I'm nearing the magic age of 65..... please share your Medicare knowledge and experiences

[Lettuce Be]

13. This - I have a local agent. They show you plans & options

You'll need a supplement to cover what Medicare does not. Don't try to wade through it on your own, just call or visit an agent. The supplement is what saves you from big bills so seriously do not think you can get by without.

Our agent told my husband to stay on his current plan as it's no longer offered and he's grandfathered in (proving they are not being paid to just sell you something). But he elected not to get the supplement for RX coverage to save $78 a month despite my saying at his age he maybe should reconsider (he's 78). Two weeks ago he had a brain bleed (stroke) spent 11 days in ICU, now is home but still in rough shape. The first medication they said he "had" to take every 4 hours for the next 16 days was $2300 (hospital's pharmacy price). We elected to try to use GoodRX and after a few days of back-n-forth and no one had the drug in stock the doctor took another look at his chart and decided he could do without that drug. O.M.G.

Medications cost a fortune and yes, being a healthy man currently taking no medications could lead one to believe they'd be fine but if something happens, it can bankrupt you. My sister's cancer drugs were at one point $16000 a month (she did have insurance), but if she hadn't had that RX coverage she'd never have gotten those meds (not that they saved her tho).

Not try to scare anyone, I just think the RX benefit is worth the cost (obviously just my opinion) and totally depends on your situation. Worth taking a look.

Not sure what this sudden thing against Medicare Advantage is about. It's through AARP. It does not replace Medicare, it's the supplement.