Truly EXCELLENT information. I've been weighing Plans G and N for some time. These future price estimations are EXTREMELY helpful, including the information on historical premium increases for G vs. N. Thank you for taking the time to put this together and sharing it with us!
Can you recommend a medicare broker?That has the qualifications that you enumerated.In order to choose the right company to to switch from the medicare advantage to plan N?
While I recommend doing your own due diligence, I close with "and seek out a professional, if you need one." You will likely be steered to Plan G or an Advantage plan. Consider the choices.
@TC-yi3ue What is the alternative? No choices? Highest priced plan for everyone or biggest deductible for everyone. You know it is coming. Spend a day educating yourself. How hard is that?
Excellent, very thorough. My spread sheet is an old electric bill with a torn corner and some spaghetti sauce stain in the lower corner, but our numbers are the same. Thank you.
@@rickski3769 Please look for a SHIP counselor in your area. SHIP = Senior Health Insurance Program. It's a FREE service offered in every state. I'm training to be one right now. Most SHIP counselors are volunteers (that go through extensive training) and have NO financial incentive to recommend any plan. They just explain how it all works. (They can also help you choose or switch your Part D drug plan every fall, based on the prescription drugs you're currently taking.)
Excellent statistical comparison! I did a lot of research & went with a broker as I turned 65 this year, and chose Plan N. Your video helps to validate that decision.
Excellent analysis, thank you! Turning 65 this year but plan tpo keep working several years more. Don't plan to sign up for Medicare till I retire, but this is excellent information.
I went "n" as well, as my broker predicted the sicker (more costly) patients would choose plan 'g', raising its costs a little more. Also, from personal experience, if you go to the ER and are admitted inpatient, the $50 co-pay is waived. (I'd have rather paid the $50 than having dealt with pancreatitis.)
I was diagnosed with pancreatitis and discovered my weekly osteoporosis medication caused it. I quit taking and no more episodes. I have had 2 medical assistant tell me it has been none to create attacks
Bottom line: If you are really healthy and you lose your coverage under plan N then you will probably be okay. But if you ever develop any condition that puts you at higher risk then you will face underwrighting under plan N. On the other hand ... if you are covered under plan G and you lose your insurance you will be able to get insurance from another carrier w/o underwriting. So even if you are on your death bed you will still be able to get coverage while you will be w/o coverage if you decided to save a few bucks under plan N. So...bottom line...if you expect to remain healthy until your last day on this earth then go with plan N and save $40 a month, but if you are like most people and will encounter health challenges later then you just might be better off pay a little more per month for plan G.
I NEVER had to be elevated with my N plan which I had 6 yrs already. So if I got a catastrophic illness plan N can drop me when it comes enrollment time? Say it ain’t so….I didn’t know that. Please clarify that.
I'm not Robert and am not sure what he meant... I am new to this medicare stuff... but no, as long as you pay the premiums, your supplemental plan cannot drop you for health reasons. Only if the insurer discontinues the plan for everyone. @@loveyf853
Once you have a Medigap policy, it remains in force as long as you pay the premium. It can never be cancelled on you for medical reasons. People joining the plan after their initial open enrollment can be asked medical questions but there is no underwriting during the initial enrollment run the six months after joining Medicare. People telling to buy G instead of N for this reason are trying to get you to enroll for the more expensive plan.
@softwarephil1709 -- I should hope you get greater flexibility in provider, facility, and location of where you have coverage given the very high cost of the Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G or N, plus Part D insurance plus private dental insurance plus private vision-care insurance, not to mention the complexity of dealing with FIVE different "insurance" sources each and every year. I dislike trusting my healthcare entirely to any insurance company, but after eight years on an Advantage plan, I've paid $0 in premiums, and $3600 in copays / coinsurance instead of over $45,000 in premiums for the five different coverages purchased separately as I'd have to do with a Medigap Plan N approach.
I did the same analysis when I chose N in 2021. Cheaper unless going to the doctor twice a month, and probably slower rate increase. My wife got Plan N in 2022. Even with a lot of specialist visits last year after a hospital stay, we were still ahead.
That result is really dependent on your overall health situation. I have two chronic conditions that require a lot of doctor's visits (58 last year). The difference in 2024 between plan G and plan N where I live is a bit over $500, so I am ahead going with plan G. But each person's situation varies. My wife is similar, she has two issues and she sees her doctors 2-3 times a month. In her case, in a good year she would be $50 or so ahead with an N plan, but in a year on the other end of her typical spectrum she would be down by $250 or so with N instead of G. Also we both like not having to even think about copays. Also consider that your use of the healthcare system will likely be much less when you are young (65) and healthy than when you are older (75+) and less healthy.
Good analysis! For OOP estimate, we should take health decline into account though because a typical cancer patient sees doctors more than twice a month, and cannot pass the medical underwriting for switching from Plan N to Plan G. Although a better insurance plan may cost more on average, it provides better protection when something really bad happens.
agree. we were surprised last year when both my husband and i were diagnosed with different cancers. so glad we are with plan G now. always plan for the worst and hope for the best
I'm recent to Medicare Plan N - and I have found that not all doctors charge a co-pay. Two of the three doctors I have seen didn't even ask for one. So they can charge up to $20, but they don't always do so.
I just started on N and was wondering about this. Are you sure you just haven’t seen a bill yet for the copay? I’ve seen videos talk about you being billed the copay after Medicare and your supplement pay the doctor, and then the doc bills the co-pay amount. Just curious…thanks!
@@Nancy-xb6wh - You’re right, but we were talking about doctor co-pays, not excess charges. Thanks for your input, though. I should be able to effectively avoid excess charges since all providers - doctors and facilities - can be looked up on Medicare.gov to see who will likely charge excess charges. I did this before I decided to go with N, and of all the doctors and facilities in my area, I only found ONE chiropractor in my area who can charge excess charges. Ironically, it is the chiropractor I have used for years - although very infrequently. I figure I’ll go to him once and see if he bills excess charges. I figure it’s worth the $10-$15 once to find out. If he does, lesson learned and I’ll move on to our secondary chiropractor (who does not charge excess charges.)
Appreciate the confirmation of my decision. I started on Medicare two months ago and signed up for plan n due to the cost difference. I pay $141 for plan n, plan g was $210. I live in Florida and I get most of my medical care from the Indian health service at no cost to me.
WOW. This is great. We'll be retiring in four years. I selfishly hope this video is updated annually to reflect potential changes. It's just so packed with helpful info that is UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK YOU!
My wife fought cancer 3 times before she died, never play Russian roulette with your Medicare to save 100 dollars a month. Mother nature has a lot of dirty tricks ahead.
Thank you! I appreciate all the work you put into this. I would make a small correction to your presentation: Some of us (not many, comparatively speaking) live in states where we can switch plans around our birthday and not have to go through medical underwriting. Living in California, I am one of those blessed ones and I plan to switch when my next birthday rolls around because my horrible medigap orovider (AARP, United Healthcare) raised my premiums by 11% this month!
I believe that's the same in NY. I'm not eligible for Medicare until later this year so I'm currently in research mode, but I believe there are four states that allow customers to move between MA and Medigap plans without going through an underwriter. On the flip side, I suspect we pay significantly higher premiums for that capability.
@@MikeD_ I was on MA at first. But then I started researching and I would NEVER choose MA now. Fortunately I was in my 6 month window where I could switch back to original Medicare. Please be careful. With MA you DO have to go through medical underwriting and have to get pre-authorization for many services. They often to not cover for cancer treatments, etc. You may save in the beginning, but that savings could cost you your life.When I wrote the above I was only writing about switching Medicare plans, not MA. Medicare Advantage plans are not Medicare. They have nothing to do with the government. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Good video ! I been on plan N for 2 and a half years !! No price increase ! I live in Ohio and me and my wife pay $165 with the family discount. I know people that got plan G and got a 6% per year the last 2 years !
@@rickski3769 Continental Life ( Aetna ). Very happy !! I Had colon cancer and spent a month in the hospital !Had a lot of chomo too! Very little out of pocket .
This was a very comprehensive and informative video that was easy to follow and understand unlike those done by so many underwriters and salesmen on RUclips that confuse me with too many technicalities.
@@dwhite6213 Actual experience with disadvantage plan. If you don't need a doctor or hospital Great but when you need care the delays denials and stalls come in mass.
I'm turning 65 next month. I found that I can get Plan G cheaper than Plan N at least for the first year. In Calif we can change at our birthday without going though underwriting if you stay at the same plan level or lower. So it seem to make sense to get Plan G for me, at least for now.
Similar experience, also in California. It does vary greatly by state. As he said, the provider matters greatly too. The insurer I had for my Plan G started raising premiums way more than the average in his chart so I was able to save almost 23% by switching insurers.
@@kristentheologus-KTechnogalI’m in California, I’m waiting my birthday to switch providers, the present one after my first year, has raised so much the price that I need to get a new one.
I thought we had only a six-month window - our initial enrollment period - to choose our supplemental plan, and that after that, the insurers could deny us due to possible health conditions or charge us way more. Do you mean that we can switch insurers of a Plan G or a Plan N, or whichever supplemental plan we have, and still be able to get the same rate we would have during our 'initial enrollment period'? (I'm in California also)
Rates go up with age and inflation so no you can't get a policy price guarantee, you will pay the rate the carrier quotes. A different carrier MAY have a lower premium. In CA up to 60 days after your birthday you can shop for a plan with the Same or Fewer benefits without underwriting. So if you have G you can go to N. But if you have N you can't go to G without underwriting. If you have no serious medical conditions you can change Anytime but your application will be underwritten.
i like that you estimated higher for your possible year costs. my mom taught me to do that when i got married and was pregnant. she said always plan for the worst and hope for the best.
