I have literally spent more than 10 hours (probably more like 20) trying to figure out what new Medicare insurance plan to choose for my brother-in-law. He currently pays for his insurance through his former employer. They have chosen to get out of the business of supplying insurance carriers for their retirees, so by the end of May, all retirees have to choose a new Medicare Plan.
When I first got the booklet for this, I was sure it was a scam. These Medicare Insurance companies that ‘help’ you choose a plan are suspect to me. But I called his employer. All I wanted to know is if it was a scam. I didn’t want any specific information about my BIL or his account as a retiree.
I had to jump through a billion hoops (this is not included in the 10 hours above), prove my POA status, give them all my BIL’s vital statistics and THEN, they needed a PIN number. Somehow, the one I had was expired. So I asked for a new PIN which had to be snail-mailed to me. I finally convinced the representative to at least just tell me if the Medicare company was a scam. She relented and said no, it was not a scam….but that was ALL she was going to tell me until I got my new pin number.
Already, I’m exhausted. But I push forward. I go on the website. I enter every medication, every doctor and all the vital stats. Two hours later, they give me a proposal of 18 Medigap policies to compare with 26 Medicare Advantage policies and 20 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to add to the comparison. For those of you who may struggle with math, that is 64 plans I should look at to compare and contrast to choose the best one for my BIL. And choose, I must, because as of May 31, 2015, they will automatically cancel his current insurance.
This got me thinking, What if this information was sent to my BIL and he had no one to help him wade through it? First of all, it’s a website. There are in fact, still some people, many of the Medicare Age Variety who are not computer savvy, hell, who don’t even have a computer. Yes, snobby Medicare helpers, everyone on the planet doesn’t have a computer. Now my BIL is very computer savvy, but he can’t really type anymore.
And he doesn’t really read anymore, because comprehension and retention elude him often. And he for sure, isn’t going to decide to read through Medicare plans as a fun hobby.
I am considered an expert in this field of Elder Law issues, including Medicare Insurance. And I completely UNDERSTAND what I’m reading. I am expected to find the nuances and loopholes in 64 different plans that best serves my BIL. And even I find this daunting.
And once I choose I am in a quandary. This special circumstance where they are cancelling his policy is considered an opportunity for open enrollment with no underwriting. In other words, nobody is looking at the fact that he has a myriad of health issues which would kick him out of any health insurance otherwise. So once I’m there, I’m never going to be able to leave without a problem.
My point is this. I’m exhausted. My severly disabled BIL, on his own would have probably missed this whole need to do this and be without health insurance. How many retirees from this major Fortune 500 company are struggling with this project? Even though it’s a great website and the advisors are pretty good at their job…I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING, AND IT’S STRESSING ME OUT. The choosing is a nightmare.
I know, three months from now I’m going to hear from the new insurance company that Oh that’s not covered, oh that has a huge copay, oh he can’t have that NEW drug that he wasn’t on when you chose this plan.
The only thing that makes me laugh now is laughter of relief. But don’t worry, I’m plotting revenge somehow and you will be the first to know!
“You just have to Laugh…..”
© 2015 Cathy Sikorski
wow!!! that’s sad news about the medical plan. this is one that I have a hard time laughing at. my dad went thru this with his company he retire from… all said, I do have to laugh at your plotting revenge!!!! you go girl!!!! smiles!!!!!!
I like to look back on frustration as an opportunity to laugh OR REVENGE! Thanks, Jerome as always for commenting
This is beyond scary. Your BIL is blessed to have you as his “everything.”
It’s just another day in a caregivers world, right Kathleen?
I think all you thirty somethings should stop stressing out about how hard buying health insurance is for us, your parents. You know we did buy multiple cars and probably houses, put you through college, held down one or two jobs and still made it to coach Little League games and watch dance recitals. Compared to all the other things we’ve done the last 50 years, including buying your health insurance before we went on Medicare, dealing with Medicare is pretty simple.
Also compared to the other life event choices we’ve handled pretty well, there is basically no Medicare decision that we have to live with for more than a year. More important for about 30%-40% of us (if on SS Extra Help or a state pharmaceutical assistance program, or moving to a different county or for other reasons) we can even change our mind more often than once a year. So chill!
I think it’s hilarious,Dennis that you think I and anyone in this thread is a 30-something. I am 58 years old. This post is about my severely disabled 66year old BIL. But I also imply how I do this for my almost 90 year old mother, and my friend on medicare with a traumatic brain injury. Pretty much every other poster here is in her 50’s and 60’s and is dealing with a very elderly parent(s) or disabled person. So as I truly applaud the people of our generation working thru these complicated issues. We ARE the parents you speak of. Thanks for reading and commenting. I love lively discussion.
OMG. Your next book cannot come out soon enough. I know I would be lost trying to read through this.
One book at a,time???
Oh, red tape like this makes me crazy! Why do things have to be so difficult?
Especially for our elders and the disabled, right, Helene?
I agree! Not only am I responsible for my own Medicare mumbo jumbo but also mom’s. It’s so confusing to me and if you want to change you have a very small window of opportunity. Why can’t we just go through the door! Last year I missed it by one day because my daughter was having twins 3 months early and I was dealing with that. Now mom is stuck paying a high monthly copay and higher copay until next year. It’s ridiculous and every time I call them I have to jump through all kinds of hoops just so they will tell me to call someone else!
Yes, Rena, I so know…it’s never easy and what we expect of the elderly and disabled is heinous!
Cathy, you are so right on with this post! You are an expert in this field and you are stressed. Think of us that are not and are trying to help our parents. What is the answer to all of this???? I see all these elderly people in Mom’s assisted living facility that have no one to help them. It needs to be made less confusing for everyone.
Terry, you know I couldn’t agree more. I keep hoping that as insurance changes, the powers that be recognize this problem. But,alas, no,that’s not what ‘s happening. So I’m trying to make it my mission to help as many as I can. I’m going to be putting more on my website and my next book is how-to for all of us! I know my FIRST book just came out TODAY and I’m talking about my next book. But my publisher and I agree we need to address this need. Thanks for reading and commenting! Love to you!
Totally understand! I managed a state pharmaceutical assistance program when Medicare Part D rolled out in 2006 and had also worked in other realms of senior services for 20 years, and I still found the whole choosing and enrollment process daunting. I helped hundreds of consumers and my mother with that task, and I often wondered what they would do if they didn’t have an advocate. My mother said she just wouldn’t have had coverage. Period. I don’t know why we make things so difficult for each other. 😛
Oh Laurie, right????? Even those of us who know what’s going on just can’t make this easy. But I’m working on it…I’m just on a mission now because it’s so crazy to expect our seniors to be able to do all of this! Thanks as always for reading and your kind support!
Woe to the new insurance provider!!!! Having read your blog from the beginning, I can’t imagine what it will be like for the new customer service rep who gets your 1st phone call regarding a denied claim for your BIL.
Revenge is mine, so saith ME!