I’m an oncology nurse in Washington state. We get cancer patients at my large university hospital that Kaiser mismanaged ALL the time. By the time these patients come to us the cancer has metastasized. Kaiser won’t even do a simple chest xray. Please people, do not choose Kaiser. Metastatic cancer will kill you. And it’s a horrible death.
Have been in WA since 2012 and now retired. I have original Medicare + supplement and my broker told me another great (rare) benefit for living in WA. Since I have a high-deductible G, I could switch to a regular G plan just before I go for a known surgical procedure then switch back to my high-deductible the next month (or whenever I'm past the post-surgery procedures). This saves me from the high-deductible plan out of pocket costs.
I am also in WA state and have a high deductible G. Mine is $48 per month. It was a good choice for me I'm very healthy (knock on wood!) and have a well funded HSA. But when I researched my options, I also learned of the ability to switch to most other supplement plans any time I wanted to, which was a good thing to know. Regarding rural WA- that is where I live. We have more cows than people in our county. The Advantage plans are scarce and have limited networks. With my supplement policy, I can go to Harbor View for treatment if I want to, and not be limited to the local, poorly equipped community hospital.
Thanks for the video. I have been with Kaiser for over 30 years here in California. It's my first month as a Medicare patient with a $6K annual out of pocket max. I am looking forward to hearing about the special California rules that will let me escape from Kaiser to join a supplement plan under certain circumstances!
Kaiser has "misplaced" the premium payments of over 1,000 Medicare patients over the last two months. My recent statement showed that I am three months behind, but I have NEVER missed a payment. Trying to work with the various office personnel has been an absolute nightmare. They have tried to "reassure" me by saying that this will not affect my credit --- for THEIR MISTAKE!! I would not recommend Kaiser to anyone.
You can avoid underwriting by moving to a zip code not covered in your plan. Rent an RV site or an apartment for over 30 days, and now you're a resident of that zip code.
Great video! I have family in Washington so found it interesting. As far as Kiaser insurance goes I fall on the only use this company if you have no choice. We had them as employee insurance. Despite having some good doctors that tried to work around the Kiaser restrictions I wouldn’t chance it. At the time they had restrictions on how many asthma diagnoses could be made and the available treatments were limited compared by what was actually available. When we needed a specialist we only got the referral because our company intervened on our behalf. Definitely wouldn’t use them if I didn’t have to.
@@vidguy007 Yep. Too fast videos are a hardship, especially in a situation when you have conditions like TBI, post stroke, auditory processing disorder although captions can help there.
Another good video. I have a friend in Washington that I sent this to. BTW because I know you're constantly trying to improve: things cannot be "very unique" or "more unique" (although they could be "almost unique.") I think the word you mean is 'unusual."
Glad you had a good visit to Washington State. As long as health allows, I am a regular hiker in our mountains. The one disadvantage is that nearly every mountain hike starts by going up. Oy! I selected one of our supplement plans working with a broker. Kaiser (Advantage) was an option through her as well. I also signed up to Kaiser through her when as a self-employed person I purchased off of the State Exchange. So, are some brokers able to do that, and others not? As a side note, I am one of those that was pleased with my care with Kaiser which in the past few years included surgery.
Thank you for sharing! An agent could help you through Medicare.gov to get Kaiser, but Kaiser does not coordinate or pay agents. So, if the agent were to call to help on your behalf, Kaiser doesn't work with independent agents. Love hiking and have noticed that uphill pattern too 🤔
My past experience with Kaiser in Maryland was horrible. Most of their doctors were either inexperienced or incompetent. And I have no other choices. So I don't think I will ever use Kaiser again. I am surprised that your Washington video doesn't have Mt. Rainier in the background (no horse either :) but it seems like you are having a lot of fun. Another helpful video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thank you for watching! I started recording around Mt. Rainier, but it was super busy with people walking by all the time and talking next to me, haha so I moved somewhere a bit quieter 🙂
My experience with Kaiser is that they are poorly managed and communication between offices is lousy. I’ve had to continually manage my own care with them. If possible, I will avoid them whenever possible
@@ventimocha2008 I'm sorry to hear that. I'm in Olympia and have found Kaiser to be very efficient, especially during my recent cancer care. Maybe it depends on the location.