You did a great job analyzing all the numbers involved in this so that's pretty impressive. I've had my plan g for 6 years now. It does see the rate increases. A couple things about plan g that I'm so glad I did. It. Is peace of mind. Eliminate the variables. Plan n has the excessive cost that you mentioned but you said that most doctors are still participating in Medicare. But that's a variable that can change and that's out of your control. Another thing I would say about plan n you know when you're 65 you're probably in pretty good shape but when you're 75 maybe some things have happened. If you want to change plans you have to go through underwriting. So if you have plan n and are finding you having more visits those kinds of things and want to switch to a different plan, it'll have to be underwritten based on your current health. I just like the freedom to know that I can go anywhere to any doctor without pre-authorization at any time in the United States and everything is covered. I might be paying the cost of a Netflix or dinner out more than plan n but I'm willing to do that. I enjoyed your program.
Thanks for watching! Keep in mind that switching from one Plan G to another will also go through underwriting. Goal is to pick right the first time and stick with it. Plan N will be right for me and a little cheaper.
Very helpful. I am just very afraid of unforseen health down falls and being on Plan N. It would end up costing way more, and they probably would not renew it. Fear of the unknown is really difficult to deal with. You did a really good job at making it all understandable. even better than all the Medicare brokers that have You Tubes and get too deep to understand. Thank you so much.
Excellent analysis. Also important to remember that there are a number of states like mine (Massachusetts) that under law are not allowed to charge excess charges so you don't have to worry about those in plan N. I think there are probably 10 or 12 states that are not allowed to charge excess charges.
Please clarify, once you are enrolled in plan N, then do you have to go through underwriting each year to remain in Plan N? And Plan G you don’t? Or is it automatic renewal for both plans once you are enrolled in either plan? Arizona here with Plan G $117 mo. with Plan N at $82. If I have to enroll every year for Plan N, I will stay with PlanG, if not, Plan N is a worthy consideration. Do you have to pay Plan N’s copay if the deductible has not yet been met?
I read that if you work for a company that has 20 or fewer employees, you are required to sign up for Medicare at age 65. In this scenario when you work for a small employer and dont sign up at age 65, Medicare will charge you a late enrollment premium penalty for Part B of 10% of the standard Part B premium for each 12 months of delay. This penalty is permanent and escalates over time. If you work for a company that has 21 employees or more they don't require you to sign up at age 65 and there isn't a late enrollment penalty. I found that interesting, I didn't realize that. So many rules.
@@kcrahmann7539 That is my understanding as well. Those who continue to work past age 65 should be very careful to ensure they have coverage that Medicare will recognize. Otherwise, they should use IEP to get coverage!
Appreciate the work. Hard to make predictions about one's health needs. Glad this worked out for you. Plenty of other blogs on this comparison, many going the other way. It's like when to take social security in the first place. If you know when you are going to die, easy. This choice is right up there with stock market predictions. Take your best estimate and cross your fingers.
This was very helpful and brought out some things I had not thought of. Still a ways off from Medicare but gathering info now. Charts usually make my head spin, but I could easily follow your clear and logical explanation and conclusion. Thanks!
The thing to understand is as people get older, even healthy people, have increasing medical problems and require more doctor and ER visits per year so Plan N co-pays may equalize the annual costs with premiums.
Depending on the state, the difference between Plan G and Plan N is large enough to allow up to 24 visits to doctors a year and still come out ahead. That plus the potential for more modest rate hikes for a healthier risk pool over time. Those insured by Plan G and Plan N will both see premiums increase with age and inflation, but the copays will never be the cause for concern when comparing Plan G and Plan N, unless you are see a lot of doctors!
Just because you don’t use ER visits, skews the data. Wife had 4 ER visits last year for extreme headaches, getting CAT and MRI scans each time. As ya get older ER visiting definitely increases.
Outstanding analysis!! I was wondering if my Plan N choice back in 2022 was still the best choice and could not readily seem to find that information. Thank you so very much. I am dissatisfied with the 11.7% increase with UHC for Plan N monthly premiums in 2024, and when my 60-day open enrollment period starts on my birthday in July (allowable in CA), I’m switching to Mutual of Omaha.
You will be worse off with Mutual of Omaha. I've had them for the past five years and the average annual rate increase has been 15.9%. And there's a reason for this. It is because Mutual of Omaha engages in a practice of 'closing the books' on a group of enrollees. This effectively disconnects them from the new (and healthier) enrollees. The result is that the closed book enrollees are now left to grow old and less healthy. And their premiums skyrocket. This is one of the dirty secrets of the Medigap business and Mutual of Omaha is one of the worst offenders.
Plan N for me in 6 months. I am leaning more towards BCBC as that was my employers insurance that was provided to me my whole career and they have been good to me. BCBS never played the “closed book” game either with medigap plans. (State Farm is also on my radar and they never as of now played the “closed book” game either.)
Maybe N is good, but aging and doctor visits go hand in hand (most on medicare are seniors). Just one severe ailment will trigger many doctor/therapy visits. If someone had a preexisting condition, plan N is for No. But if you're as healthy as a horse ...
Wow! So informative! I'll be 65 in Dec and I've been trying to understand this whole Medicare thing for the last couple of months. I had kind of decided on Plan N, but your video convinced me that was the right decision! Thank you SO much for sharing! I'm also in NJ by the way.
I haven't seen a doctor in 5 years other than a dentist and opthomogist - neither covered by Medicare or Medicare supplements. But their fees are still less than gambling with Medicare Advantage that is being canceled faster than you can say Gotcha.
As long as you're covered by group health (20+ employees), you cannot enroll in Medicare. The good news is you can retain all the benefits of a first-time enrollee to Medicare until employment or group health coverage ends, EVEN IF you're past the traditional enrollment period for Medicare (the three months before and the three months after the month you turn 65)! A lot can change in 7 years. I'd wait til then to analyze plans. A good broker can help you, as well as the govt website for Medicare. As for me, I'm getting off my husband's insurance when I turn 65 because Medicare is cheaper than dependent coverage.
What you eat?How many medications you are on, health history of family, genetics, Alcohol usage, Environment? Obesity, How many doctors visits a year. Consider all these when making a decision.There's alwayr unknow Somebody running you over but we can't worry about that one.😮
A couple points to add to your presentation. On plan N the $50.00 charge for an ER visit is waived if you are then admitted to the hospital. Also, the $20.00 charge for physician office visits is the maximum you will have to pay for routine care office visits. The average charge nationally for these visits is about $14.00. Note that if you need follow up office visits after a surgery or procedure there is no charge for those.
Are there excess charges for outpatient diagnostics like MRIs and echocardiograms? I have those every year and don't want to pay excess charges on those.
@@cobaltbroker Plan N does not cover excess charges, but you can be assured you won’t get them by using Medicare providers who have promised to accept Medicare assignment. Nearly all providers do not charge excess charges.
Great information. In my area, two good companies offering the lowest priced plan N are Mutual of Omaha for $84.44 and AARP for $86.68. Plan G is about $42.00 higher. I heard AARP has some of the lowest annual increases but does have a diminishing discount over time. Tough decision for me: Mutual of Omaha or AARP? Thank you.
I used Boomer Benefits broker advice to make the call for me. Also look at household discounts if married. Or talk to your state’s SHIP office. Do projected costs for next few years and go with a decision that looks good for you.
Mine was 86.something also for N at 65 but I sure it go up over time. I know Seniors that because of financial issues had to go from regular Medicare to advantage in later years. I hope the lower N cost will allow me to stay with traditional Medicare even if I live to a 100.
Your presentation was very thorough and informative. $12,000 is a lot to "save", but at the same time, $12,000 will not go very far when it comes to medical costs and expenses. I'm just entering Medicare and learning a lot and still feel things are quite murky because of so many possible outcomes we don't know about our future health. Everyone has a lot of different life situations and circumstances to work with and figure things out!
Thank you for watching. Absolutely it is a personal financial question. I view it as risk management. Because Plan N and Plan G are so close, I am calculating how much “savings” I’m comfortable in taking.
I have Mutual of Omaha and they screwed me! They routinely "close their book", thus isolating policy holders into a dead pool. In five years, my Plan G supplement premiums have doubled. The annual average rate increase has been 15.9%. And because of health conditions, I won't be able to pass underwriting with a different carrier.
I am lucky to get medicare indemnity supplement plan through employer which costs me $ 87 per month currently with 15$ office visit, $50 ER visit and 0$ annual deductible.
Advantage plan if you will never get sick because your are superhuman or if you’re just a regular human that has problems as they get older Plan G . Nobody’s talking me out of my plan G 😡
I am on Plan N since Nov 2023, I find that it hardly pay for anything. So far, they paid my gynecologist 0.31 cents, I paid $19. My PCP and the bloodwork wasn’t paid at all by Medicare nor Plan N. Will be $1k out of pocket. I really don’t understand how Medicare expect my PCP to have clairvoyance. No bloodwork? Soon, I will be needing PT, I fear the bill.
Yeah something is wrong here, after your deductible Medicare should pay their part. If Medicare does not pay then no supplement is going to pay either. Make sure you are on regular Medicare and not advantage. If on regular contact your doctors, either they are coding it right or maybe they stop taking medicare.
