By Barbara Wilcox and Greg Snyder
Medicare is complicated! It is especially complicated for anyone signing up for the first time.
Traditional Medicare? – Original Medicare? – Which parts should I get? – Should I get Medicare Advantage? – Which Medicare Advantage plan? – Do I need a Part D prescription drug plan? – What is Medigap, and do I need it? – Who can I turn to for some honest help? – So many questions, where do I start!?
American University Radio, WAMU 88.5, has brought together some very knowledgeable individuals to discuss the pros, cons, problems and issues of all parts of Medicare.
The program, with explanations of coverage and a question/answer session, runs to 46 minutes. That may seem long, but listening in will certainly save you hours of your future life as you start your search for the Medicare program that is right for you.
One thing to remember as you listen to the portion of the program about Medicare Advantage (MA). There are a multitude of Medicare Advantage plans to choose from and each one is different. The LUMEN MA plan is a unique plan only offered to its retirees. If you happen to be interested in MA, you should plan on joining one of LUMEN’s webinars on Medicare. You can find them on the CenturyLink Retirees Blog: Medicare 101 and Medicare Advantage 101. They will also be listed on the Retiree Calendar.
When you have questions, and you will, be sure to take advantage of the SHIP counselors. You can find out more about them at these two links. What Is a SHIP and How Can It Help Me? and SHIP Counselors for your state.
OK, here’s the link to WAMU’s conversation on Medicare. Once at their site just click on the blue “LISTEN” button.
https://wamu.org/story/24/04/17/untangling-the-multiple-parts-of-medicare/
The CenturyLink Retirees Board of Directors do not endorse any plan or vendor.