2gypsies

This confusion is why you should be talking to someone in person about all the plans. There are Medicare counselors all over the place during this period and their services are free. Especially look into the SHIP program as I gave the link above in another post. They don't sell insurance so no preferences to companies they would recommend. To throw another curve, some folks are talking about plans increasing but for the past few years we have each gotten back a refund. I just pulled out the letter attached to the refund. It states "Each year, we review the overall claims experience in your state for Medicare Supplement policies similar to yours. We compare the dollar amount of claims to the amount of premiums we received in order to determine if you're eligible for a premium refund. As a result, you will receive a refund. This amount represents the difference between the claims experience we expected and the actual claims incurred (plus interest)." We have a Transamerica supplement - grandfathered in the 'J' plan which I believe is similar to the 'F'. We've had surgeries and hospitalizations, many doctor appts., etc. and never get bills. We never pay a co-pay. We've been with them for30+ years and they've been extremely good for us. Now with our medical histories I don't even want to think of changing for fear of having to pay bills. We can go to any doctor we want without referrals.

So you had to pay approx. $50,000?

Here's an excellent place to get free advice on all the plans - regular Medicare and Advantage. https://www.shiphelp.org/ SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs) doesn't sell insurance. They're just there to help answer questions about the various plans. They are federally funded and not affiliated with any insurance companies. They provide free counseling and assistance in reviewing Medicare coverage and plans. The counselors are trained and certified to help people understand Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug coverage and supplemental insurance options (Medigap). They can also help those who already have a plan but want to investigate if another plan may be better for them. Also, the National Council on Aging provides a free contact form on its website that pairs you with a vetted expert. Click on their link and then click on "My Planner" to begin. https://www.ncoa.org/

I'd highly suggest looking in the area you are now for FREE Medicare-choosing options. This help is always given at this time all over the country. There are agencies that supply this free help. Just do a Google for "Medicare help in ......" add the city you're in now.... to talk to someone in person. Many retirement areas offer this service, also. It takes a lot of reading and studying the plans to suit only you. Compare both regular Medicare with a Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans. What is good for one person may not be good for another. It's up to your medical history. If you have anything serious going on you can't keep switching back and forth between the two plans every year.

We're grandfathered into Plan J (not available anymore).... similar to F, I believe.

Our Wellness exams with the internist does cover blood work, eye, nose, throat, ear checks, blood pressure and referrals for mammograms, etc. Medicare pays for it. If we had specific problems we'd be referred to a specialist like orthopedic, neurologist, cardiology, etc. Normally, one would go to a specialist for specific issues. I can't even remember when we last paid a medical bill and never a co-pay. We've had serious issues and surgeries. We have Medicare and a Supplement. It seems like the whole medical system needs an overhaul. People seem to be paying for things that they shouldn't.

Original Medicare covers yearly and even, every 6m., Wellness Checks, and in our cases we have not found any differences between them and a so-called 'physical'. We just had ours this month and one of us was asked to return in 6m. We go to internists and referrals to specialists, x-rays, MRI's, CT's, etc. are given if any concerns or problems. Original Medicare A&B have always paid.

We never have occasion to contact our plan. Not sure why you have to do so so often. The cost of the plan is more important to us.

Dump some buckets of water down the toilet.

All companies give the same coverage with Supplements. Only the prices are different.

Medicare and Medicare Supplement covers you wherever you go. Not as easy with Medicare Advantage plans.

You're definitely on the right track. We also volunteered at state and national parks during our 16 years. We like giving back to types of places we enjoy. We also gave lighthouse tours and fish hatcheries. There's lots of variation in our public parks. They just don't have the funds to do many things themselves and they really rely on volunteers. We found the best way to secure gigs was to show up in person and ask. Enjoy your new lifestyle!

You won't have a problem but climbing may be slow-going. Just take it easy as I'm sure you will. Allow time to stay in Pagosa Springs if bad weather. The soaking springs are awesome! They overlook the river and small town. We spend a half day there just moving from one temperature pool to another. Pack a cooler for snacks/drinks. Very relaxing! We've driven it a few times but one is memorable. We came from South Fork to Pagosa (westbound) in heavy rain on a Sunday. The road was down to gravel as re-pavement had been in process the past days. We didn't realize how bad it would be until there was no place to safely get off. When we arrived in Pagosa the campground manager was shocked we drove it. Back to your trip.... Eastbound you'll have an immediate climb out of Pagosa. The descent from the summit in 6% for 8 miles. Most is 3-lane road. Then it alternates between 2-lane and 3-lane. 30 mph & curves. After the 8 miles there are 2 miles of lesser grade until it levels out. (From the Mountain Directory for Trucker & RVers - highly recommended for Western states.)

I replied about making the trip. What else do you want to know?

