death open heart surgery and a loooong 6 month, intensive cardiac rehab program afterward--and I felt well-cared for insurance-wise and otherwise. I chose my physicians and surgeons and got no hassle of any sort from anyone, anywhere. Can't beat that!
I've been on Blue Medicare HMO and the State Major Med Plan for the last year and have been pleasantly surprised. I'm still crunching numbers and thinking, but I'm leaning toward the same solution as last year. I think 9Steelmen is right on the money with his recommendation. During the period in question, I had major, life or death open heart surgery and a loooong 6 month, intensive cardiac rehab program afterward--and I felt well-cared for insurance-wise and otherwise. I chose my physicians and surgeons and got no hassle of any sort from anyone, anywhere. Can't beat that!
Proud triple-degree App grad--Classes of '66, '70 and '81.
If it happens to the Apps, it happens to me!
If it happens to the Apps, it happens to me!
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asu66
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Re: Chuck
To all again. Just got this e-mail from the state of NC...
IMPORTANT OPEN ENROLLMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Open Enrollment period was set to end October 31, 2013. However, we still have a significant number of members who have yet to take action regarding their Plan benefits. To encourage members to take action and allow them more time, the Plan has extended Open Enrollment until November 15, 2013.
Employees will now have until November 15 to take action or they and any enrolled dependents will be enrolled in the Traditional 70/30 Plan. Employees will have the opportunity to complete their wellness activities for those enrolling in the Enhanced 80/20 Plan and the Consumer-Directed Health Plan in order to reduce their employee-only monthly premium.
Members who have not taken action as of October 17 will be receiving a postcard in the mail later this week to inform them of this extension and to remind them to enroll.
We continue to field questions about the new Consumer-Directed Health Plan. We have recently added a short video, "How Does the CDHP Work" on the Plan's website which is very helpful in understanding how this plan works.
BEACON Agencies
Best Shared Services will email the BEACON HBRs with details on how the extension enrollment will be processed in BEACON.
eEnroll Agencies
OE Tasks
It is critical to stay on top of your open enrollment tasks. All unapproved tasks as of November 16 will be mass approved in order to process and complete the enrollment process.
Retirement Process and Medicare
We continue to see groups not processing retirements correctly in eEnroll. As a reminder, Medicare becomes primary the last month that a retiring member is covered by the active group and the non-Medicare reduced rate applies. Please notify your employees of the primacy change and the need to elect Medicare Part B.
In order for the retiree to be eligible for the new Group Medicare Advantage Plans under the Retirement System, the retiree must be enrolled in Part A and B. Therefore, it is important for the HBR to follow the process for terming a member due to retirement. If this process is not followed, the retiree may miss the opportunity for Medicare Advantage enrollment. With these new Medicare Advantage Plans, there are no exceptions allowed for late enrollment, which may result in the retiree only having the option to enroll in the Traditional 70/30 Plan.
As part of some recent eEnroll enhancements, the Medicare information will carry over from the employing unit to the Retirement System.
When the member is terminated due to retirement and is 65+ the HBR will have the message to "Save and go to Medicare." The Medicare information will automatically prepopulate as shown below:
The HBR should review the information with the member to ensure it is correct.
IMPORTANT OPEN ENROLLMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Open Enrollment period was set to end October 31, 2013. However, we still have a significant number of members who have yet to take action regarding their Plan benefits. To encourage members to take action and allow them more time, the Plan has extended Open Enrollment until November 15, 2013.
Employees will now have until November 15 to take action or they and any enrolled dependents will be enrolled in the Traditional 70/30 Plan. Employees will have the opportunity to complete their wellness activities for those enrolling in the Enhanced 80/20 Plan and the Consumer-Directed Health Plan in order to reduce their employee-only monthly premium.
Members who have not taken action as of October 17 will be receiving a postcard in the mail later this week to inform them of this extension and to remind them to enroll.
We continue to field questions about the new Consumer-Directed Health Plan. We have recently added a short video, "How Does the CDHP Work" on the Plan's website which is very helpful in understanding how this plan works.
