I am still so mad at the Medicare insurance broker I had the misfortune of speaking to over the phone a few weeks ago I went onto Medicare dot gov and switched my plan to one that actually works for me
Anyways since most of y'all will not be in the position where you have to pick Medicare plans for a hot minute (I got extraordinarily lucky with when my disability onset is considered by the SSA and am eligible for SSDI, which makes me eligible for Medicare after 2 years):
do not take a Medicare Advantage plan if you need any specialists. do NOT take a Medicare Advantage plan if you need ANY SPECIALISTS!!!!! (only allows you to see specialists you are referred to within their individual network of providers instead of self referring to anywhere that takes Medicare). this does fuck you with vision and dental but these are sometimes bundled into Medicaid and if your vision is fucked enough to need a more intensive specialist you get billed through medical insurance anyways. I believe sleep dentistry may be the same sometimes? idk I never went to them
look into Extra Help programs AND Medicaid on top of Medicare (pays for premiums, co-pays, and/or drugs, depending on how broke you are & what plan etc). you need to apply separately for these and you may not be allowed to have Medicare Advantage
FUCK insurance brokers go onto Medicare dot gov and look. if you do not want Medicare Advantage go to part D, put your drugs in, and look. for part C/Medicare Advantage you want to put alllll of your doctors (and dentist) in as well to make sure they are in network
you should absolutely enroll as soon as you are eligible unless you are filthy rich because if you delay enrolling in any part of coverage and go back to it later your premiums will go up drastically. do not do that to yourself without a good reason, like being a multimillionaire
hospitals have financial assistance plans. this is true regardless but like. they may just waive your bills if you apply anyways. they hide them out of the way on their websites but they are there







