How much for Medicare plan C and D?

Question

I know i will be paying $96.40 for plan B. About how much can I expect to pay for C and D? I am turning 65 in Oct. and currently have Blue Cross.

Answer 1

It varies from state to state and company to company.  I suggest you go to Medicare.gov and use their program to find the best plan for you.  If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, there should be an Area Agency on Aging that can help you do it at no cost to you.  You have plenty of time, but make sure you do your homework before you decide.

Answer 2

There are many good plans out there, but unfortunately Blue Cross is not one of them, although it might be ok for a supplemental insurance.  

We both use AARP for our part D (prescription coverage)  Actually it's United Healthcare, thru AARP.  

The cost to each of us is $3.90 per month, but we both qualify for the $2500 in help from the SS Adm.

We are of the few who have no supplemental insurance for the stop-gap coverage.

Answer 3

Zarnev is correct in his answer. You say you currently have Blue Cross, if it is through an employer group then you may be able to keep it, if so then you may be better off especially if you are not subject to a coverage gap on your prescriptions.

Check this out carefully, you need to understand the coverage gap or donut hole. I usually do not replace group coverage unless I have to because of this. If you decide to go with part C and or part D you can expect to pay between zero and 76.00 for part C for the plans I have and 23.00 to 96.00 for the part D plans that I have.

Medicare laws and Medicare coverage are not easy to understand. Once you are enrolled in Medicare, you have choices that will affect cost, doctor selection, benefits, convenience, and quality.

Some Medicare beneficiaries have a good understanding of how Medicare works and others don't. All Medicare health plans must cover all Medicare part A and part B benefits, and due to drug coverage that is applicable under Medicare part A and part B, it is critical to understand the basic Medicare benefits. You need to sit down with a broker who specializes in these plans and look at all your options. Be careful what you sign and who you show your Medicare card to or you might just be enrolled in a plan that you do not understand.

By turning 65 in October you will get slammed with mail pieces and telephone calls from insurance companies wanting your business.  I advise you to sign up for the Do Not Call List by visiting this website: www.donotcall.gov

Answer 4

Medicare part C is not a traditional Medicare program. You will not paying for part C (Medicare Advantage Plan) unless you choose to have it.

Part D is the prescription benefit and you will have to choose one. The cost of the plan is dependent on your choice. It runs between $25 to about $80.

To learn more about Medicare visit my website and forum.

Answer 5

Blue Cross does have a Part C Medicare Advantage plan. It is only in a few states and is known as Unicare in most of those states.

Many Medicare Advantage plans have Part D prescription drug coverage included with them. Sometimes you can save money by getting an Advantage plan without drug coverage and a separate stand-alone Part D plan.

The premium for Medicare Advantage plans vary by county. Many have a $0 premium; the average premium in my state is $27 per month with the highest at $181.

The premium for Part D coverage will vary by state. I have plans from $9.80 to $99.50 per month. The national average is around $24 per month. Most of the plans with a lower premium have a deductible. The plans with a higher premium will cover some medication through the donut hole. However, I've found with most of my clients the amount you save with coverage is less over the course of a year than the difference in premium.

The plan you get will need to have the best coverage for you. Different companies will cover any particular drug differently. A generic drug could be a Tier one with one company at a $0 co-pay, a Tier three with another at a $80 co-pay, or not on the formulary with a third company and may cost well over $80.

Plan B, C, D, and so forth, are Medicare Supplements. Don't confuse Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D with Medicare Supplement Plans.