I'm 70 yrs old and on plan N. When I was looking at plans it turned out I was eligible for plan F even though it was phased out. While working with an agent/consultant I decided to go with plan N, as I wasn't seeing a doctor that often. Since then it turns out I'm seeing doctors more than I had thought I would and I probably would be better off with plan G - although it would be close. I haven't followed up since I originally signed up. Do you know if it's possible to change from a plan N to G without going through underwriting. (I live in Ohio - I mentioned that because I recall seeing that some states have different rules in regards to changing the supplement plans.)
I'd refer you to a broker, like Boomer Benefits. for the best read on what is possible in your state, in your health. Only a few states allow switching without underwriting. But I've read that underwriting is not a foregone conclusion of "uninsurable." I will say that you need to see a lot of doctors to make up the difference between Plan N and Plan G in most areas.
@@IwasRetired Boomer benefits is the broker that I used when I originally signed up. I haven't done a in-depth calculation, but as I said I think plan G might be slightly better, but it would be close.
This was great information!!! Im turning 65 in May and am currently looking at all options. I am going back and forth between G and N as well. One point I may have missed here is the excess charges in plan N. I don't recall seeing estimated numbers included. I am from California and see doctors about 5- 6 times a year---and maybe a urgent care. Should I be concerned that the possible excess charges could offset the savings of a plan N?
Use Medicare.gov to ensure your providers accept Medicare assignments and you will not need to worry about excess charges. Plus there are limits on how much excess charges can be.
Psychiatrists and ophthalmologists are two specialities that often charge Excess Charges. Look up doctors and specialists on Medicare.gov and look for "accepts assignment".
Maybe I missed it, but I did not hear you say that there are no co-pays until you have reached the deductible, and the ER co-pay is waived if you are admitted into the hospital. I am 73 and have been on Plan F with UHC since 2016. 2024 premium is going up to $275/month from $261.75. I just passed medical underwriting and was issued a policy for Plan N with Cigna for $169/month (preferred rate) starting in 2024. That's a savings of $106/month, subtract $20/month to cover the deductible and another $20/month for a possible 12 office visits (won't reach that) and I will save $66/month or $792 per year. I'm not factoring in ER visits. I did a quick search for past rates for Plan N with Cigna and found that according to my state's website the premium hasn't change since 2021 (that's as far back as I could go). The switch was a no brainer for me.
Thank you for your analysis. The copays max out at $20. Copays can be less based on the Medicare payment to the doctor and the 20% you are obligated to pay.
About to sign up for Medicare this year. If i go with a specific carrier for Plan G and then I want to change carriers three years in… could they medically underwrite and deny me?
I am currently in the midst of making my decision - G or N - to start Medicare. But this information reinforces my decision to go with N. And let me point out to others who are in the same place as me, agents say that if you go to the doctor twice a month, you need to choose G over N. But that advice is only good at age 65, because as you age, and as G’s premium will increase than N’s premium, the required number of office visits to break even is going to rise a fraction each year. So, by age 80, G may exceed N by $100 per month or more (that’s in my issue age area - it may be different in your area). This means I would need to visit the doctor at least 5 times a month for G to be a better value than N, right? Am I thinking this through correctly?
Good study, however your comparison of costs between Plans N and G are very different from other areas of the country. In some areas, the monthly difference is half of what it is in your area. So in that case, the result would be different. Also, yes i agree most doctors accept, and plan to continue accepting Medicare assignment, however we have seen constant changes to Medicare and there is no guarantee that most will accept assignment 5 or 10 years from now and with the smaller difference in premiums between N and G in other areas, G can be a good choice also. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching and your comment. Absolutely, where you live matters! As far as Medicare assignment is concerned, yes, if Medicare were to change payments to doctors, there might be an uptick in percentage not taking assignment. But keep in mind, federal law only allows them to charge an additional 15% above the approved amount, which limits its impact to your wallet. And you'll always be able to avoid that by checking first. Plan G might be a good plan for some, but I think carrier matters more. Do your due diligence when first selecting your carrier and shop later with underwriting to ensure you get the best prices for as long as you can.
@@IwasRetired Yes. Which is why my wife and I are happy we were able to get the F plan before then. I haven't paid one cent in medical bills (other than Medicare and MediGap) since we started the plan -- including when I had a pacemaker installed two years ago.
@@IwasRetiredI hope you answer my question. I'm going on 65 and have SS disability insurance with plan F because I had breast surgery's and cancer treatments. I'm now 5 years cancer free and turning 65 the insurance companies are really pushing for me to give up plan F and go to plan G. They say I will never get a underwriter to accept me if I do ever decided to change? Would you suggest I give up plan F and go to plan G? I really don't want to give up my plan F. But what they say scares me into thinking I should?
@@softwarephil1709Would you ever give up your plan F to go to plan G? I have plan F also and love it. The insurance company are really pushing me into giving up my plan F and I don't want to.
@@RealDustyMoonI would talk to a SHIP counselor in your state. Then a Medicare specialist broker. Keep in mind you don’t need to give up your Plan F until you are accepted by a Plan G insurer. Those of us younger are not allowed to sign up for Plan F, because it includes the Part B deductible, whereas Plan G does not. However, insurers with Plan F enrollees may need to raise rates, thus Plan G might become a better buy. But get solid advice first!
1) Am i correct that all the supplemental plans can be expected to raise premiums for everyone, yearly? 2) Is there also another increase for your age or age bracket going up? 3) Do any companies offer any bonuses or discounts for following healthly life styles, dietary practices, exercise programs, health checkups, etc? Thank you
www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/costs If you look at the chart on this page, it describes differences between community rated, issue-age, and attained-age Medigap plans. It notes in all three cases, an insurance company may raise prices each year. You will also find that some states have very few issue-age options, a few community rated plans, and mostly attained-age plans. So yes, expect Medigap premiums to go up by attained age, as well as inflation. Premiums are controlled by state insurance commissioners and a broker can help explain which companies in your area have the best history of reasonable premium increases. I've used Boomer Benefits to select my Plan N plan.
Yes, in a supplemental plan you will see two annual increases. One will be an "inflation" increase each calendar year, and the other will be a "birthday" increase as you turn 1 year older. As for discounts, my plan (Blue Shield of CA) gave me a first year only discount of $25/mo. plus I think a $5/mo. discount for setting up autopay. Nothing for healthy practices.
I was in corporate communications for nearly 40 years, mostly in the financial field. But I assure I'm no genius! Just an educated consumer sharing entertaining ideas!
Interesting, deciding between G and N, here, doesn't say what a co pay if any is for Physcial Therapy, which is generally twice a week? Would this fall into the $20 co pay, as that could add up? Can you change plans in the middle of the year? Or companies?
I feel like Medicare forces people to consider gambling. I'm tempted to go for the cheaper plan N, but I don't know what the future will bring. One major health event can throw me into frequent doctor visits, frequent tests, and now I'm paying more than I planned on. I believe the copays also apply to those tests like CAT scans, MRIs, etc. So charges can add up and exceed what I would have paid on plan G. So every year at this time I end up asking myself, "Do I feel like gambling this year?" Lots of people gambled on part C and lost big time. Yes, it was cheaper, but one catastrophic event can put you in financial jeopardy. No one knows if this is the year in which I might have to do a stay in a nursing home for a spell, or perhaps permanently. Do I feel like gambling? No, I don't. And that's how they get us to pay more. Some people will gamble and win, and some people will gamble and lose. 😒
Keep in mind that the modest copays for Plan N are only for some doctor office visits, not all. See my "Clearing up Some Questions about Plan N." ruclips.net/video/5eKS_AO3Dp0/видео.htmlsi=xhvMSWnZ6SXNdvxv . You do need to estimate your medical needs, but if you are willing to pay those modest copays, you would need more than two dozen office visits a year to match the higher premium of Plan G. You are right that Part C Medicare Advantage does have higher deductibles and copays than an Original Medicare with Plan N. It also has more "managed care" rules than Original Medicare and a Medigap. I view it as making an educated guess than a crap shoot. But I may be naive ;)
Medigap plans are in addition to the Part B premiums. See: ruclips.net/video/k6pMBqZIusE/видео.html . Technically even Advantage plans, which replace Parts A and B, must charge for Part B premiums too. Some may "reimburse" the premium, but everyone on Medicare must pay Part B premiums one way or another.
In the initial enrollment period when you first join Medicare, no Medigap insurer can deny you insurance. You have the right to enroll in any plan. But after that six month period, if you have not signed up, then insurers have the right to medically underwrite and deny you. But if you use the initial enrollment period, then you should have no problems.
It would seem to me that the rate increases for Plan G are a result of the number/size of claims being paid by the carrier, which means those with Plan G are using medical services more than those with Plan N and/or the services being used by Plan N participants are not being covered by their plan.
Is it possible for me to update your google docs spreadsheet? If so, I can’t modify it and must need some instructions of doing so. I’d appreciate advice on doing that. Thanks.
In Google Site you can download a copy or save as a copy to your own Google drive. You cannot make changes to the file I posted but you can make changes to the file you copy.
I'm 64 and trying to educate myself. I was all in on plan N until the end of the video when you said that the plan was not guaranteed re-enrollment and that you would have to go through medical underwriting. Of course, I'll check this out with broker, but my initial thought was: do I want to have the chance of being rejected in the back of my mind, each year as I get older and less healthy. Did I miss something? Your thought?