BEACON Agencies
Best Shared Services will email the BEACON HBRs with details on how the extension enrollment will be processed in BEACON.
eEnroll Agencies
OE Tasks
It is critical to stay on top of your open enrollment tasks. All unapproved tasks as of November 16 will be mass approved in order to process and complete the enrollment process.
Retirement Process and Medicare
We continue to see groups not processing retirements correctly in eEnroll. As a reminder, Medicare becomes primary the last month that a retiring member is covered by the active group and the non-Medicare reduced rate applies. Please notify your employees of the primacy change and the need to elect Medicare Part B.
In order for the retiree to be eligible for the new Group Medicare Advantage Plans under the Retirement System, the retiree must be enrolled in Part A and B. Therefore, it is important for the HBR to follow the process for terming a member due to retirement. If this process is not followed, the retiree may miss the opportunity for Medicare Advantage enrollment. With these new Medicare Advantage Plans, there are no exceptions allowed for late enrollment, which may result in the retiree only having the option to enroll in the Traditional 70/30 Plan.
As part of some recent eEnroll enhancements, the Medicare information will carry over from the employing unit to the Retirement System.
When the member is terminated due to retirement and is 65+ the HBR will have the message to "Save and go to Medicare." The Medicare information will automatically prepopulate as shown below:
The HBR should review the information with the member to ensure it is correct.
Proud triple-degree App grad--Classes of '66, '70 and '81.
If it happens to the Apps, it happens to me!
If it happens to the Apps, it happens to me!
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JCline0429
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Re: Chuck
I talked with someone today who said now that the Humana and United have been offered to us that if we chose the HMO on our own that we may not be eligible to have the State's 70/30. I'm beginning to think that few have a clue as to exactly what is right and or allowed.asu66 wrote:To all...
I've been on Blue Medicare HMO and the State Major Med Plan for the last year and have been pleasantly surprised. I'm still crunching numbers and thinking, but I'm leaning toward the same solution as last year. I think 9Steelmen is right on the money with his recommendation. During the period in question, I had major, life or death open heart surgery and a loooong 6 month, intensive cardiac rehab program afterward--and I felt well-cared for insurance-wise and otherwise. I chose my physicians and surgeons and got no hassle of any sort from anyone, anywhere. Can't beat that!
And yes, I was at a retired teacher's meeting this morning where we were told we had until Nov 15 to decide an/or change our minds, that is primarily because they have added additional seminars down east.
I'm going to call SHIP tomorrow morning about the Medicare HMO and its conditions related to our 70/30 and also I'll find out from my physicians if they participate in the Blue HMO.
FWIW, if we choose to enroll on our own in the HNO, we still will have to pay the reg Part B premium just as if we take the Humana or United plans offered...according to the person I spoke with this morning. Plus I like saving the Gold's Gym fees I presently pay. In short, I don't know what the H I am going to choose to do.
a.k.a JC0429
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asu66
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Re: Chuck
Do what's best for you and your personal situation if you can cut through all the legalese and underwriter language in the plans. And FWIW, the Blue Medicare HMO plan includes a membership in the national Silver Sneakers program. You'll have free access to participating YMCA and private fitness programs in all 50 states and throughout the world. Here in our community, it's two YMCA facilities and two Anytime Fitness (24/7) facilities. I'm on the way to the Y now for my daily 5 mile walk. 
http://www.silversneakers.com/
http://anytimefitness.com/
http://www.silversneakers.com/
http://anytimefitness.com/
Proud triple-degree App grad--Classes of '66, '70 and '81.
If it happens to the Apps, it happens to me!
If it happens to the Apps, it happens to me!
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JCline0429
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Re: Chuck
asu66 wrote:Do what's best for you and your personal situation if you can cut through all the legalese and underwriter language in the plans. And FWIW, the Blue Medicare HMO plan includes a membership in the national Silver Sneakers program. You'll have free access to participating YMCA and private fitness programs in all 50 states and throughout the world. Here in our community, it's two YMCA facilities and two Anytime Fitness (24/7) facilities. I'm on the way to the Y now for my daily 5 mile walk.
http://www.silversneakers.com/
http://anytimefitness.com/
Yep, I use Gold's because the Y is so crowded. It's good to that no matter which I choose, I still get my membership free.
a.k.a JC0429