Hands please, who has just Medicare, no supplement, or advantage, just stand alone Medicare???

[a kennedy]

Thanks.

[yardwork]

1. I have traditional Medicare, Parts A and B.

I also have a medigap plan as a retiree, plus a low-cost Pharmacy plan.

My employer tried to push me into Medicare Advantage but I resisted.

[kacekwl]

17. I just got notice my BCBS plan will no longer be avail. They advised s

Medigap option. Do you mind saying what you pay for your plan ?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. Here!

Medicare only with Part D (I do not take any medication- age 75)

[a kennedy]

8. Hello fellow 75'er.....am on Medicare plus a something.... eh even really sure what it is, have just

had it for, forever. Did get a letter saying my insurance is dropping me as of Jan 1st. So....I am on 1 HB pill, although at my annual physical TODAY, Dr, did say I should try another one to supplement the 1st one I’m on. So possibly 2 pills for high blood pressure soon. Gotta start it and then get another blood draw, AND book another blood pressure test in a month. So......i’m thinking about a Part D supplement. Is there such a thing?? Just part D???

[rog]

3. Just A & B ...

No supplement, no advantage, no Part D drug coverage.

I'm lucky not to be on too many meds at the age of 81. The most expensive one (Eliquis) I'm getting in generic form from a Canadian pharmacy. Approx $20/month, as opposed to over $600/month for brand name drug. My doc was skeptical, did a blood test, and blood levels of the generic med were spot on. I pay my 20% of the Medicare approved amount for physician services ... so far I think I'm ahead of the game.

[Akakoji]

7. You're on Eliquis long term?

Why?

[rog]

16. Well ... I guess I don't mind sharing this ...

... even though the question seems a bit on the confrontational side. I'd like to know why you're asking, if you don't mind. Does it matter why I'm taking this medication?

A lot of people are on long-term blood thinners. In my case, I had a period of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, diagnosed by wearing a monitor for a solid month following a severe and scary episode. Eliquis was prescribed b/c of the substantial stroke risk due to afib ... Eliquis controls clotting, as you likely know. This diagnosis was in January of 2019. I have had *no* symptoms since the monitor period, my ECGs are always normal, a recent 2-week monitor did not report any afib episodes, and spot checks with a home device show no afib, however my electrophysiologist recommends ... and I agree ... that I stay on Eliquis, as long as I am tolerating it, and as long as I can afford it. My mom (who definitely had afib) had a *severe* stroke after her physician took her of her blood thinner. The stroke literally took out half of her brain. It took almost a year before she passed, and it was horrible. I am not interested in any of that. Currently I am 81 years old, and my cardiac condition is excellent.

Eliquis is prohibitively expensive and the generic apixaban is not available in the US until 2028. I've been receiving generic apixaban from a reputable Canadian pharmacy at a ridiculously reasonable price ($20/mo vs $600+/mo) for the last 2 years. The experience has been painless and seamless. I have not had to order during the recent tariffs, but my pharmacy is on top of it and has developed what appears to be an effective strategy.

[Akakoji]

19. Sorry about the bluntness, not meant to be confrontational

I'm an ER doc. Truly sorry about your mother. If I had your family history, and afib and could tolerate Eliquis I'd be on it as well. We have yet to figure out how to unstroke anyone. Live long and prosper!

[rog]

20. No problem, but ...

... I did feel I had to mention the bluntness.

My mom did OK. She made it to 91 living alone with my help, but that stroke was devastating. I hate to say it, but it's really too bad she survived the stroke itself. She had afib, on warfarin (no Eliquis at that time). Her doc took her off the blood thinner and left her on low dose aspirin b/c of fall risk. That was a tough call. She had the stroke not long after that.

As far as I'm concerned, I have a very talented EP. I think he's just on the edge of saying I could d/c Eliquis, but even though I'm asymptomatic, and home and clinic ECGs never show afib, we know that it could come back any time, since I absolutely had frequent episodes during that first month of monitoring ... then, nothing from 2019 until now. Having taken care of my mom in the nursing home every day, and having been with her when she passed, I have absolutely no interest in having a stroke ... that's my EP's feeling, too, since I don't have any bleeding probs. I do bruise easily, but I don't bleed out from cuts, etc. EP said we could do a Watchman if things got out of hand ... we'll see.

I hope my answer was helpful.

[Akakoji]

21. Thanks

I’ve had patients live for many years after strokes, sometimes a decade of bed care and all but total paralysis. Thankfully, my mom died right after I had a very long conversation with her about her life. I called my younger brother afterwards and told him to rush over and talk with her because she sounded like she knew she was going to die. He was tired, too long to drive after a days work. Getting off the couch she had a massive stroke, tried to walk up a few steps and dropped dead. I’d say 60 seconds. I was grateful. My younger brother spent several years in intensive therapy after my dad called him and he came and saw her after she had been dead for at least four hours. Unrecognizable. Now he insists on taking care of my dad who has had at least a dozen major heart attacks. No bowel control at all. But he doesn’t want to die. He’s not my patient but I can say fifty years ago he would have been put in hospice care, now incredibly expensive, and lasted a very short time. He’s 104 years old. I say if he wants to live we should do what we can to make him happy. That includes lots of meds that are quickly draining his life savings. And my brother’s.

[Akakoji]

4. Do you mean no supplemental Part D?

Is that legal? Or sane?

[anciano]

6. Traditional Medicare Parts A and B.....

no supplement plan or Part D drug coverage (age 77).

[a kennedy]

9. Well aren't You special......sorry. Who was that comedian that always said that??

and sorry, just jealous of you.

[lamp_shade]

10. The Church Lady (Dana Carvey)

[a kennedy]

12. Ha ha, right, and oh my, I should have remembered that. Loved "her"

[TheRickles]

11. Same here, age 74.

[a kennedy]

13. Damn, you are so lucky, well not lucky, good genes, or great lifestyle, i'm just so jealous.

[TheRickles]

15. Lifestyle factors can make a huge difference - nutrition, exercise, stress management, etc.

Genes help and luck helps, too.

[Mystery To Me]

14. Wife and I

Have Medicare part A and B. Also the cheapest part D. The premiums were 40 cents a month last year and 0 this year. I think they are going up next year. The coverage/deductibles are pretty bad but we rarely take prescription drugs. We mainly have this D plan so that if we need drug coverage in the future we won't have to pay the severe penalty for going without coverage. Which is 1% for each month that you aren't enrolled while eligible. So if you forego part D coverage for 3 years, you will pay a 36% penalty for as long as you have part D coverage. At least that is how it stands now. Who knows how it will be in the weeks/months/years ahead.

[Warpy]

18. I have Medicare A&B

but health insurance companies have done too much to piss me off for me to give them my money.

I'm o;ld enough now that something is going to kill me off and I'd rather not have my remaining days blighted by the best care money can buy.