ChicagoGranny wrote:deedees5462 wrote:
There are pros and cons about every way to go with medicare and what is right for one person is wrong for another.
I thought that was said early-on here and not what the OP was asking but since you brought it up again...
it is worth mentioning Advantage and Supplements are very often confused but also very different. The bottom line is once you sign up for either you still have Medicare but have to follow your plans rules. Since the chosen plan is working for the same Medicare money how do you think they are making money? Will they make choices that are in your best interest or in the interest of their bottom line?
If you have a condition that fixes your costs under a different plan and are happy with it then by all means do it. I do know that if you have a problem with a provider that Medicare can and will make an unbiased ruling w/o considering the providers bottom line but will consider your care and bottom line within their rules.
Rules for Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare pays a fixed amount for your care each month to the companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans. These companies must follow rules set by Medicare.
However, each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs. Each plan can also have different rules for how you get services, like:
Whether you need a referral to see a specialist
If you have to go to doctors, facilities, or suppliers that belong to the plan for non-emergency or non-urgent care
These rules can change each year.
And then there are Medigap policies which cannot be used with Advantage plans but only with original Medicare.
So choosing healthcare is a very personal thing. There is no one size fits all and I don't think anyone said that. But did say "Caveat Emptor" or Buyer Beware, do your homework first.
To get back on track Medicare (and other Insurances normally will follow Medicare guidelines) no longer recommends a 5yr cpap replacement if the cpap still functions. I just would not wait for it to fail as that will likely cause unplanned delays, discomfort, and irritation so I would keep a spare on hand just for those reasons alone. Remember Murphys Law.
When choosing a spare always consider the brand and model you are familiar with - well unless that one is a brick and provides nothing but hours of use.
