I don't think all "supplemental" plans are near the same, but all "Medicare" plans are the same...and you "should" sign up for Medicare Part D (prescriptions drug coverage). We based where we signed up for Medicare on price, but the supplement plans are different depending on where you get them, but it is sort of a scary time. We went to our insurance agent and he helped us pick a Part D plan that suited our needs based on our health and what drugs we were taking. We went with Blue Cross/Blue Shield for our secondary insurance coverage. AARP also has supplemental coverage also...I forget some of the others.

All supplemental plans are not the same. Mother had picked one...it was a disaster - made her go to HMO doctors. Try driving an infirm 80-some year old woman down to primary ophysicians office, sit and wait for an hour - just to get a referral for a routine visit to her cardiologists.
We then switched her to a Blue Cross plan.

My DH, who is pretty intelligent, and myself, who has a little experience in insurance coverage, couldn't make head nor tail, out of all that information that comes in daily!
He finally just decided to go with AARP as supplemental. I can't go on for another 4 years. My insurance coverage is very high. ( because of age) He says he has to keep working until I can get on Medicare.
I don't understand why it has to be so complicated, especially when you have to choose one. Our firiends have Humana, and so far, it's been good. Our DR. isn't on that plan.
I would suggest calling your Dr's. office and speak to the insurance person. See what they say.

Supplement plans have different coverages. I would avoid the HMO non-premium plans...you get what you pay for. They sound too good to be true and patients are finding out that's the truth.

I just qualified this past September. I ended up going with United Health Care "J" and UHC Rx plan as well. I thought I was going to go nuts researching the coverage and the non-coverage of these options and found based on my needs this worked best for me.

What a monthly savings!! My DH doesn't qualify until this July and that's going to be a financial benefit as well when he transfers over from present coverage.

Aww...yes, United Health Care was another one I was thinking was good. It hasn't saved us any money because we had wonderful insurance through UPS until we hit sixty five. But..it could be worse and we knew it was coming. Humana is more or less an HMO from what I can tell...and if you are in good health and save the premiums in a health care savings account, you might be all right. But...like stated above, you get what you pay for. Go with one of the top names and I don't think you will be sorry. Wal-Mart pushes Humana and if we signed up with them for the benefits we are getting with BC/BS, we would be paying at least the same amount in premiums. Don't be fooled by that "no premium" line.

No there are not the same. Talk to your insurance agent, call Blue Cross, not cheap, but very good, stay away from Humana almost bankrupt, talk to your business dept at your local hospital/doctor office, AARP, does not pay good, do not allow any sales person in house, or on the phone,check with your state insurance agency for list of complaints etc and make sure they are license to sell in your state. Many are not.

I chose to go with AARP (UnitedHealthCare) because I'd had it as private insurance before retirement & it was great- but increases finally priced me out, so changed to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Going into my 3rd year with them & have been very pleased so far. I also went with BlueRX for Part D.

Plan "F" suited me best, altho they offer cheaper ones.
Suzi

We also went with Plan F...and the Part D for prescriptions. Then BC/BS for supplemental. Yes, there are cheaper plans than "F" but, once you choose a plan, you can't buy "up" if you need more...you can buy "down" to the cheaper plans, but you can't buy up...So...I feel the best way to go in Plan "F"...Part "D" and BC/BS. That sort of puts it in a nutshell. If you don't take the Part D when you go on medicare, you are penalized something like a percent a month for not having it. Then, if you have a need for it later, it is cost prohibitive. We thought the Part D was mainly to protect lower income people, but have been pleased with the savings it has provided with our medications.

Thanks, everyone. This has been most helpful. A Mutual of Omaha salesman was pushing to come visit me and explain "everything," and I almost agreed, even though I detest sales pitches. Now I can tell him (nicely) to go away. :-)

Hard to know which prescription plan to choose since I'm not on any meds. It would be nice to count on that being the status quo forever, but . . . .