@@MichaelC-u9k it is guaranteed issue during your Initial Enrollment Period but if you try to join later, you would go through medical underwriting. Plan N is not a guaranteed right plan later, as Plan G is but those are exceptions that all people who lose their plans and have the right to select a new one. Theory is that those who cannot pass medical underwriting would go with Plan G and over time Plan N has a healthier risk pool. But rest assured. Once you select Plan N at the start, you cannot be cancelled or be required to go through medical underwriting in the future. Pay your premiums and it is guaranteed renewed
Where is it written that plan N is not a guaranteed issue plan? 15:31 . I know that all plans are guaranteed issue if your just starting medicare. I would like to see where it says that plan G is a guaranteed issue plan ,where plan N is not in writing.I understand that unless your state has a waiver or a birthday or anniversary rule you can be subject to underwriting and answering health questions after you have been in medicare and wanting to change something ,but what your saying of plan G being guaranteed issue whereas plan N is not is something i haven't heard . Please lead me to where i can see this written out i don't want to overlook this .
"After your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends, insurance companies don’t have to sell you a Medigap policy, unless you have Medigap protections, called "guaranteed issue rights." You’ll need to give the company proof of your situation. Learn more about guaranteed issue rights." Two clicks away, you'll find this page: www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy And look for "What are guaranteed issue rights?" It will open a window that clearly states which policies will be available under guaranteed issue rights. Plan N is not one of them.
So your saying if you miss the boat and don't enroll in a medigap policy on time the insurance co doesn't have to offer you a Plan N but they do have to offer you a Plan G?You stated that Plan G is a guaranteed issue but plan N isn't at time mark 15:31please clarify
Ok i went to the link and read. It does say that if say you started with a medigap Plan say plan N and your company went bankrupt (most likely scenario for me) that you are guaranteed to be able to buy a Plan G like you stated and there is no N just like you said. This is confusing in the fact that your not guaranteed to go to another company and just buy another Plan N that you started with. So what if say you start with Plan N and your state has an anniversary rule where you can change companies without underwriting if you think that rates on your company has gotten too high. With an N plan this isn't a Guaranteed possibility so in essence with a Plan N your stuck without undergoing underwriting or another company can turn you down making your states anniversary rule null with a Plan N?
I’m 60 and trying sock away money in an HSA account for the next 5 years. My plan is to delay SS till 70 like you, but would be using HSA monies to pay premiums starting at 65. Can I use my HSA money to pay for part G or H? As well as B and D?
I don’t have an HSA but EDITED: I don’t believe so. Not Medigap but you can use for Part B and Part D Premiums for Medicare should be qualified expenses.
I've seen two conflicting reports on Plan N trends. And just saw another study with a surprising number of underwritten Plan N vs guaranteed issue Plan N during initial enrollments. If Plan G goes up faster, with less healthy people in it, then Plan N with lower premiums will look even more attractive. Plan G is the easy sell for brokers, just as Plan F was, once upon a time.
From the Medicare and You book: "Note: In some states, you may be able to buy another type of Medigap policy called Medicare SELECT. Medicare SELECT is a type of Medigap policy sold in some states that requires you to use hospitals and, in some cases, doctors within its network to be eligible for full insurance benefits (except in an emergency). If you buy Medicare SELECT, you have rights to change your mind within 12 months and switch to standard Medigap." If it is offered in your state, I would think very carefully. One of the benefits of OM is the ability to see any doctor that accepts Medicare anywhere.
See my original G HD, G or N video. If you are very healthy, HD plans work. But I'm more comfortable with the modest copays of Plan N. Plus they are hard-coded. The G HD deductible goes up with inflation every year.
Rolling the dice, Plan G vs. Plan N. That's what I'm thinking about. I'm approaching 65 in January and at the present date I'm healthy and don't need much of anything for healthcare, BUT, in a year or 5 years or 10 years that may not be true. So, choosing Plan N may look right for me at the present or it may turn out that I should have enrolled in a Plan G from the start. What I understand is outside of the initial period of Medicare enrollment, one will have to go through underwriting in order to change plans and there is no guarantee of being able to switch from a Plan N to a Plan G if your health starts declining and you start needing more healthcare visits, and if you are able to switch, guaranteed your expenses will be greater. So, choosing between the two is a crapshoot, but not really, the older we get the more debilitated and unhealthy we become. By the way, great information you must have worked as an accountant or some other numbers-oriented person.
Keep in mind that you would need more than two doctors a month! Twenty-four a year, to make up the premium difference between Plan N and Plan G. Plan N pays exactly the same Part A benefits, and covers, after those modest copays, everything that Plan G covers, except excess charges, which you avoid by only selecting the providers who agree to accept Medicare assignment. I was really a wordsmith, more than a number-cruncher in my career years.
Truly EXCELLENT information. I've been weighing Plans G and N for some time. These future price estimations are EXTREMELY helpful, including the information on historical premium increases for G vs. N. Thank you for taking the time to put this together and sharing it with us!
Glad it was helpful!
Can you recommend a medicare broker?That has the qualifications that you enumerated.In order to choose the right company to to switch from the medicare advantage to plan N?
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT SENIORS SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO GOING THROUGH ALL THIS IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHICH PLAN IS BEST
While I recommend doing your own due diligence, I close with "and seek out a professional, if you need one." You will likely be steered to Plan G or an Advantage plan. Consider the choices.
@@TC-yi3ue Damn right it’s ridiculous.
@TC-yi3ue What is the alternative? No choices? Highest priced plan for everyone or biggest deductible for everyone. You know it is coming. Spend a day educating yourself. How hard is that?
Excellent, very thorough. My spread sheet is an old electric bill with a torn corner and some spaghetti sauce stain in the lower corner, but our numbers are the same. Thank you.
Good info! I’m on Plan G. I do see a doctor more that 2 times a month.
Medicare is so darn confusing & frustrating!
hey ...y'all like me....i'm watching all these vids also.....so da*n confusing....hard to trust anyone, any company, or any agent !!
@@rickski3769 Please look for a SHIP counselor in your area. SHIP = Senior Health Insurance Program. It's a FREE service offered in every state. I'm training to be one right now. Most SHIP counselors are volunteers (that go through extensive training) and have NO financial incentive to recommend any plan. They just explain how it all works. (They can also help you choose or switch your Part D drug plan every fall, based on the prescription drugs you're currently taking.)
this information was very well presented.thanks for sharing.turning 65 on election day.looking at the G plan at 178.00 a month for my zip code.
You confirmed everything I thought I knew on G vs. N without me doing the math. THANK YOU!❤
Excellent statistical comparison! I did a lot of research & went with a broker as I turned 65 this year, and chose Plan N. Your video helps to validate that decision.
Excellent analysis, thank you! Turning 65 this year but plan tpo keep working several years more. Don't plan to sign up for Medicare till I retire, but this is excellent information.
Thank you for watching!
@@ssa8479 You have to sign up for Medicare now at age 65. Do it put it off.
I went "n" as well, as my broker predicted the sicker (more costly) patients would choose plan 'g', raising its costs a little more. Also, from personal experience, if you go to the ER and are admitted inpatient, the $50 co-pay is waived. (I'd have rather paid the $50 than having dealt with pancreatitis.)
That's right. And hopefully, hospitalization is all behind you now! Enjoy your retirement!
I was diagnosed with pancreatitis and discovered my weekly osteoporosis medication caused it. I quit taking and no more episodes.
I have had 2 medical assistant tell me it has been none to create attacks
Bottom line: If you are really healthy and you lose your coverage under
plan N then you will probably be okay. But if you ever develop any condition
that puts you at higher risk then you will face underwrighting under plan N.
On the other hand ... if you are covered under plan G and you lose your
insurance you will be able to get insurance from another carrier w/o
underwriting. So even if you are on your death bed you will still be
able to get coverage while you will be w/o coverage if you decided
to save a few bucks under plan N.
So...bottom line...if you expect to remain healthy until your last day
on this earth then go with plan N and save $40 a month, but if you
are like most people and will encounter health challenges later
then you just might be better off pay a little more per month for
plan G.
I NEVER had to be elevated with my N plan which I had 6 yrs already. So if I got a catastrophic illness plan N can drop me when it comes enrollment time? Say it ain’t so….I didn’t know that. Please clarify that.
I'm not Robert and am not sure what he meant... I am new to this medicare stuff... but no, as long as you pay the premiums, your supplemental plan cannot drop you for health reasons. Only if the insurer discontinues the plan for everyone. @@loveyf853
No. They can't drop you alone. The plan N would go out of business.
Once you have a Medigap policy, it remains in force as long as you pay the premium. It can never be cancelled on you for medical reasons. People joining the plan after their initial open enrollment can be asked medical questions but there is no underwriting during the initial enrollment run the six months after joining Medicare. People telling to buy G instead of N for this reason are trying to get you to enroll for the more expensive plan.
You have much greater flexibility to choose a provider and facility with Medicare and medigap than with an Advantage plan.
@softwarephil1709 -- I should hope you get greater flexibility in provider, facility, and location of where you have coverage given the very high cost of the Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G or N, plus Part D insurance plus private dental insurance plus private vision-care insurance, not to mention the complexity of dealing with FIVE different "insurance" sources each and every year.