I'm in Skagit county WA, Age 74, and healthy except for hypertension, which is controlled by medication. But, before I moved up here from California years ago I'd had Kaiser for decades, which was at best a flawed system. Now, I have Peace Health, Out of Kaiser's range, which has been very good the 6 years I've lived here. Who knew! An unknown plan Id never heard of previously.
No code again? I love Mt.Rainer & used to visit friends who were summer rangers. Loved going to Pike Street Market in Seattle to buy fresh salmon right off the fishing fleet & go back to make a big meal for my rangers friends. Safe travels!
The treatment of supplement plans in Washington sounds almost the same as here in Maine. I think the rules for changing plans are a bit different, but we have no medical underwriting for supplement plans here.
Kaiser California which i was enrolled in for many years pre-Medicare and later with Medicare Advantage has much better coverage and medical services than Kaiser in Oregon. There are not enough office locations and long waits for physical therapy and to see someone other than a primary care physician.
Thank you...the ability to switch to another Supplement plan (for me, I'm thinking of going from N to G) without underwriting is really nice. P.S... worked the summer between HS and college up at Paradise Inn. It was one of the most memorable times in my life.
My Seattle retirement plan covered Kaiser (of Washington) but when we moved to Kelso, I had to drop my plan and had to pick up Kaiser Northwest (Oregon) because Cowlitz and Clark counties in Washington are not included in the Kaiser of Washington Plan...something no one told us or was written in our retirement information, but it is what it is at this point. When I look to get set up with Medicare and a supplemental plan in a few years will I need to take into account this issue again...where I actually live in Washington but have to visit facilities that are in Washington but covered under the Oregon plans?
With supplement plans, no. They travel with you and if the providers participate with Medicare, they will take your supplement plan no matter what state it was issued in.
Eric, does this mean that in WA, someone with a plan N because they rarely see a doctor can then switch to a plan G or F (if their age qualifies them) if they develop a chronic condition that requires frequent visit to doctors?
I am in retired, in WA and on Kaiser. Unfortunately Kaiser here does NOT take Medicare supplement plans, they ONLY take their own Medicare Advantage plan. I’ve been happy with Kaiser for many years and because we are choosing original MC with a supplement, we have to find new doctors. Not looking forward to that.
I commend my union’s leadership for pushing the membership to take some pre-tax income and putting it aside for future medical expenses. I was able to put about 150K in a HRA account before I retired. The Union set-up its own medical trust and the employer had given the Union complete control of the HRA accounts. The TRUST then returns the gains on the investments on all of those dollars(dividends) back to the membership and not some insurance company. I’ve spent about 9K of my account, it on monthly insurance payments and Co-pays since I retired in 2020. I have made, about $3500 in dividends in the account since I’ve retired. If nothing crazy happens between now and when I reach 65, I should have enough in that account to pay for the M/C supplements when I finally reach Medicare age?
Amgen did sort of a “lite” version of this for us, too, circa 2008. They even gave us a chunk of matching cash to initiate the account. I have enough in this (forgotten) retirement health account after only a couple of years as an employee to pay for premiums for longer than I was employed. Every little bit helps.
@@salishseasIAFF. We started our own medical trust. We are the insurance company. We set contracts with TPA’s and stop loss insurance. The HRA is part of insurance dollars benefits package for the current union members. The employer gave the Union’s medical trust control of the HRA accounts. As it is part of each members Net hourly Rate compensation. The “insurance” is a high deductible plan. Max out of pocket for a full family is $6000.00 a year. That is what the employer puts in to each working members HRA each year. If you’re single and no kids and you don’t go to the doctor? You’re banking your HRA every year. The elected trustee members meet Qrly to make adjustments to the Investment of the HRA dollars. Mostly CD’s, bonds… low low risk investments. Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are two ways to pay for healthcare expenses not covered by high-deductible health insurance. HRAs are funded by the employer as part of its health insurance benefit and may be combined with a high-deductible health insurance policy. HSAs are funded and controlled by an employee or a self-employed person with a high-deductible health insurance policy. Pretax dollars can be invested until needed for qualified expenses, and interest earned is tax free.
WA native. My mom has been going to the dr. Since I was a kid and she now takes over 20 different medications and is sicker than ever. Stop pushing 'hell care'. Eat healthy and exercise to have actual 'health care'.
