I got an Advantage plan for the first time for 2013. I have had regular medicare for a while, but I needed more coverages, I wanted a plan that included prescriptions, vision and some dental, and flat copays.
you can go to www.medicare.gov and put in all your prescription medicines and it will help you find a plan that would be best for you. Hope this helps!

Well I found I saved more at present by NOT having drug coverage, so only chose Medicare Part A and then got the AARP Medicare Advantage Plan (the HMO option). I get to see all my regular docs and have no surgery or lab co-pays. It just works for me.

So depends on your health profile.

Best of luck finding a good match.

I'm on regular Medicare (part A & B) right now. I simply can't afford to have more taken out of my benefits. I'm not old enough for AARP and haven't found a supplemental insurance that doesn't cost a lot of money because of all my pre-existing conditions. I just watch what I spend and make sure that my doctor knows that I don't have RX coverage and she keeps me on stuff that I can get on the $4 plan at my pharmacy. I know that's probably not helpful but I had to reply.

I got an advantage plan. There are too many doctors who won't take just straight Medicare anymore. And, I wanted prescription coverage, and some dental and vision.

Go to www.medicare.gov - that may help you figure out what the best option is for you.
Good luck and take care.

I have medicare A and B plus United Health Care backup and D from them for scripts. expensive but I can go where I want without worry. HMO here in my part of Florida isn't so good. The physicians I have now are not a part of an Advantage plan. The primary physicians are in the Viilages a huge retirement community and it would be difficult to get an appointment.

Just finished cruising medicare.gov trying to decide AGAIN. Every year I drive myself crazy. I am on SSD and not 65 so I have to get a med advantage plan.

The supplements are more expensive but you can get one that leaves you with no co pays so if you have a lot of hospitalizations it can save you money. I learned this from dealing with some senior friends of mine in the last years of their lives.

Med advantage plans will give you a more inclusive plan with RX and vision included with dental for a additional price.

You can also get an advantage plan with low premiums the lowest will usually be an HMO. They can have a higher out of pocket expense for the year but will be less than medicare only.

Those are some of the facts I have learned from trying to make this decision every year. Yes I get obsessive every year and drive my husband crazy and my anxiety in to overdrive as there really is not right answer. You can get the ratings of medicare but no where have I found reviews of the insured.

I am trying to stay with the PPO plan I have but have jumped off to a HMO for a while to save money.......so you can hear the confusion I have.

Medicare.gov and I are friends.......it is friendship I need to lose for my sanity.

lalab

I'm on Medicare and not 65.

Luckily my doctor does take straight Medicare but it only pays about a third of the doctor visits. I don't know how much longer that will last because I'm so behind on my payments. Right now they send them to collections but keep seeing me.

I pay for a Humana prescription plan because I'm on so many meds and I just seem to keep getting sicker so I'm going to keep that. I just can't have anything else taken out of my check or I won't have a roof over my head.

It's awful to have open enrollment this time of year when everyone is so busy. I find all the information confusing.

My doc takes Humana, Aetna, and freedom blue here in PA. Humana isthe only one that offers any dental care. I am driving myself bonkers!

Went with Humana. Will see how this works out. Its all clear as mud:-) there aren't a lot of plan options when you are under 65.

Fibrosucks,

I thought I was the only one goes through agony like this....in Wa. we are limited as well. I will glad on the 7th so I can just forget it, as I really need to stay where I am as I am not in the mood to chose another Doctor.

Skinnybinny,

In in Wa. we have a couple of med-advantage programs that have like a $0, $28 or $43 premiums. Then a $15 copay to see primary Dr. don't know if that is in your budget. There are a few Dr's who will take medicare only and if they are full you have to go to the free clinic. We also have programs that help with the premiums if your income allows it.

lalab

If someone is on disability and has medicare than I'm pretty sure they qualify for all medicare advantage plans in their area, it's not an age thing. I pay no premium and $5 for doc appointments.

Good Luck Hunting.

lalab, which Medicare Advantage plans? That is the question. There are so many to choose from.

I'm running out of time. Help! LOL

Each state has there own.....they can be found on Medicare.gov. I stayed with Regence Medadvantage due to it being the only one I could keep all my own Dr.

I work with a broker who would like me to change to a HMO that is rated better and cheaper. I am very fickle...... I called today and was going to change but chickened out. I will have to do it when DH can no longer work so I should do it now. I just miss the days when I worked and had GOOD insurance but not going to happen.

In WA. you just can hardly find a Dr.who will take medicare only...Snobs.

I can't wait till the 8th and my stress will go down.

I've been to Medicare.gov. It took me 50 minutes to put in all my medications. And then I had to go lay down. The session will time out after 30 min and you lose all the info you plugged as it can't be saved.

There are tons of choices, all very expensive. What it doesn't tell you is what plan your doctor accepts. I tried going to the doctor's office and asking what plan they would suggest as supplemental to medicare and got not response, but I did get a message that the nurses are on strike and that they are currently under contract negotiations with insurance companies and the plans they take today they may not accept next year.

They really need to have open enrollment every six months instead of annually.

I've decided to just keep what I have because I can't afford to lose my doctor and I don't have the mental capacity to go through 200 choices to find out if I can use the same doctor and all the other questions. This is an excruciating process.

Just wante to let people know that medicare Advantage plans...MANY/MOST cost the same as your regular medicare! MINE DOES! Same amount taken from my soc sec check and I get more coverage, flat $20copays, some dental coverage, vision coverage AND this one covers prescriptions too! Just have to find that right plan for you! It's not easy. I used to be an insurance agent so I kind of had an advantage here. But go to www.medicare.gov You can do this over the web or you can call their 800# and get a live person to help you.