Hi, I need to know what the best supplemental insurance is when you are on Medicare and do any cover drugs?

Question

I am looking for a supplemental health care plan to go along with Medicare where I will not have to pay anything when I am hospitalized if it ever happens. I am also looking for a good perscription plan. I started Medicare and still have found a supplemental so if you can help I would be very thankful.

Answer 1

I chose Humana for Prescriptions. My cost is 2.50 for generic and 5.00 for name brand meds.

Talk to your Pharmacist. He can go over some great plans for you.

Answer 2

You have two main options with Medicare.

First is a Medicare Supplement. They include Plans A through L, two high deductible plans and also Medicare Select plans. Each plan is exactly the same no matter the company, the only difference is premium and customer service. The Plans A through L are the plans you are thinking about where you don't have to pay anything if hospitalized. They also have a comparably hefty premium. None of these plans include drug coverage; you'll need a stand alone Part D plan. In general, these plans are a better option if you're frequently going to the doctor and hospital or if you don't mind paying a monthly premium of $150 - $200 or so per month for the supplement and the drug coverage.

Your other option is a Medicare Advantage plan, which include HMO, PPO, MSA, and PFFS plans. Many include drug coverage and many have a $0 premium. You will have co-pays when you use the services. In my area hospital care ranges from a $100 flat rate co-pay to a $295 per day co-pay for the first 13 days, doctor co-pays range from $0 to $35. In general, these plans are better for people wanting to save premium dollars and rarely use the services.

I gave general information about which plan is better for whom but since everyone's situation is different these generalities may not apply to you. These plans can be very confusing. You should visit a local independent agent that works with all the major senior plan companies for personal assistance. The agent can explain the differences and can find the best plan for your situation. There is no extra charge when using an agent.