Replacing plan J

[LostDollar]

That Plan J had no drug plan. And even the ones that did had a garbage RX benefit (you were not allowed to call it a drug plan) and it was not creditable coverage to qualify for a Part D with no penality.

But the ONLY difference between that later Plan J and the Plan F was a $150 per year credit toward a stop smoking class which RARELY got used by anyone even though a local radio DJ in my area got certified to administer and promoted the HECK out of it. He gave up due to lack of attendance. I'm sure other areas had similar results.

I would make this sale to YOUR dad as well as my dad every day and twice on Sundays.

DS4's comments suggest that the rx benefit may not have been garbage for everyone. The challenge being a person having to decide how much they wanted to gamble on relatively low drug needs in the future.

 

[LostDollar]

Honestly, what do you want to switch her to? What's the savings? Does she have the drug add-on? Personally, if it were me.. Here's the question I'd answer:

If it was my dad, would I advise him to switch plans?

Then I'd present it.

You can save X, but this is what you'd give up.

Then let her make a decision.

If she asks your opinion, then give it. J used to be a boss plan. That's why it went away... but since I don't offer J I'd leave it up to her.

Used to be a boss plan and is a boss plan may be different things. If the important distinguishers for plans H, I and J were incorporated into Medicare law effective in 2010, then plan F and Plan G (except for Part B deductible) should be offering similar coverage-except for issues surrounding prescription drugs. OP has already said this particular prospect has a PDP in addition to her Plan J. I think kstein's comments about rate stability would then become the basic issue.

 

[Rob Owen]

Wow! Thank you everyone for all the help. I have an appointment with her the 4th of next month and by then I’ll have known what to do. I’ll probably have her UW questions answered and she may qualify for something or not. I messed up when I reacted to that plan while I was in front of her. I probably looked like I had no knowledge of what had which is true. LOL! Now I’ll know. Thank you all again for your input.

 

[LostDollar]

If Plan J and Plan HDF both have a deductible of $2,370, does that mean that HDF is the true follow-on to J and HDF rates would be the proper comparison to the plan J rates?

 

[goillini52]

If Plan J and Plan HDF both have a deductible of $2,370, does that mean that HDF is the true follow-on to J and HDF rates would be the proper comparison to the plan J rates?

Plan J doesn't have a deductible.

 

[LostDollar]

Plan J doesn't have a deductible.

Ok, mis read something.

 

[Newby]

DS4's comments suggest that the rx benefit may not have been garbage for everyone. The challenge being a person having to decide how much they wanted to gamble on relatively low drug needs in the future.

There was ZERO RX benefit on the Plan J he is asking about. None. Nada.
The older version of the Plan J that had an RX benefit had a cap of $500 per year. How many months would you want to pay an extra $100 in premium in order to have a $500 per year RX benefit?

 

[LostDollar]

The older version of the Plan J that had an RX benefit had a cap of $500 per year. How many months would you want to pay an extra $100 in premium in order to have a $500 per year RX benefit?

Well...............

I guess you have me there!

 

[LostDollar]

Also, I didn't realize there was an additional charge for the prescription drug benefit. That's either never been mentioned in old thread comments about Plan J I've seen, or I forgot that piece of information. I have appreciated the information that has come out in this thread.

 

[LostDollar]

Here is a 2009 Medigap comparison chart showing the older plans.

(Apologies on the rotation. This is a page from an old CMS manual. I don't know how to rotate it and save a rotated copy.)

(I have not yet been able to find an older comparison chart including drug coverage information that I feel like I can post. I have seen where the numbers referenced by ds4 come from.)