The dreaded 65 is fast approaching and I have

[redstatebluegirl]

9. I turned 65 this past May.

It was horrible trying to figure out what to do. I looked at advantage plans and they would not let me keep my back surgeon and I may need him again soon, I don't want one that is cut rate for that kind of surgery. My mother in law did use an advantage plan and it looked like she had less out of pocket than I have.

I went with United Healthcare through AARP, so far so good. My Medicare costs 145.00 and is taken out of my check every month. My supplement policy with United Healthcare is 115.00 per month and my part D plan (that pays for my prescriptions) is $33 a month. My supplemental plan doesn't pay for dental or vision, my husband is still working so I went on his policy for those as a dependent. I looked into getting my own and it was twice what it would be to go on his plan for now until he retires.

All of it was much more expensive than I had planned for. I have worked my whole life, but we have moved so many times, I had to start over every time we moved so I never got to a high salary. My Social Security is very low, even lower with the Medicare they take out.

It took us months and some help from a state agency in Oklahoma who helps you with the decision to determine what to do. So far they have paid most of my medical except for some of the charges from my pain management specialist. The copay for my drugs is much lower than it was with my insurance through the University. We will see how it pays if I need back surgery next year. I do think I am paying less out of pocket now than with insurance and we had a good policy at the University.

Take your time, don't take any of the phone calls from those stupid telemarketers, it will make you nuts.