Medicare advantage question

Ruger4me

Hey folks that are familiar with Medicare/Medicare Advantage, this was my first year having and uses it and today I got a letter saying my plan is not going to be available in 2025 and I have to find a new plan or they will automatically switch me to original Medicare.

Is this a normal yearly thing? I have used my plan a lot since getting it and plan on getting more done while I can, since I expect the cost will increase each year and trying to use the VA takes forever. What has been your experiences?

William81

I have been on the same Advantage program for the last two calendar years. Mine will automatically start up again unless I choose to go with another plan. Mine has been great so far overall. The only complaint I have deals with copays for specific specialists. I have needed some physical therapy for my knees which costs me 30 bucks for each session.

No VA for me

forgemonkey

Be careful which advantage plan you choose. And make sure they have contracts with better known specialty clinics such as MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, etc.

Humana has neither, and I needed one or the other re my adrenal insufficiency and blood sodium crashing, putting me in the ER or hospital several times.

I will be changing 10-15-24 when enrollment opens. Humana ‘sucks’.

montanajoe

Not certain if it's the same where you are but,

I have to renew, re-sign up each year. I can keep the policy by renewing, or can pick a entire new policy like through a broker. There is a deadline for doing so. Failure to do so will result in a penalty, reduction in the amount of your monthly payment to you. Good luck.

discusdad

like William81, my Advantage renews automatically. i would have to call them to change something, or cancel. i have been relative pleased with its coverage and service. i see no need in going to any other plan in the near future.

Brookwood

I keep reading in the news that many doctors and hospitals are dropping Advantage plan insurers. Not sure how much truth there is to these stories.

I have been using my VA doctor as my primary caregiver and have kept on with regular Medicare. So far all of my out of pocket expenses have been very low for several surgeries, tests, and treatments over the past few years. The 20% that Medicare doesn't cover has been paid for by the VA.

Ruger4me

Thanks for the responses guys, my understanding was that it would renew automatically when i choose the plan I did. I also use VA as my primary care but after I went in the hospital late June and was released they said see a urologist asap, well the VA was called that day by me and several other times over the next week with no response, except we have to wait until we get the info from the hospital… so I looked in to my newly acquired advantage plan and found a urologist to see me the next day. Anyways he started treating me and we finally had the procedure I needed last week and all is going well, but the VA was the hold up as to why it wasn't done sooner… anyways I got the letter yesterday saying my advantage plan will not be available next calendar year so I have got to figure out what plans I can choose from…

Thanks again for your comments.