@@Theretirementnerds I'm obviously going to have to look into this more but I naively assumed that once you hit 65 and were retired the government would ensure good health care. 15 years living in the US and I a still grappling to understand this for profit health care.
@@natalieroy4849 Original Medicare only covers 80% of your costs, you have to pay 20% out of your own pocket. If you have a serious illness that requires expensive treatments (e.g. cancer), this can easily bankrupt you.
🐘 I live in Colorado, I'm under 65 but I am on Social Security disability income I'm not sure if you have ever talked about Medicaid buy~in! and there's no minimum work requirement, I only work three hours a month to qualify. Plus when you are disabled and on Medicare and Medicaid buy in, you can still qualify and make income up to around $11,000😮 Most people don't know about Medicaid BUY-In You get dental,too, I just had seven crowns replaced and they paid 100% It's just like the coverage you were mentioned in plan G only better because Dental is covered!! Maybe this will help someone and they can look up what the requirements are and their state I live in Colorado it's very liberal and our governor has waived all premiums for the last four years due to Covid thank God because I can barely pay my bills😢 Each state has a different requirements Amount for the BUY in program, but for me I will continue to work as long as I can even if it's one hour a month to be eligible for this program!!! Dog walking, babysitting counts, as long as you work and do something it can be one hour a week or one hour a month But every state has a different requirement, I found that Arizona and Colorado seem to be the most liberal with the requirements At any rate, for me it works maybe it could work for you honestly I don't know what I would do without this program, and it scares me to death to turn 65😢 Not be able to work, I just hope I can do something that keeps me on this program for as long as possible Thank you for the content, I'll definitely call you if things change and I need you, Project 2025 wants to dismantle Medicare and Medicaid so people please be aware and read project 2025 it's online everyone should know about it❤ PS, Medicaid buy in is for working adults with disability, the premium is based on your income it's a sliding scale the highest anyone would ever pay is $200 Your maximum out-of-pocket for the year right now is $244, after that they pay 100% of all drugs and all procedures Like I said is for adults with disabilities over the age of 16 And each state has their own requirements In Colorado they do not count your house, your car, or your assets other states are different
I’m an oncology nurse in Washington state. We get cancer patients at my large university hospital that Kaiser mismanaged ALL the time. By the time these patients come to us the cancer has metastasized. Kaiser won’t even do a simple chest xray.
Please people, do not choose Kaiser. Metastatic cancer will kill you. And it’s a horrible death.
Thank you for your feedback.
There is no middle group on Kaiser.
Have been in WA since 2012 and now retired. I have original Medicare + supplement and my broker told me another great (rare) benefit for living in WA. Since I have a high-deductible G, I could switch to a regular G plan just before I go for a known surgical procedure then switch back to my high-deductible the next month (or whenever I'm past the post-surgery procedures). This saves me from the high-deductible plan out of pocket costs.
Washington is special!! In a good way!
How do you switch?
I am also in WA state and have a high deductible G. Mine is $48 per month. It was a good choice for me I'm very healthy (knock on wood!) and have a well funded HSA. But when I researched my options, I also learned of the ability to switch to most other supplement plans any time I wanted to, which was a good thing to know. Regarding rural WA- that is where I live. We have more cows than people in our county. The Advantage plans are scarce and have limited networks. With my supplement policy, I can go to Harbor View for treatment if I want to, and not be limited to the local, poorly equipped community hospital.
Thanks, The Retirement Nerds. You are great at helping us separate the forest from the trees. I could not resist using that line.😄
Haha I don't blame you. The forest and trees were beautiful
@@Theretirementnerds Creating many memories for your Future Self, you are.
A clear-cut forest would have stumped you.
Thanks for the video. I have been with Kaiser for over 30 years here in California. It's my first month as a Medicare patient with a $6K annual out of pocket max. I am looking forward to hearing about the special California rules that will let me escape from Kaiser to join a supplement plan under certain circumstances!
