skidder

Anyone have and use a dental and/or vision plan with your Medicare Advantage plan? I'm researching all the options for both traditional Medicare and the Advantage HMO plans, and wondered if the dental and vision provided by Advantage insurers is worth it versus just going with separate insurance for both. I've got a few months before I have to enroll in a Medicare plan of some sort, so doing research on the different facets of the whole scheme. I'll ask my dentist about it too including if he takes Advantage insurance since I can't find a listing of dentists on each insurer's website.

freeranger

My wife and I had Medicare and bought a supplement before switching to an Advantage plan. We are both healthy, no ongoing health problems. The advantage plan works for us and put money back in our pocket, since we didn't need a supplement. Now, ours is an HMO and we see in network docs when we need to see one, but so far no problem. We saw a person who specializes in Medicare insurance that explained the pros and cons, and he had specifics of the diff. advantage plans for our area.. Didn't cost anything and was VERY helpful. Advantage plans are not best for everyone--I would highly recommend finding a specialist who deals with Medicare to go over it with you.

jppe

Just a heads up but the coverage and plans vary a good bit by area so what might be attractive in one area/county might be different in another area. Just make sure when you do your recon you make sure you're getting information for where you live or plan to live.

Having said that, I have an Advantage plan that offers Vision and Dental. But my dentist of 40 years does not accept that insurance company's coverage so I'm not getting any benefit via the Advantage plan for it. I looked at doing a separate dental plan but I can get the basic cleanings and dental services cheaper by doing out of pocket than paying the monthly premiums for a separate policy. I do get some Vision benefits which is "nice" but it's not a deal breaker.

I look at the different plans when it is time to renew each year. What the difference maker is for me is which insurance plan treats my maintenance medications as "no cost" as most other costs and c overages are very similar. It takes some time to look at each company and dive into the details on which drugs are treated as generics or no cost but by doing that I'm assured I'm getting the lowest cost for essentially the same coverage. Good luck, it's a pain to renew every year.....I'm moving in a few months so I will have to change plans as my current provider does not offer the same coverage in my new county. I bet most people getting Medicare don't really do the necessary research every year and pay accordingly. It will help if you can put together a list of your medications and expected medical and or dental needs to use to help with the estimates.

I think there are Independent folks out there that will help you but I've never used one.

debade

A n online forum you may want to consider asking your question about things like Medicare is Earlyretirement.org. I find it helpful for questions like yours and financial info as well. And the vast majority of participants share many 65+ issues. But also good for younger folk to begin to develope their retirement plan

John E

I absolutely refuse to join a [dis]Advantage plan. I value choice, so my wife and I have Plan D and G supplements. I get VSP and dental through work, and pay for my wife's visual and dental as needed.

Mojo31

We pay vision and dental as we go. Have never found dental and vision insurance of any type that is worth the cost.

im about to go on Medicare, and after consulting with an agent decided to get the Aetna G supplement and appropriate prescription plan.

smontanaro 

I have a G supplement as well. It's been a couple years since I crossed over the Medicare threshold, but ISTR Advantage plans were region-specific, so are pretty useless if you need a doc outside your coverage area.

skidder

Thanks for the replies. I checked with my dentist's insurance person and they said they don't take the 'Advantage' insurance and a lot of other dentists in the area don't due to very low reimbursement. Vision is the same, and its almost a break-even situation if I go outside and get VSP or pay out-of-pocket on a fee for service basis at an optometrist (seeing an opthamologist would be a medical procedure). Regular Medicare: My doctors office's insurance will take the Medicare reimbursement as full pay for medical services, so no co-pays will be needed.

Its almost a toss-up between Advantage and regular Medicare. Now two months to make a decision.