Shirlee Zerkel: Message for retirees over 65 with Medicare A & B

From Shirlee Zerkel, August 20, 2009
Subject: To all STRS retirees over 65 with both Medicare A and B
Hello,

As you know most of us who have both Medicare A and B are being pushed by STRS into the Aetna Medicare Plan. STRS talks about how much they are going to save if all of us in that age group go with the Aetna Plan. Gee, they have thrown their least expensive members away. Traditional Medicare A and B pick up most of our medical bills and then STRS picks up a few dollars after we have met their $500 (plus plan) deductible. I know it sounds like a good deal for this first time around. What happens the second year or even later?

I have a little story about an experience my neighbor has had with an Advantage Plan. He and his spouse were forced by Dana Corp (the company he retired from) to go from regular Medicare with Dana as a supplemental to Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Plan. The first year was fine. Now he is ready to start year two on this plan and he receives a letter and plan summary in the mail this week. Now he is being told that he can only go to certain doctors and providers for service. Yet he will still pay the premiums for traditional Medicare B (which usually covers every doctor who accepts Medicare). For 2010, he has lost the choice that regular Medicare gave him. He also has a premium he pays to BlueCross. He has lost his choice of providers even if he has gone to them for years.

The above is a little food for thought.

Shirlee