Coming soon! Video for California is coming out Thursday :)
Kaiser has "misplaced" the premium payments of over 1,000 Medicare patients over the last two months. My recent statement showed that I am three months behind, but I have NEVER missed a payment. Trying to work with the various office personnel has been an absolute nightmare. They have tried to "reassure" me by saying that this will not affect my credit --- for THEIR MISTAKE!! I would not recommend Kaiser to anyone.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
You can avoid underwriting by moving to a zip code not covered in your plan. Rent an RV site or an apartment for over 30 days, and now you're a resident of that zip code.
Great video! I have family in Washington so found it interesting.
As far as Kiaser insurance goes I fall on the only use this company if you have no choice. We had them as employee insurance. Despite having some good doctors that tried to work around the Kiaser restrictions I wouldn’t chance it. At the time they had restrictions on how many asthma diagnoses could be made and the available treatments were limited compared by what was actually available. When we needed a specialist we only got the referral because our company intervened on our behalf. Definitely wouldn’t use them if I didn’t have to.
Thank you for watching and sharing this! It'll be interesting to see if we have any people who are indifferent to Kaiser 🙂
Slowing the video speed to 75% improves things considerable
So glad! We were trying to get it in between hikers coming through 🙂
@@vidguy007 Yep. Too fast videos are a hardship, especially in a situation when you have conditions like TBI, post stroke, auditory processing disorder although captions can help there.
Another good video. I have a friend in Washington that I sent this to. BTW because I know you're constantly trying to improve: things cannot be "very unique" or "more unique" (although they could be "almost unique.") I think the word you mean is 'unusual."
Glad you had a good visit to Washington State. As long as health allows, I am a regular hiker in our mountains. The one disadvantage is that nearly every mountain hike starts by going up. Oy!
I selected one of our supplement plans working with a broker. Kaiser (Advantage) was an option through her as well. I also signed up to Kaiser through her when as a self-employed person I purchased off of the State Exchange. So, are some brokers able to do that, and others not?
As a side note, I am one of those that was pleased with my care with Kaiser which in the past few years included surgery.
Thank you for sharing!
An agent could help you through Medicare.gov to get Kaiser, but Kaiser does not coordinate or pay agents. So, if the agent were to call to help on your behalf, Kaiser doesn't work with independent agents.
Love hiking and have noticed that uphill pattern too 🤔
From beautiful Bellingham WA. Thank You!!!!
Thank you so much for watching!
My past experience with Kaiser in Maryland was horrible. Most of their doctors were either inexperienced or incompetent. And I have no other choices. So I don't think I will ever use Kaiser again. I am surprised that your Washington video doesn't have Mt. Rainier in the background (no horse either :) but it seems like you are having a lot of fun. Another helpful video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thank you for watching! I started recording around Mt. Rainier, but it was super busy with people walking by all the time and talking next to me, haha so I moved somewhere a bit quieter 🙂
Wow, thank you! (Waiving from north of Seattle🖐🏻)
@@Cassandra-..- waiving, as in waiving enrolling in Medicare? Or the waving hello? 🤷🏼♂️
@@richarde1355 Both!🙃
Hello wow really beautiful, thank you, thank you for the Medicare information I have a great time Eddie
It is pretty here! 🙂
Appreciate you Eddie!
@@Theretirementnerds really beautiful place have a great time
My experience with Kaiser is that they are poorly managed and communication between offices is lousy. I’ve had to continually manage my own care with them. If possible, I will avoid them whenever possible
Thank you for sharing your experience!
@@ventimocha2008 I'm sorry to hear that. I'm in Olympia and have found Kaiser to be very efficient, especially during my recent cancer care. Maybe it depends on the location.
Awesome video as always.Thank you for sharing. 👍
Thank you so much for watching!
I'm in Skagit county WA, Age 74, and healthy except for hypertension, which is controlled by medication. But, before I moved up here from California years ago I'd had Kaiser for decades, which was at best a flawed system. Now, I have Peace Health, Out of Kaiser's range, which has been very good the 6 years I've lived here. Who knew! An unknown plan Id never heard of previously.
Thabk you for sharing this!
No code again? I love Mt.Rainer & used to visit friends who were summer rangers. Loved going to Pike Street Market in Seattle to buy fresh salmon right off the fishing fleet & go back to make a big meal for my rangers friends. Safe travels!
This one had a code/secret! A comical one 😉
Very peaceful in Mt. Rainier.
Thanx for your efforts. Watch out for “Big Foots”.
