Why I don't recommend OG Medicare

I had a conversation with a client of mine. They had decided to take Original Medicare and make it easy. I told them they were out of their minds.

Here’s why I never recommend Original Medicare to my clients.

Medicare sets the cost of doctors, procedures and other medical care. Original Medicare pays 80% of covered care. You pay the other 20%. Say you have a $100 procedure. Original Medicare pays $80. You pay $20. Easy peasy.

But what if something terrible happens? What if you have a bad accident or a bad illness? Million dollar diagnoses are more common than you think! There are no cost maximums. Let’s do the math. What if your covered care cost a million? Medicare would cover $800,000. You’d be on the hook for $200,000. You’d need to pay the bill, whether through cash, charity care, donations, Go Fund Me... And that’s risky, complicated and exhausting.

I recommend my clients take Medicare with either a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Plan.

• Medicare Advantage plans cover everything in Part A and Part B and usually Part D. They may offer extras like a dental allowance. But they come with rules about how and when you access care.

• Medicare Supplements reimburse you for some of the costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover. You see any doctor you want. But these plans can be pricy, and rules vary by state. 

There’s no one right answer about which solution you should pick. It depends on your unique situation.

I partner with my clients to analyze their needs and their comfort to find which solution and plan works best for them. I don’t take money from insurance companies so you can trust I’ll put you first.

Interesting in learning more? Schedule a free, 15 minute discovery call.