The learning curve is steep!
I spent an hour with a local insurance rep at a card table at Walmart. She was very well informed and gave me some other important information:
1. You can go to Medicare.gov and compare supplemental plans and drug plans from every company in your area (and there are many!). The prices quoted, however, are estimates (usually $5-$10 higher than what I have been quoted) and you may have to go to the company website or an agent to get the actual monthly cost. There are discounts, for example, for automatic debit from your checking account or from Social Security.
2. You have to (or should) get your supplemental and drug plans signed up before your birth month of your 65th year. While there is technically a 7-month "window" to sign up for Medicare (three months before your birth month, your birth month, and three months afterwords) you may end up paying more if you don't sign up during the first three month window.
3. Some agents push "Medicare Advantage" as they get a higher commission. However, not as many doctors and hospitals take that plan. The Mayo clinic, for example, will take my Medicare Plan A&B plus supplement (traditional Medicare) but not Medicare Advantage. Some advantage! But now I know why some agents push that plan.
4. Agents get a commission on supplemental plans, but it is only a few hundred dollars at best - a lot of work for not a lot of payback. It doesn't appear to affect the costs too much, although I noticed that MoO (Mutual of Omaha) offers a discount for signing up through their site. Interesting.
5. The "silver sneaker" plan gives you free gym membership at participating gyms. UHC offers thsi, but so do other supplemental plans.
6. The cost of Medicare to the consumer can be much higher than for Obamacare (ACA). Right now, I am paying $0 for Obamacare. Last year, we paid about $220 a month - it varies with income. Between the plan B coverage ($185) and the supplemental coverage ($170) and drug coverage ($50) we will be paying about $400 a month. Not only that, but drugs that cost me a few dollars per prescription will now cost me tens of dollars per prescription.
Which brings us to our second point. Medicare for All? Guaranteed Annual Income? The Left has some screwy ideas that would result in a cut of benefits for most Americans. Medicare is more expensive and may cover less than traditional insurance plans or Obamacare. Americans would pay more and get less.
Guaranteed annual income (touted as $1200 of free money) would be a pay cut to the millions of Americans who are getting paid $2000 or more, every month, in Social Security.
These ideas have great traction with the very young, but really make no sense, when you think them through. I still can't believe that Democratic candidates were seriously discussing handing out $1200 to every American, every month, as though it was a serious proposal.
No wonder we lose elections!
UPDATE: Want to save on prescription drug costs? Have your doctor prescribe a 90-day supply. In many cases, the cost of a 90-day supply is about the same as, or the same as, a 30-day supply. Filling the prescription is the largest cost. For example, Allopurinol is $18 a bottle, for 30 tablets or 90 tablets. Which do you choose?
I also searched for participating Silver Sneaker locations, and it seems that Planet Fitness is the only one in my area. Not enough to sell me on a more expensive plan!