"My advice: don't get sick"
I hear you there!
I'm leaning toward staying with Regence (my current insurance provider).
Its a PPO, rather than an HMO (Kaiser).
I've got to "dig" a little deeper and see if I will save any money staying with similar coverage.
I can tell you one thing, I've been with them for years and its mo monet, mo monet; every year!
According to a Regence seminar I went to yesterday, cost is the same for 65, 85 or 105.
Did he have a bridge for sale, did I hear him say that?
Good news, I'm healthy, but who knows; right?
At least by being "on top" of things I won't be required to take a physical, and potentially be denied coverage.
Thanks to all.
T

DeeringAmps
So I can apply for Medicare as of Jan 1, which I did this morning (it becomes effective April 1).
 

That date seems very appropriate! 
(Besides, when has the Government every been effective at anything???)

I think I want to be reincarnated as a government employee.  They got all the luck.

trumps new catchphrase:
 
"let's make america SICK again!"
 
(it's good for business)

I went through this last October. I ended up sticking with the HMO I've been with for the past 30 years (Group Health, recently absorbed into Kaiser), signed up for Part B and bought the HMO's Medigap plan.
 
Because I, too, have been self-employed for a long time and paying up the arse for my own insurance, I'm now saving a ton of money. And I now have dental insurance, too. I'd been paying my own way for dental services (e.g. $189 for a cleaning). Granted, I will have to keep working until I drop dead, because insurance costs would drain my assets even if I managed to stay well until dying suddenly from a meteor strike.
 
Such discussions must seem strange to everyone else in the rest of the civilized world, who don't equate illness with bankruptcy.

Thanks Dave,
Looks like I have to "schedule an appointment" with Regence.
In looking at the website there are no plan "details".
Seems kind of "off" to me.
 
T

Hi,
 
I think I just got my 1st SS check in late December ... now comes the weird and bad part ... Plan D. Took them 6 months to figure out anything, and threw the file aside until 2 weeks before my birthday!

Of course, there's always Medicare, Plan G.  That's where you take a gun, shoot a few politicians who screwed up the system in the first place, then you'll get put into jail where you have a roof over your head, free meals and TV for the rest of your life.  Plus you will have contributed to a better government.