I dislike trusting my healthcare entirely to any insurance company, but after eight years on an Advantage plan, I've paid $0 in premiums, and $3600 in copays / coinsurance instead of over $45,000 in premiums for the five different coverages purchased separately as I'd have to do with a Medigap Plan N approach.
I did the same analysis when I chose N in 2021. Cheaper unless going to the doctor twice a month, and probably slower rate increase. My wife got Plan N in 2022. Even with a lot of specialist visits last year after a hospital stay, we were still ahead.
That result is really dependent on your overall health situation. I have two chronic conditions that require a lot of doctor's visits (58 last year). The difference in 2024 between plan G and plan N where I live is a bit over $500, so I am ahead going with plan G. But each person's situation varies. My wife is similar, she has two issues and she sees her doctors 2-3 times a month. In her case, in a good year she would be $50 or so ahead with an N plan, but in a year on the other end of her typical spectrum she would be down by $250 or so with N instead of G. Also we both like not having to even think about copays. Also consider that your use of the healthcare system will likely be much less when you are young (65) and healthy than when you are older (75+) and less healthy.
You had me with the spreadsheets. I love spreadsheets. Makes everything clearer to see. Great video. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
@@IwasRetiredIt was VERY HELPFUL!! Thanks so much!
Good analysis! For OOP estimate, we should take health decline into account though because a typical cancer patient sees doctors more than twice a month, and cannot pass the medical underwriting for switching from Plan N to Plan G. Although a better insurance plan may cost more on average, it provides better protection when something really bad happens.
Excellent point
It's not always about saving money
agree. we were surprised last year when both my husband and i were diagnosed with different cancers. so glad we are with plan G now. always plan for the worst and hope for the best
I'm recent to Medicare Plan N - and I have found that not all doctors charge a co-pay. Two of the three doctors I have seen didn't even ask for one. So they can charge up to $20, but they don't always do so.
I just started on N and was wondering about this. Are you sure you just haven’t seen a bill yet for the copay? I’ve seen videos talk about you being billed the copay after Medicare and your supplement pay the doctor, and then the doc bills the co-pay amount. Just curious…thanks!
It's not only doctors who can charge excess charges.
@@Nancy-xb6wh - You’re right, but we were talking about doctor co-pays, not excess charges. Thanks for your input, though. I should be able to effectively avoid excess charges since all providers - doctors and facilities - can be looked up on Medicare.gov to see who will likely charge excess charges. I did this before I decided to go with N, and of all the doctors and facilities in my area, I only found ONE chiropractor in my area who can charge excess charges. Ironically, it is the chiropractor I have used for years - although very infrequently. I figure I’ll go to him once and see if he bills excess charges. I figure it’s worth the $10-$15 once to find out. If he does, lesson learned and I’ll move on to our secondary chiropractor (who does not charge excess charges.)
I just got billed for copays going back 15 months. They said they can bill up to 4 years later.
Where?
Appreciate the confirmation of my decision. I started on Medicare two months ago and signed up for plan n due to the cost difference. I pay $141 for plan n, plan g was $210. I live in Florida and I get most of my medical care from the Indian health service at no cost to me.
It’s more important to select the right insurance company then it is to select N or g only!
You need an insurance broker that knows who is better. Try using Matt Claassen at Medigap seminars.
WOW. This is great. We'll be retiring in four years. I selfishly hope this video is updated annually to reflect potential changes. It's just so packed with helpful info that is UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK YOU!
Glad it was helpful!
My wife fought cancer 3 times before she died, never play Russian roulette with your Medicare to save 100 dollars a month. Mother nature has a lot of dirty tricks ahead.
Thank you! I appreciate all the work you put into this. I would make a small correction to your presentation: Some of us (not many, comparatively speaking) live in states where we can switch plans around our birthday and not have to go through medical underwriting. Living in California, I am one of those blessed ones and I plan to switch when my next birthday rolls around because my horrible medigap orovider (AARP, United Healthcare) raised my premiums by 11% this month!
I believe that's the same in NY. I'm not eligible for Medicare until later this year so I'm currently in research mode, but I believe there are four states that allow customers to move between MA and Medigap plans without going through an underwriter. On the flip side, I suspect we pay significantly higher premiums for that capability.
@@MikeD_ I was on MA at first. But then I started researching and I would NEVER choose MA now. Fortunately I was in my 6 month window where I could switch back to original Medicare. Please be careful. With MA you DO have to go through medical underwriting and have to get pre-authorization for many services. They often to not cover for cancer treatments, etc. You may save in the beginning, but that savings could cost you your life.When I wrote the above I was only writing about switching Medicare plans, not MA. Medicare Advantage plans are not Medicare. They have nothing to do with the government. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Good video ! I been on plan N for 2 and a half years !! No price increase ! I live in Ohio and me and my wife pay $165 with the family discount. I know people that got plan G and got a 6% per year the last 2 years !
We moved to Ohio last year, keeping our plan N. No excess charges in Ohio!
which company.... and are you happy
@@rickski3769 Continental Life ( Aetna ). Very happy !! I Had colon cancer and spent a month in the hospital !Had a lot of chomo too! Very little out of pocket .
@@rickski3769 Continental life ! Which is owned by (Aetna ) Very happy ! I had cancer and paid very little out of my pocket !
My Florida Blue was $195 last year on Plan G and it went up to $215/month this year.
Present state of health, and a Crystal Ball helps in decision making!
The crystal ball being the important one.
This was a very comprehensive and informative video that was easy to follow and understand unlike those done by so many underwriters and salesmen on RUclips that confuse me with too many technicalities.
Thanks for watching! Yep, I'm not selling, just sharing my own lessons learned. Glad you liked it.
Once you get sick and ever go into hospital, you will be glad you got Medicare B and supplemental not advantage plan.
What is your evidence to support that?
@@dwhite6213 My daughter is a billing specialist in a doctor's office and see it happen too many times !!
Totally correct on the advantage plans. I do the same and you can't imagine the mess!
@@dwhite6213 Actual experience with disadvantage plan. If you don't need a doctor or hospital Great but when you need care the delays denials and stalls come in mass.
You can purchase other plans to cover the gaps in a MAPD plan and come out cheaper than a Supplement plan ..
Thanks for sharing this informative video and brilliant analysis. Much appreciated!
Glad it was helpful!
I'm turning 65 next month. I found that I can get Plan G cheaper than Plan N at least for the first year. In Calif we can change at our birthday without going though underwriting if you stay at the same plan level or lower. So it seem to make sense to get Plan G for me, at least for now.
Similar experience, also in California. It does vary greatly by state. As he said, the provider matters greatly too. The insurer I had for my Plan G started raising premiums way more than the average in his chart so I was able to save almost 23% by switching insurers.
@@kristentheologus-KTechnogalI’m in California, I’m waiting my birthday to switch providers, the present one after my first year, has raised so much the price that I need to get a new one.
I thought we had only a six-month window - our initial enrollment period - to choose our supplemental plan, and that after that, the insurers could deny us due to possible health conditions or charge us way more. Do you mean that we can switch insurers of a Plan G or a Plan N, or whichever supplemental plan we have, and still be able to get the same rate we would have during our 'initial enrollment period'? (I'm in California also)
@@checkpointcharlie1788 Research California Medigap Birthday Rule.
Rates go up with age and inflation so no you can't get a policy price guarantee, you will pay the rate the carrier quotes. A different carrier MAY have a lower premium. In CA up to 60 days after your birthday you can shop for a plan with the Same or Fewer benefits without underwriting. So if you have G you can go to N. But if you have N you can't go to G without underwriting. If you have no serious medical conditions you can change Anytime but your application will be underwritten.
Thank you for sharing w/I trying to sell a service. You are a blessing.
Hey Pal. You are really good at making it simple. I have Plan G now but I am going to switch to N shortly. Cheers
i like that you estimated higher for your possible year costs. my mom taught me to do that when i got married and was pregnant. she said always plan for the worst and hope for the best.
I’ve been hunting for this video for months thank you for making. It is helping in my decision-making.
Thanks for watching!
You did a great job analyzing all the numbers involved in this so that's pretty impressive. I've had my plan g for 6 years now. It does see the rate increases. A couple things about plan g that I'm so glad I did. It. Is peace of mind. Eliminate the variables. Plan n has the excessive cost that you mentioned but you said that most doctors are still participating in Medicare. But that's a variable that can change and that's out of your control. Another thing I would say about plan n you know when you're 65 you're probably in pretty good shape but when you're 75 maybe some things have happened. If you want to change plans you have to go through underwriting. So if you have plan n and are finding you having more visits those kinds of things and want to switch to a different plan, it'll have to be underwritten based on your current health. I just like the freedom to know that I can go anywhere to any doctor without pre-authorization at any time in the United States and everything is covered. I might be paying the cost of a Netflix or dinner out more than plan n but I'm willing to do that. I enjoyed your program.
Thanks for watching! Keep in mind that switching from one Plan G to another will also go through underwriting. Goal is to pick right the first time and stick with it.
Plan N will be right for me and a little cheaper.
Very helpful. I am just very afraid of unforseen health down falls and being on Plan N. It would end up costing way more, and they probably would not renew it. Fear of the unknown is really difficult to deal with. You did a really good job at making it all understandable. even better than all the Medicare brokers that have You Tubes and get too deep to understand. Thank you so much.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent analysis. Also important to remember that there are a number of states like mine (Massachusetts) that under law are not allowed to charge excess charges so you don't have to worry about those in plan N. I think there are probably 10 or 12 states that are not allowed to charge excess charges.
