Insurance gets to be overwhelming and confusing. I have been under a Medicare Advantage plan. As I said in a previous post, understanding the difference between Advantage, Supplemental, Medigap, Individual, Medicare as itself, and others is difficult. I did not understand or choose wisely to begin with, as a result I was ready to go with a change to a Supplemental plan during my window of opportunity this year. Wrong!
My Advantage plan had to stop selling in Eastern Washington beginning 2011. So, the decision to leave that plan December 31, 2010 was a good one, except... From what my insurance agent told me closure of the Advantage plan that I was on is leaving 12,000 or more senior citizens in my area without their current coverage. This plan was affordable, it was of financial help to people in my financial standing, and position in life. Now, so many people are scrambling to find insurance protection before the window closes. What happens to the person who is not able to research, drive to insurance agent appointments, understand what is going on? I am not sure I actually understand what is happening.
Unique is what my situation is. I am on Social Security Disability, age 61, qualifying after two years on disability for Medicare and a member of AARP; this still does not qualify me for Supplemental insurance. In Washington there is legal talk for why I do not qualify. I am not sure of it all, and am researching more. The state I live in does not require insurance companies to sell Supplemental to those under 65 years of age, even if they qualify with all of the other requirements. Yes, I am confused! My window was rapidly closing, so a decision had to be made or I would be without coverage. Also, no luck for an individual policy as I have pre-existing conditions.
My insurance agent found an Advantage plan that would take me. No, it isn't a great plan, but better than nothing! I count my blessings that I am able to make the calls, drive to the insurance appointments, and research on the computer. What about those who cannot, and have nobody to help them?
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