The kids have been actively searching haha
The treatment of supplement plans in Washington sounds almost the same as here in Maine. I think the rules for changing plans are a bit different, but we have no medical underwriting for supplement plans here.
Maine is quite unique as well 🙂
We'll get there here in a few weeks!
Thank you Eric. I really appreciate what you are doing.
Hope it is helpful for those in these states or thinking of living in them! Thank you for watching!
Yes, independent, is what I meant to say. Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching! 🙂
very informative!
Thank you!!
Kaiser California which i was enrolled in for many years pre-Medicare and later with Medicare Advantage has much better coverage and medical services than Kaiser in Oregon. There are not enough office locations and long waits for physical therapy and to see someone other than a primary care physician.
Thank you for sharing this!
I will stick with my plan F thank you.
Plan F is great. Probably costs more than G would, even if you had to pay the deductible, but F brings a lot of peace of mind.
I am 74 and medicare and Tricare for Life. I avoid dr as I hear nothing much is covered. Sad for spouses. Thank God my hubs has the VA.
Medicare and Tricare for Life is excellent coverage. Don’t let anyone talk you into giving that up.
Thank you...the ability to switch to another Supplement plan (for me, I'm thinking of going from N to G) without underwriting is really nice. P.S... worked the summer between HS and college up at Paradise Inn. It was one of the most memorable times in my life.
Being able to switch is a great benefit.
Sounds like an amazing experience being able to work there!
It was a phenomenal experience! Hiking after work and days off. Ice Caves (have since melted), Pinnacle Peak, Camp Muir...all stunning.
My Seattle retirement plan covered Kaiser (of Washington) but when we moved to Kelso, I had to drop my plan and had to pick up Kaiser Northwest (Oregon) because Cowlitz and Clark counties in Washington are not included in the Kaiser of Washington Plan...something no one told us or was written in our retirement information, but it is what it is at this point. When I look to get set up with Medicare and a supplemental plan in a few years will I need to take into account this issue again...where I actually live in Washington but have to visit facilities that are in Washington but covered under the Oregon plans?
With supplement plans, no. They travel with you and if the providers participate with Medicare, they will take your supplement plan no matter what state it was issued in.
@@Theretirementnerds Thanks for your reply.
Eric, does this mean that in WA, someone with a plan N because they rarely see a doctor can then switch to a plan G or F (if their age qualifies them) if they develop a chronic condition that requires frequent visit to doctors?
Yes it does, as long as the person did not have a lapse of coverage more than 90 days
@@Theretirementnerds Thank you, Eric, for your reply. That is quite a benefit for Medicare beneficiaries in WA!
I am employed with a SEIU 925 Union health insurance. I plan to keep on working through to age 68 or 69. Do I need to sign up for Medicare? 😊
As long as your employer has 20 or more employees, you can postpone medicare :)
❤
How come I have Humana as my supplement and I pay $0 per month?
That means you have a Humana Advantage plan.
I understand there is a Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan. if one has a Medicare Supplement plan, can they also use Kaiser for their medical needs?
This seems state specific. In California, we have been told no. I will check on Washington.
I am in retired, in WA and on Kaiser. Unfortunately Kaiser here does NOT take Medicare supplement plans, they ONLY take their own Medicare Advantage plan. I’ve been happy with Kaiser for many years and because we are choosing original MC with a supplement, we have to find new doctors. Not looking forward to that.
I did not understand any of this. Probably because I live in BC Canada. Apply once, pay nothing. Done.
It is all still confusing as heck!
I pay $139 per month for plan N
Thank you for sharing!
Do indecent agents cost us money.
I’m hoping that was meant to say independent 😁
Using an agent will never cost you money. It is illegal for us to charge you.
I commend my union’s leadership for pushing the membership to take some pre-tax income and putting it aside for future medical expenses. I was able to put about 150K in a HRA account before I retired. The Union set-up its own medical trust and the employer had given the Union complete control of the HRA accounts. The TRUST then returns the gains on the investments on all of those dollars(dividends) back to the membership and not some insurance company.
I’ve spent about 9K of my account, it on monthly insurance payments and Co-pays since I retired in 2020. I have made, about $3500 in dividends in the account since I’ve retired. If nothing crazy happens between now and when I reach 65, I should have enough in that account to pay for the M/C supplements when I finally reach Medicare age?
