I'm deep in the weeds with Part D and Supplement research

[chowmama]

Our current plans with UCare in Minnesota are not offered next year - they're offering no Medicare plans at all. I'm going to miss them; they were great. But I can't find a combo Part D and supplement, so I have to look at 2 separate plans now. I categorically refuse to get an Advantage plan.

I've finally pretty well limited the Part D options, as DH has a lot of meds and I had to go through everyone's formulary. I did have to go on several websites that wouldn't let me have the info without supplying an email and phone #. I only gave one company anything and started getting the hard sell immediately, so I'm now just lying about that.

Now my only steps are to make sure our doctors and nearby hospital are in network and also get any suggestions about whether they recommend any companies I haven't run across yet. So, I'm near the finish line. DH wants to know if ever other senior in America has to do this and is it even fair. I told him 1) Yes and 2) No.

And if anybody has the phone # [phone], I apologize. I tried for 111-222-3333, but the internet knew that was phony. I'm pretty sure there's no such email as [e-mail].

[SheltieLover]

1. Call the Council on Aging &/or your local senior center

They make short work of this bs we have to go through.

[choie]

2. Here's the number and website for Minnesota's State Health Insurance Assistance program (SHIP)

https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/aging/finding-services-for-older-adults/

Call SHIP at [phone]

They should be able to guide you!

Kim

[dflprincess]

3. When I finally signed up for Medicare B last spring

I went with Blue Cross MN supplement. Not for profit and a huge network. I went with the pricier option so I'd have fewer out of pockets. For Part D I went with a cheap plan I found on the Medicare website. But I only have a couple prescriptions & won't meet the deductible with them.

You could try calling the Minnesota Senior Linkage line. I used an insurance agent a friend recomended.

[Henry203]

4. Supplements don't have a network

You can go to any doctor.

[EverHopeful]

5. I'm re-posting something I'd posted in response to another DU post. Hope it's helpful

My plan was not being offered in 2026 so I was able to switch so I contacted the company recommended about 3/4 of the way through this video and they were amazing. Was on the phone with a guy who explained all the options and arranged a callback a few days later to make sure everything worked out.

The company is called Chapter.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/132280784

P. S. My doctor even mentioned the company when I told her I had to change insurers and I told her they were the people who'd helped me choose my new plan.

[chowmama]

6. It's finally done

The Part D was done week before last. As far as MediGap, I was assured by my company that, as long as it didn't involve Part D (alone or Advantage), the deadline was the end of December and that I could do the MediGap online without meeting with an agent.

So I finally got around to trying to get MediGap last night -- and couldn't find the application screen to save my life. It wasn't where the employee said it would be. All the available info from my chosen company was for Medicare Advantage, which of course said I had to get it done by today (since the 7th is Sunday and the companies are closed Saturday and Sunday. I hate Advantage and am not doing that. No info on MediGap. And now I didn't trust anything he told me, including the due date. This kept me awake all night. We can't afford to not have a supplement.

I called in sick today to get it sorted out. (I never call in sick. The last time I did, years ago, the rumor went around that I was dying.) I was prepared to stay on the phone all day. However, while I was preparing, I found a paper with the appropriate application site for my already chosen plan. Took me most of the morning for both of us, and then we went to get the applications faxed so they would have today's date for 'received'. It's the same company as the old discontinued policy, so they apparently can't deny us.

So that's settled. Maybe I can sleep tonight.

Next year, we get to do this all over again.