Where's the link to the report?

You better look into a cruise then. You can't drive to Alaska's capitol in Juneau!

Yes, some might like that but for us, it's too structured due to the fact you have a pre-planned stopping point which would mean preset amount of miles to drive. Sometimes we drove 50 miles or so and stopped because something interested us and we wanted to explore more. When ready to stop there were always options... rv park, public campground, boondocking. Much easier if you don't need electric all the time. Everyone is different... and that's OK.

The best way to do the Alaska trip is by using your own RV. The journey is part of the overall experience. Canada and the Yukon are every bit as beautiful and in some places - even more so. Taking a cruise or flying robs you of the experience. Go at your own pace. It's an easy trip - just long. Plan on leaving around the end of May and begin your return the end of August. Don't make a ton of reservations. Conditions change as you travel. Pull in before 3pm and you'll get a site. Otherwise, there are beautiful boondocking spots along the route. With our 40' MH and Jeep the only reservations we made for the whole trip was for the July 4 weekend - Alaskans like camping, also, and for 5 nights in Denali's Teklanika campground - the farthest in the park you can drive. As it turned out we were early for Teklanika so on a whim we boondocked nearby and drove into the park early morning. We easily secured and additional 5 nights in the front campground, Riley Creek. 10 nights in the park and we saw 'The' mountain 7 of 10 days and every one of the big animals... many times. Take the TEK bus pass and you can use it daily for as many times as you want. We sometimes went out for a couple hours; got off the bus and walked along the roadside and picked up the next bus coming by. You'll never experience anything like the silence and awe when the bus pulls away and you're the only one out there. You don't need a tour. Everyone goes to the same places. We mingled with the locals and experienced going to someone's home high above Homer to have lunch and tour her beautiful flower gardens. We met her on the street admiring the town's hanging baskets. Another time we were asking a local about the dog sled races. He invited us to his home. He raised sled dogs and gave us an indepth tour and a sled ride. All you need for the trip is the Milepost for maps and history and Mike & Terry Church's book, 'Alaskan Camping' which includes northern U.S., Canada and the Yukon. It has RV parks, public campgrounds and boondocking spots. We took turns driving daily so the other could enjoy the scenery and the Milepost was always on our lap to refer to as we drove.

The 'study' was first done by Edward Dowd an equity investment executive linked to Steve Bannon. He doesn't have any medical background. He claimed 84% between 25-44 yr old. Then comes the Florida guy who states 84% between 18-39 yr old. Coincidence of the 84%? The 'study' was not peer-reviewed and doesn't contain a list of authors who penned the analysis. https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-excess-mortality/fact-check-no-evidence-that-people-aged-25-44-experienced-an-84-increase-in-excess-mortality-due-to-covid-vaccine-rollout-idUSL2N2VS1BI

Not totally. Here's an excerpt from the article: " However, antiviral treatments like Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill appear to work against BQ.1.1 and other sub-variants, said Pekosz. Vaccines will still hold up well against the new sub-variants in terms of serious outcomes, both experts said. “We know that regardless of the variants we've seen to date, the vaccines have stood up very strongly in terms of protecting people against more severe infection, hospitalization and death,” Bogoch said. “There still is some protection against infection, it's just much less than we've seen in the past and we hope the newer vaccines regain some of that durable protection, but time and time again, regardless of the variant that you've seen, these vaccines continue to provide very significant protection against more severe illness like hospitalization and death, and I don't think we're going to see meaningful changes with some of these new variants coming out.” Omicron BA.5 still remains dominant despite BQ.1.1 and more than 300 other mutations being monitored by the WHO, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the body’s technical lead for COVID-19, at a news conference Wednesday."

Here's a statement by Reds Oaks, Bushnell. " Red Oaks RV Resort 2d · Happy Thursday! First, let me say we’ve been out since 8am. NO DAMAGE! NO HIGH STANDING WATER! Maintenance is picking up some trees limbs and debris but I see no damage anywhere! I do have an arborist touring the property looking for any tree that might seems suspect. The internet is down so we’re working on that right now, hence no email update. If you can share this with as many people as possible to give them piece of mind?!

Here's the breakdown of park rangers in Yellowstone. They have full jurisdiction in the park but also give help outside the park. We volunteered at Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore, MI and Rocky Mtn. NP & both covered areas outside the parks, if needed. Officers once talked to us about the amount of arrests and investigations done in the park. It was staggering - just like a big city. There are murders, suicides, burglaries, domestic arguments, etc. They are full law enforcement officers & receive the same training as those outside the parks. https://secretyellowstone.com/ynp-operations/law-enforcement/

That's a very small fresh water tank compared to the gray & black. The tank should be the biggest of the three.

We also got the new booster with the flu with no reactions.