I'm a former CalPers member.
Regardless of any answer CalPers would give, you should be asking this of Medicare instead. If you were to ask if these Supplemental plans are recognized by Medicare, they will answer "NO". Even if they fully paid the 20% of the bill after Medicare paid 80%, the bill may be paid, but that doesn't make them a Medicare Supplemental (aka Medigap) plan. (They have a misleading habit of "borrowing" their terminology.) This distinction is important since you want to be on a Medicare-recognized Medigap plan so that if you want to change plans in the future, you can, without medical underwriting. If you are on an Advantage plan, you are stuck with other Advantage plans as your future choice, unless you can pass medical underwriting.
As you likely still live in CA, you should also be aware that in CA, you can change to a different Medigap plan each year during the month of your birthday. If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can change plans during the Oct-Dec open enrollment and the change will take effect the following January 1.
Yes this is such an opaque mystery.
My guess/answer: For some agencies, the CalPers plans may have the premiums paid by your former employer. But even if they were to be "free" to you, read the next comment.I just retired and am in process of deciding between Calpers Medicare "Supplement" plan and outside Medicare Plan G Supplement thru United Healtchare.
Although I have confirmed that Calpers Medicare "supplement" plans -- their GOLD and Platinum Medicare plans are PPO plans thru Anthem Blue Cross, no one can answer my question either: What is the benefit of sticking with Calpers for PPO Medicare supplement when it is far cheaper outside Calpers for Medicare Plan G or other true Supplement (these are not PPOs, thus less restrictive)?
Regardless of any answer CalPers would give, you should be asking this of Medicare instead. If you were to ask if these Supplemental plans are recognized by Medicare, they will answer "NO". Even if they fully paid the 20% of the bill after Medicare paid 80%, the bill may be paid, but that doesn't make them a Medicare Supplemental (aka Medigap) plan. (They have a misleading habit of "borrowing" their terminology.) This distinction is important since you want to be on a Medicare-recognized Medigap plan so that if you want to change plans in the future, you can, without medical underwriting. If you are on an Advantage plan, you are stuck with other Advantage plans as your future choice, unless you can pass medical underwriting.
As you likely still live in CA, you should also be aware that in CA, you can change to a different Medigap plan each year during the month of your birthday. If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can change plans during the Oct-Dec open enrollment and the change will take effect the following January 1.
Statistics: Posted by celia — Sat Jun 01, 2024 2:39 am — Replies 10 — Views 953