There are 8 states.
@@door2416 which are?
@@harrymyhero Connecticut ,Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rode Island, Vermont.
Please clarify, once you are enrolled in plan N, then do you have to go through underwriting each year to remain in Plan N? And Plan G you don’t? Or is it automatic renewal for both plans once you are enrolled in either plan? Arizona here with Plan G $117 mo. with Plan N at $82. If I have to enroll every year for Plan N, I will stay with PlanG, if not, Plan N is a worthy consideration. Do you have to pay Plan N’s copay if the deductible has not yet been met?
You do not need underwriting unless you are switching plans or carriers. Pick a good national carrier and stick with it.
Wow..what a great explanation of the 2 plans..ty
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! You just backed up my decision and I told my husband he has one smart wife!
I’m sure he does!
I read that if you work for a company that has 20 or fewer employees, you are required to sign up for Medicare at age 65. In this scenario when you work for a small employer and dont sign up at age 65, Medicare will charge you a late enrollment premium penalty for Part B of 10% of the standard Part B premium for each 12 months of delay. This penalty is permanent and escalates over time. If you work for a company that has 21 employees or more they don't require you to sign up at age 65 and there isn't a late enrollment penalty. I found that interesting, I didn't realize that. So many rules.
@@kcrahmann7539 That is my understanding as well. Those who continue to work past age 65 should be very careful to ensure they have coverage that Medicare will recognize. Otherwise, they should use IEP to get coverage!
Appreciate the work. Hard to make predictions about one's health needs. Glad this worked out for you. Plenty of other blogs on this comparison, many going the other way. It's like when to take social security in the first place. If you know when you are going to die, easy. This choice is right up there with stock market predictions. Take your best estimate and cross your fingers.
Depending on the state, you would need to go through underwriting even to change plans with the same carrier.
This was very helpful and brought out some things I had not thought of. Still a ways off from Medicare but gathering info now. Charts usually make my head spin, but I could easily follow your clear and logical explanation and conclusion. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
The thing to understand is as people get older, even healthy people, have increasing medical problems and require more doctor and ER visits per year so Plan N co-pays may equalize the annual costs with premiums.
Depending on the state, the difference between Plan G and Plan N is large enough to allow up to 24 visits to doctors a year and still come out ahead. That plus the potential for more modest rate hikes for a healthier risk pool over time. Those insured by Plan G and Plan N will both see premiums increase with age and inflation, but the copays will never be the cause for concern when comparing Plan G and Plan N, unless you are see a lot of doctors!
pm
Just because you don’t use ER visits, skews the data. Wife had 4 ER visits last year for extreme headaches, getting CAT and MRI scans each time. As ya get older ER visiting definitely increases.
Yes, that many ER visits will tilt toward Plan G. But in NJ I use urgent care and avoid ER and the two hour wait for care.
Outstanding analysis!! I was wondering if my Plan N choice back in 2022 was still the best choice and could not readily seem to find that information. Thank you so very much. I am dissatisfied with the 11.7% increase with UHC for Plan N monthly premiums in 2024, and when my 60-day open enrollment period starts on my birthday in July (allowable in CA), I’m switching to Mutual of Omaha.
Thanks for watching!
I am looking to quit UHC as well, raise from $215 to $240 in 2025.
You will be worse off with Mutual of Omaha. I've had them for the past five years and the average annual rate increase has been 15.9%. And there's a reason for this. It is because Mutual of Omaha engages in a practice of 'closing the books' on a group of enrollees. This effectively disconnects them from the new (and healthier) enrollees. The result is that the closed book enrollees are now left to grow old and less healthy. And their premiums skyrocket. This is one of the dirty secrets of the Medigap business and Mutual of Omaha is one of the worst offenders.
UHC has the highest yearly premium increases across all plans, bad choice. Also, I am not interested in being squeezed to join AARP as well.
Plan N for me in 6 months. I am leaning more towards BCBC as that was my employers insurance that was provided to me my whole career and they have been good to me. BCBS never played the “closed book” game either with medigap plans.
(State Farm is also on my radar and they never as of now played the “closed book” game either.)
A very informative video! Thank you for this. I have been stressing between Plan N or G
Thanks!
I am retiring in a year and was leaning to the plan G, but I am in very good health so maybe the plan N might be the better choice.
Maybe N is good, but aging and doctor visits go hand in hand (most on medicare are seniors). Just one severe ailment will trigger many doctor/therapy visits. If someone had a preexisting condition, plan N is for No. But if you're as healthy as a horse ...
Wow! So informative! I'll be 65 in Dec and I've been trying to understand this whole Medicare thing for the last couple of months. I had kind of decided on Plan N, but your video convinced me that was the right decision! Thank you SO much for sharing! I'm also in NJ by the way.
Glad you appreciated it!
Hello! And thank you for all your research and clarifying.
I haven't seen a doctor in 5 years other than a dentist and opthomogist - neither covered by Medicare or Medicare supplements. But their fees are still less than gambling with Medicare Advantage that is being canceled faster than you can say Gotcha.
OM + Medigap is the way to go. BTW, opthomologist is covered by Medicare, just not refraction. Optician is not.
Well done thank you , this is a maze of issues !
I am struggling to decide what I need to do. I will remain on my husband's private insurance for at least the next 7 years. It's very confusing.
As long as you're covered by group health (20+ employees), you cannot enroll in Medicare. The good news is you can retain all the benefits of a first-time enrollee to Medicare until employment or group health coverage ends, EVEN IF you're past the traditional enrollment period for Medicare (the three months before and the three months after the month you turn 65)!
A lot can change in 7 years. I'd wait til then to analyze plans. A good broker can help you, as well as the govt website for Medicare. As for me, I'm getting off my husband's insurance when I turn 65 because Medicare is cheaper than dependent coverage.
Please clarify that is Part B. You can enroll in Part A and you should coordinate with your employer health plan on coordinating benefits.
Great video. As an engineer (retired at 68), I love the graphs and spreadsheets!
Thanks!
Thanks Jim... Great information. As I look at options for signing up this video will definitely help.
Very welcome
Most doctors charge less than $20 and many charge nothing.
Where I live in the DC metro area, the co-pays are always $20.00 or the most they can get.
Near Philly in NJ and I do sometimes get billed $19.95.😒
What you eat?How many medications you are on, health history of family, genetics, Alcohol usage, Environment? Obesity, How many doctors visits a year. Consider all these when making a decision.There's alwayr unknow Somebody running you over but we can't worry about that one.😮
A couple points to add to your presentation. On plan N the $50.00 charge for an ER visit is waived if you are then admitted to the hospital. Also, the $20.00 charge for physician office visits is the maximum you will have to pay for routine care office visits. The average charge nationally for these visits is about $14.00. Note that if you need follow up office visits after a surgery or procedure there is no charge for those.
Clearing Up Some Questions about Medigap Plan N
ruclips.net/video/5eKS_AO3Dp0/видео.html. Yes I cover these points here.
Great video with lots of good information thank you
Thanks for watching!
Nice walkthrough. We are facing going on Medicare end of this year.
Thanks for watching! Be sure to watch the whole "Getting Ready for Medicare" playlist, which I did when I turned 65.
Thanks, Jim. The decision will look better and better to your Future Self.
Thanks!
Very well done... Thank you ! I know this sounds crazy but the thought of no co-pays and dealing with the damn receptionists is quite inviting too..
Are there excess charges for outpatient diagnostics like MRIs and echocardiograms? I have those every year and don't want to pay excess charges on those.
@@cobaltbroker Plan N does not cover excess charges, but you can be assured you won’t get them by using Medicare providers who have promised to accept Medicare assignment. Nearly all providers do not charge excess charges.
Great analysis. Are we allowed to change plans? My wife & I are 75. We’ve been on Plan G since age 67 thru Physicians Mutual of Omaha.
Subject to medical underwriting with few exceptions in states that have birthday rules.
Great information. In my area, two good companies offering the lowest priced plan N are Mutual of Omaha for $84.44 and AARP for $86.68. Plan G is about $42.00 higher. I heard AARP has some of the lowest annual increases but does have a diminishing discount over time. Tough decision for me: Mutual of Omaha or AARP? Thank you.
I used Boomer Benefits broker advice to make the call for me. Also look at household discounts if married. Or talk to your state’s SHIP office. Do projected costs for next few years and go with a decision that looks good for you.
Those rates are extremely good. Where do you live? In SWFL rates would be about 2x those rates.
Mine was 86.something also for N at 65 but I sure it go up over time. I know Seniors that because of financial issues had to go from regular Medicare to advantage in later years. I hope the lower N cost will allow me to stay with traditional Medicare even if I live to a 100.
Your presentation was very thorough and informative. $12,000 is a lot to "save", but at the same time, $12,000 will not go very far when it comes to medical costs and expenses. I'm just entering Medicare and learning a lot and still feel things are quite murky because of so many possible outcomes we don't know about our future health. Everyone has a lot of different life situations and circumstances to work with and figure things out!
Thank you for watching. Absolutely it is a personal financial question. I view it as risk management. Because Plan N and Plan G are so close, I am calculating how much “savings” I’m comfortable in taking.
I have Mutual of Omaha and they screwed me! They routinely "close their book", thus isolating policy holders into a dead pool. In five years, my Plan G supplement premiums have doubled. The annual average rate increase has been 15.9%. And because of health conditions, I won't be able to pass underwriting with a different carrier.
