I really think the way to go, over 65, is to find a good HMO.
LOL. I don't have the temperament for an HMO. Way to free and independent for that. I want choice, choice, choice, freedom, and more choice. To the extent that Medicare reduces my choice, I despise it. I will probably end up paying my doctor out of pocket even though I have excellent fee-for-service insurance, which, unlike your ex, I will not lose when I enter Medicare.
Let me tell you one little story. I've been taking Prilosec for years for acid reflux, 20 mg. tablets, one a day. Since this is a popular and expensive drug, they've been requiring an annual pre-approval in addition to the prescription saying this was for the patient's safety. Wink, wink.
Prilosec has just gone over the counter. To buy it OTC would cost me about six times what I've been paying through my insurance. So here it is time for my annual pre-approval dance and the carrier tells my physician that they will no longer supply the 20 mg. tablets since they're available OTC. But, get this, they will give me ten mg. tablets, which means they will incur the cost of counting to 180 instead of 90 when the dispense the pills plus the extra cost per mg. of the smaller size packaging and I will have to take two per day. Yep, great way to keep down medical costs. As a former systems analyst, this stuff, which exists in all big, command and control systems, makes me crazy. |
