News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-C... by refurb on Sunday March 27, 2022 @09:25AM (#30820044)
So everyone gets Medicare A (hospitalization) who qualifies for Medicare (~40 quarters of SSI taxes).

You get Medicare B (hospital or physician administered drugs like chemotherapy) if you pay the premium.

Everyone should get Medigap, as Medicare A + B only pay 80% (or 90%?) of costs, so Medigap covers most of your obligation under A+B. Those with very low incomes can get a LLS (low income supplement where the government covers the gap).

Medicare C is Medicare Advantage is HMO Advantage. It's basically the government paying premiums to an HMO Medicare plan instead of providing the benefit directly themselves. It covers Medicare A+B+Medigap.

Medicare D is prescription drugs (drug you take home and give yourself). Your premiums are paid by the government but offered by private insurers. The choice here (and there are calculators) are more complex as there are multiples plans to choose from and they are updated each year and it depends on what drugs you're on or think you'll be on.

Re:A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-C... by egberts1 on Sunday March 27, 2022 @10:59AM (#30820719)
Thank you for detailed outline.

But it computes nothing for us. We all like to plug in our personal socio-economic numbers of what we have and get result … rather instantly. This here is the Internet!

Not everyone is good at math. Much less on SSA/Medicare/HMO policy and procedures. (But I am, as I compute this labyrinth for my senior citizen family members, each, repeatedly)

Re:A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-C... by refurb on Sunday March 27, 2022 @11:13AM (#30820837)
I think the problem is the calculation is too complex (as it is too personal) and too local.

Imagine a calculator that said “Please list all drugs you currently take or may take next calendar year”.

That alone is a massive undertaking for most seniors.

Re:A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-C... by egberts1 on Sunday March 27, 2022 @01:29PM (#30822100)
At least they have the Rx bottles that they can plug that into into.
Re:A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-C... by refurb on Sunday March 27, 2022 @09:01PM (#30825864)
What if it's a drug their doctor administers? Then you dig up medical records.
Re:A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-C... by egberts1 on Monday March 28, 2022 @08:21AM (#30829697)
Ha, and possibly violate HIPAA or something?