This is definitely and exception and an exceptional benefit you have through your employer!
Amgen did sort of a “lite” version of this for us, too, circa 2008. They even gave us a chunk of matching cash to initiate the account. I have enough in this (forgotten) retirement health account after only a couple of years as an employee to pay for premiums for longer than I was employed. Every little bit helps.
What union do you belong to?
Also, I thought you had to spend your HSA money every year?
@@salishseasIAFF. We started our own medical trust. We are the insurance company. We set contracts with TPA’s and stop loss insurance. The HRA is part of insurance dollars benefits package for the current union members. The employer gave the Union’s medical trust control of the HRA accounts. As it is part of each members Net hourly Rate compensation. The “insurance” is a high deductible plan. Max out of pocket for a full family is $6000.00 a year. That is what the employer puts in to each working members HRA each year. If you’re single and no kids and you don’t go to the doctor? You’re banking your HRA every year. The elected trustee members meet Qrly to make adjustments to the Investment of the HRA dollars. Mostly CD’s, bonds… low low risk investments.
Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are two ways to pay for healthcare expenses not covered by high-deductible health insurance.
HRAs are funded by the employer as part of its health insurance benefit and may be combined with a high-deductible health insurance policy.
HSAs are funded and controlled by an employee or a self-employed person with a high-deductible health insurance policy. Pretax dollars can be invested until needed for qualified expenses, and interest earned is tax free.
Interesting you didn’t address the FORCED long term deductions from our paychecks. And on top of that forced Medicare payments.
WA native. My mom has been going to the dr. Since I was a kid and she now takes over 20 different medications and is sicker than ever. Stop pushing 'hell care'. Eat healthy and exercise to have actual 'health care'.
Why do you need a supplement plan? Is Medicare not enough at 65?
You don’t have to get one. Open yourself up to financial risk with original Medicare only, but people do it.
@@Theretirementnerds I'm obviously going to have to look into this more but I naively assumed that once you hit 65 and were retired the government would ensure good health care. 15 years living in the US and I a still grappling to understand this for profit health care.
Medicare is an 80 /20 plan
They pay 80 you pay 20 percent
At a 10k bill you owe 2k
@@natalieroy4849 Original Medicare only covers 80% of your costs, you have to pay 20% out of your own pocket. If you have a serious illness that requires expensive treatments (e.g. cancer), this can easily bankrupt you.
🐘
I live in Colorado, I'm under 65 but I am on Social Security disability income
I'm not sure if you have ever talked about Medicaid buy~in!
and there's no minimum work requirement, I only work three hours a month to qualify.
Plus when you are disabled and on Medicare and Medicaid buy in, you can still qualify and make income up to around $11,000😮
Most people don't know about Medicaid BUY-In
You get dental,too, I just had seven crowns replaced and they paid 100%
It's just like the coverage you were mentioned in plan G only better because Dental is covered!!
Maybe this will help someone and they can look up what the requirements are and their state
I live in Colorado it's very liberal and our governor has waived all premiums for the last four years due to Covid thank God because I can barely pay my bills😢
Each state has a different requirements
Amount for the BUY in program, but for me I will continue to work as long as I can even if it's one hour a month to be eligible for this program!!!
Dog walking, babysitting counts, as long as you work and do something it can be one hour a week or one hour a month
But every state has a different requirement, I found that Arizona and Colorado seem to be the most liberal with the requirements
At any rate, for me it works maybe it could work for you honestly I don't know what I would do without this program, and it scares me to death to turn 65😢
Not be able to work, I just hope I can do something that keeps me on this program for as long as possible
Thank you for the content, I'll definitely call you if things change and I need you, Project 2025 wants to dismantle Medicare and Medicaid so people please be aware and read project 2025 it's online everyone should know about it❤
PS, Medicaid buy in is for working adults with disability, the premium is based on your income it's a sliding scale the highest anyone would ever pay is $200
Your maximum out-of-pocket for the year right now is $244, after that they pay 100% of all drugs and all procedures
Like I said is for adults with disabilities over the age of 16
And each state has their own requirements
In Colorado they do not count your house, your car, or your assets other states are different