I keep hoping this is MOO Plan G and that Plan N will be different. You should also talk to your state insurance regulator to end such pratices.
I am lucky to get medicare indemnity supplement plan through employer which costs me $ 87 per month currently with 15$ office visit, $50 ER visit and 0$ annual deductible.
Excellent price, just for comparison I pay $215 for Plan N in NYC.
Exactly what I was looking for. Excellent job!
Thanks for watching!
Advantage plan if you will never get sick because your are superhuman or if you’re just a regular human that has problems as they get older Plan G . Nobody’s talking me out of my plan G 😡
Thank you!! Outstanding info and video!
Great analysis and communication. What do you do about dental, vision, hearing, if anything?
@@JandCJordan thanks for watching! I self insure dental and vision. Don’t need hearing aids yet.
I am on Plan N since Nov 2023, I find that it hardly pay for anything. So far, they paid my gynecologist 0.31 cents, I paid $19. My PCP and the bloodwork wasn’t paid at all by Medicare nor Plan N. Will be $1k out of pocket. I really don’t understand how Medicare expect my PCP to have clairvoyance. No bloodwork?
Soon, I will be needing PT, I fear the bill.
Check to see if PCP coded bloodwork correctly. I have Boomer Benefits and that is their specialty. Also PT has no copay on Plan N.
Yeah something is wrong here, after your deductible Medicare should pay their part. If Medicare does not pay then no supplement is going to pay either. Make sure you are on regular Medicare and not advantage. If on regular contact your doctors, either they are coding it right or maybe they stop taking medicare.
BAIT AND SWITCH GETS THEM DEEPER INTO YOUR WALLET THE MORE OPTIONS THEY HAVE😊
I'm 70 yrs old and on plan N. When I was looking at plans it turned out I was eligible for plan F even though it was phased out. While working with an agent/consultant I decided to go with plan N, as I wasn't seeing a doctor that often. Since then it turns out I'm seeing doctors more than I had thought I would and I probably would be better off with plan G - although it would be close. I haven't followed up since I originally signed up. Do you know if it's possible to change from a plan N to G without going through underwriting. (I live in Ohio - I mentioned that because I recall seeing that some states have different rules in regards to changing the supplement plans.)
I'd refer you to a broker, like Boomer Benefits. for the best read on what is possible in your state, in your health. Only a few states allow switching without underwriting. But I've read that underwriting is not a foregone conclusion of "uninsurable." I will say that you need to see a lot of doctors to make up the difference between Plan N and Plan G in most areas.
@@IwasRetired Boomer benefits is the broker that I used when I originally signed up. I haven't done a in-depth calculation, but as I said I think plan G might be slightly better, but it would be close.
This was great information!!! Im turning 65 in May and am currently looking at all options. I am going back and forth between G and N as well. One point I may have missed here is the excess charges in plan N. I don't recall seeing estimated numbers included. I am from California and see doctors about 5- 6 times a year---and maybe a urgent care. Should I be concerned that the possible excess charges could offset the savings of a plan N?
Use Medicare.gov to ensure your providers accept Medicare assignments and you will not need to worry about excess charges. Plus there are limits on how much excess charges can be.
National stats show that only about 3% of providers charge excess charges.
Psychiatrists and ophthalmologists are two specialities that often charge Excess Charges. Look up doctors and specialists on Medicare.gov and look for "accepts assignment".
Maybe I missed it, but I did not hear you say that there are no co-pays until you have reached the deductible, and the ER co-pay is waived if you are admitted into the hospital.
I am 73 and have been on Plan F with UHC since 2016. 2024 premium is going up to $275/month from $261.75. I just passed medical underwriting and was issued a policy for Plan N with Cigna for $169/month (preferred rate) starting in 2024. That's a savings of $106/month, subtract $20/month to cover the deductible and another $20/month for a possible 12 office visits (won't reach that) and I will save $66/month or $792 per year. I'm not factoring in ER visits. I did a quick search for past rates for Plan N with Cigna and found that according to my state's website the premium hasn't change since 2021 (that's as far back as I could go). The switch was a no brainer for me.
Congratulations on shopping for your best option! Yeah there are no copays while you pay the deductible. Nice of them, no?
Thank you for your analysis. The copays max out at $20. Copays can be less based on the Medicare payment to the doctor and the 20% you are obligated to pay.
Clearing Up Some Questions about Medigap Plan N
ruclips.net/video/5eKS_AO3Dp0/видео.html. I cover this in a more recent video.
You have outstanding excel skills! 😃
About to sign up for Medicare this year.
If i go with a specific carrier for Plan G and then I want to change carriers three years in… could they medically underwrite and deny me?
I am currently in the midst of making my decision - G or N - to start Medicare. But this information reinforces my decision to go with N. And let me point out to others who are in the same place as me, agents say that if you go to the doctor twice a month, you need to choose G over N. But that advice is only good at age 65, because as you age, and as G’s premium will increase than N’s premium, the required number of office visits to break even is going to rise a fraction each year. So, by age 80, G may exceed N by $100 per month or more (that’s in my issue age area - it may be different in your area). This means I would need to visit the doctor at least 5 times a month for G to be a better value than N, right?
Am I thinking this through correctly?
You left out the deductable
@@Kathleen67.- Plans G and N have the same deductible, right?
Modest copays but same Part B deductible
Good study, however your comparison of costs between Plans N and G are very different from other areas of the country. In some areas, the monthly difference is half of what it is in your area. So in that case, the result would be different. Also, yes i agree most doctors accept, and plan to continue accepting Medicare assignment, however we have seen constant changes to Medicare and there is no guarantee that most will accept assignment 5 or 10 years from now and with the smaller difference in premiums between N and G in other areas, G can be a good choice also. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching and your comment. Absolutely, where you live matters! As far as Medicare assignment is concerned, yes, if Medicare were to change payments to doctors, there might be an uptick in percentage not taking assignment. But keep in mind, federal law only allows them to charge an additional 15% above the approved amount, which limits its impact to your wallet. And you'll always be able to avoid that by checking first. Plan G might be a good plan for some, but I think carrier matters more. Do your due diligence when first selecting your carrier and shop later with underwriting to ensure you get the best prices for as long as you can.
My wife and I are happy to be on plan F.
Those who were eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020 can no longer select Plan F. Congress phased out this zero deductible plan.
@@IwasRetired Yes. Which is why my wife and I are happy we were able to get the F plan before then. I haven't paid one cent in medical bills (other than Medicare and MediGap) since we started the plan -- including when I had a pacemaker installed two years ago.
@@IwasRetiredI hope you answer my question. I'm going on 65 and have SS disability insurance with plan F because I had breast surgery's and cancer treatments. I'm now 5 years cancer free and turning 65 the insurance companies are really pushing for me to give up plan F and go to plan G. They say I will never get a underwriter to accept me if I do ever decided to change? Would you suggest I give up plan F and go to plan G? I really don't want to give up my plan F. But what they say scares me into thinking I should?
@@softwarephil1709Would you ever give up your plan F to go to plan G? I have plan F also and love it. The insurance company are really pushing me into giving up my plan F and I don't want to.
@@RealDustyMoonI would talk to a SHIP counselor in your state. Then a Medicare specialist broker. Keep in mind you don’t need to give up your Plan F until you are accepted by a Plan G insurer. Those of us younger are not allowed to sign up for Plan F, because it includes the Part B deductible, whereas Plan G does not. However, insurers with Plan F enrollees may need to raise rates, thus Plan G might become a better buy. But get solid advice first!
1) Am i correct that all the supplemental plans can be expected to raise premiums for everyone, yearly? 2) Is there also another increase for your age or age bracket going up? 3) Do any companies offer any bonuses or discounts for following healthly life styles, dietary practices, exercise programs, health checkups, etc? Thank you
www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/costs
If you look at the chart on this page, it describes differences between community rated, issue-age, and attained-age Medigap plans. It notes in all three cases, an insurance company may raise prices each year. You will also find that some states have very few issue-age options, a few community rated plans, and mostly attained-age plans. So yes, expect Medigap premiums to go up by attained age, as well as inflation. Premiums are controlled by state insurance commissioners and a broker can help explain which companies in your area have the best history of reasonable premium increases. I've used Boomer Benefits to select my Plan N plan.
Yes, in a supplemental plan you will see two annual increases. One will be an "inflation" increase each calendar year, and the other will be a "birthday" increase as you turn 1 year older. As for discounts, my plan (Blue Shield of CA) gave me a first year only discount of $25/mo. plus I think a $5/mo. discount for setting up autopay. Nothing for healthy practices.
So far, I’ve only had one annual increase.
When you first enroll, you can see a chart of the current rates by age/birthday. The annual inflation increase is anyone's guess.
Love your video! You do a great job explaining the plans.
Thanks for watching!
You sir are a genius. What did you do for a living.
I was in corporate communications for nearly 40 years, mostly in the financial field. But I assure I'm no genius! Just an educated consumer sharing entertaining ideas!
Valuable video and thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
Interesting, deciding between G and N, here, doesn't say what a co pay if any is for Physcial Therapy, which is generally twice a week? Would this fall into the $20 co pay, as that could add up? Can you change plans in the middle of the year? Or companies?
No copay for PT as I cover in one of my latest videos!
Clearing Up Some Questions about Medigap Plan N
ruclips.net/video/5eKS_AO3Dp0/видео.html
I feel like Medicare forces people to consider gambling. I'm tempted to go for the cheaper plan N, but I don't know what the future will bring. One major health event can throw me into frequent doctor visits, frequent tests, and now I'm paying more than I planned on. I believe the copays also apply to those tests like CAT scans, MRIs, etc. So charges can add up and exceed what I would have paid on plan G. So every year at this time I end up asking myself, "Do I feel like gambling this year?" Lots of people gambled on part C and lost big time. Yes, it was cheaper, but one catastrophic event can put you in financial jeopardy. No one knows if this is the year in which I might have to do a stay in a nursing home for a spell, or perhaps permanently. Do I feel like gambling? No, I don't. And that's how they get us to pay more. Some people will gamble and win, and some people will gamble and lose. 😒
Keep in mind that the modest copays for Plan N are only for some doctor office visits, not all. See my "Clearing up Some Questions about Plan N." ruclips.net/video/5eKS_AO3Dp0/видео.htmlsi=xhvMSWnZ6SXNdvxv . You do need to estimate your medical needs, but if you are willing to pay those modest copays, you would need more than two dozen office visits a year to match the higher premium of Plan G. You are right that Part C Medicare Advantage does have higher deductibles and copays than an Original Medicare with Plan N. It also has more "managed care" rules than Original Medicare and a Medigap. I view it as making an educated guess than a crap shoot. But I may be naive ;)
Great analysis
I also here that Primary care doctors prefer plan N patients ?
Thanks for watching!
Are these the amounts of premiums on top of the Medicare B? Or are they replacing B premiums?
Medigap plans are in addition to the Part B premiums. See: ruclips.net/video/k6pMBqZIusE/видео.html . Technically even Advantage plans, which replace Parts A and B, must charge for Part B premiums too. Some may "reimburse" the premium, but everyone on Medicare must pay Part B premiums one way or another.
I have N, yet I hardly ever get a co-pay. And I see lots of doctors, have tests and expensive procedures. I'm not complaining, but I don't get it.
I have a heart stint and diabetes. I think N sounds good, but will i have trouble qualifying for it in 6 months?
In the initial enrollment period when you first join Medicare, no Medigap insurer can deny you insurance. You have the right to enroll in any plan. But after that six month period, if you have not signed up, then insurers have the right to medically underwrite and deny you. But if you use the initial enrollment period, then you should have no problems.
@IwasRetired thank you. I'm just so confused as to what to do.
thank you sir for your advice
love you
The wild card is if any providers decide to start slapping on excess charges
There are limits and Medicare.gov tells you which do.
It would seem to me that the rate increases for Plan G are a result of the number/size of claims being paid by the carrier, which means those with Plan G are using medical services more than those with Plan N and/or the services being used by Plan N participants are not being covered by their plan.
That’s the principle of risk pools.
Yep, Plan N is great, if you're healthy, but not so much if you're seeing several specialists and have a lot more than 25 dr visits in one year.
@@nunyabeezwacks1408 That is why the recommendation is to go with Plan G if you expect to have many doctor visits throughout the year.
Is it possible for me to update your google docs spreadsheet? If so, I can’t modify it and must need some instructions of doing so. I’d appreciate advice on doing that. Thanks.
In Google Site you can download a copy or save as a copy to your own Google drive. You cannot make changes to the file I posted but you can make changes to the file you copy.
@@IwasRetired Thank you.
I'm 64 and trying to educate myself. I was all in on plan N until the end of the video when you said that the plan was not guaranteed re-enrollment and that you would have to go through medical underwriting. Of course, I'll check this out with broker, but my initial thought was: do I want to have the chance of being rejected in the back of my mind, each year as I get older and less healthy. Did I miss something? Your thought?
@@MichaelC-u9k it is guaranteed issue during your Initial Enrollment Period but if you try to join later, you would go through medical underwriting. Plan N is not a guaranteed right plan later, as Plan G is but those are exceptions that all people who lose their plans and have the right to select a new one. Theory is that those who cannot pass medical underwriting would go with Plan G and over time Plan N has a healthier risk pool. But rest assured. Once you select Plan N at the start, you cannot be cancelled or be required to go through medical underwriting in the future. Pay your premiums and it is guaranteed renewed
@@IwasRetired Thanks for the clarification - there is a lot to consider!
great info as i turn 65 this year and you made it easy.
Glad I could help!
Where is it written that plan N is not a guaranteed issue plan? 15:31 . I know that all plans are guaranteed issue if your just starting medicare. I would like to see where it says that plan G is a guaranteed issue plan ,where plan N is not in writing.I understand that unless your state has a waiver or a birthday or anniversary rule you can be subject to underwriting and answering health questions after you have been in medicare and wanting to change something ,but what your saying of plan G being guaranteed issue whereas plan N is not is something i haven't heard . Please lead me to where i can see this written out i don't want to overlook this .
"After your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends, insurance companies don’t have to sell you a Medigap policy, unless you have Medigap protections, called "guaranteed issue rights." You’ll need to give the company proof of your situation. Learn more about guaranteed issue rights." Two clicks away, you'll find this page:
www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy
And look for "What are guaranteed issue rights?" It will open a window that clearly states which policies will be available under guaranteed issue rights. Plan N is not one of them.
So your saying if you miss the boat and don't enroll in a medigap policy on time the insurance co doesn't have to offer you a Plan N but they do have to offer you a Plan G?You stated that Plan G is a guaranteed issue but plan N isn't at time mark 15:31please clarify
Ok i went to the link and read. It does say that if say you started with a medigap Plan say plan N and your company went bankrupt (most likely scenario for me) that you are guaranteed to be able to buy a Plan G like you stated and there is no N just like you said. This is confusing in the fact that your not guaranteed to go to another company and just buy another Plan N that you started with. So what if say you start with Plan N and your state has an anniversary rule where you can change companies without underwriting if you think that rates on your company has gotten too high. With an N plan this isn't a Guaranteed possibility so in essence with a Plan N your stuck without undergoing underwriting or another company can turn you down making your states anniversary rule null with a Plan N?
I’m 60 and trying sock away money in an HSA account for the next 5 years. My plan is to delay SS till 70 like you, but would be using HSA monies to pay premiums starting at 65. Can I use my HSA money to pay for part G or H? As well as B and D?
I don’t have an HSA but EDITED: I don’t believe so. Not Medigap but you can use for Part B and Part D Premiums for Medicare should be qualified expenses.
I just did some research because I have HSA account and no I cannot use HSA funds to pay medicare supplement premiums.
Sorry I answered that correctly in another response. Not Medigap but yes for Part B and D premiums, as well as out of pockets for medical expenses.
@IwasRetired typo there. I think you meant part b instead of part n. N is medigap and premiums cannot be paid by HSA.
Fixed. Thanks. As I said I don’t have an HSA.
But don’t you think that the decline in plan N participation might result in higher increases as fewer younger and healthier people join?
I've seen two conflicting reports on Plan N trends. And just saw another study with a surprising number of underwritten Plan N vs guaranteed issue Plan N during initial enrollments. If Plan G goes up faster, with less healthy people in it, then Plan N with lower premiums will look even more attractive. Plan G is the easy sell for brokers, just as Plan F was, once upon a time.
Love it! Just the info I was looking for! BTW Have you heard anything about medicare Select? I haven't been able to find much info about it
From the Medicare and You book: "Note: In some states, you may be able to buy another type of Medigap policy
called Medicare SELECT. Medicare SELECT is a type of Medigap policy sold
in some states that requires you to use hospitals and, in some cases, doctors
within its network to be eligible for full insurance benefits (except in an
emergency). If you buy Medicare SELECT, you have rights to change your
mind within 12 months and switch to standard Medigap." If it is offered in your state, I would think very carefully. One of the benefits of OM is the ability to see any doctor that accepts Medicare anywhere.
“Select” medigap plans one is limiting themselves as to their healthcare choices and are limited to services within a network, NO THANKS!
I year at HD g. Will give you the annual deductible
Im in WA, a state with perpetual enrollment, so no problem switching to another plan
See my original G HD, G or N video. If you are very healthy, HD plans work. But I'm more comfortable with the modest copays of Plan N. Plus they are hard-coded. The G HD deductible goes up with inflation every year.
But you also have to add a drug plan because the plan doesn't include prescription coverage.
@@catherinekoch3735 and be sure to shop every year, especially this year! See my recent video.
Rolling the dice, Plan G vs. Plan N. That's what I'm thinking about. I'm approaching 65 in January and at the present date I'm healthy and don't need much of anything for healthcare, BUT, in a year or 5 years or 10 years that may not be true. So, choosing Plan N may look right for me at the present or it may turn out that I should have enrolled in a Plan G from the start. What I understand is outside of the initial period of Medicare enrollment, one will have to go through underwriting in order to change plans and there is no guarantee of being able to switch from a Plan N to a Plan G if your health starts declining and you start needing more healthcare visits, and if you are able to switch, guaranteed your expenses will be greater. So, choosing between the two is a crapshoot, but not really, the older we get the more debilitated and unhealthy we become. By the way, great information you must have worked as an accountant or some other numbers-oriented person.
Keep in mind that you would need more than two doctors a month! Twenty-four a year, to make up the premium difference between Plan N and Plan G. Plan N pays exactly the same Part A benefits, and covers, after those modest copays, everything that Plan G covers, except excess charges, which you avoid by only selecting the providers who agree to accept Medicare assignment. I was really a wordsmith, more than a number-cruncher in my career years.