trostberg

Is the area around the water blocked off even to walk down to the beach

It looks like the McGee website may not be up to date since I say the closer elsewhere when I googled. I don't always trust the website info unless I know the date it was last updated.

Does anyone have an update on what is available for camping since the hurricane? I was told that Goose Island state park is not fully open and McGee Park at Port Aransas may not be open yet. Any word on National Seashore sites? It appears you can make reservations at Mustang Island State Park. Thank you

Yellowstone has on their website for campground positions that they are only hiring staff that are willing to live in dormitory housing. There is a shortage of RV spots even for employees. People who used to live in the dorms must have decided to buy RVs.

Can anyone recommend a dentist in Livingston. I am hoping to get a cleaning and checkup when I am there in Jan.

There may be a waiting list at CARE. When i volunteered there a couple of years ago there was a young single lady in her RV recovering from this type of surgery. Certainly better than having to go to a nursing home after surgery when they will not let you go home alone.

I worked at Grant Village campground a few years ago so I am familiar with the campgrounds and wanted more info on the employee amenities and travel from the employee camp area. I just interviewed with HR and received incorrect info unless they have changed things alot at Grant Village. I am not sure I can trust what I was told about the other employee areas.

Has anyone worked recently at Bridge Bay campground in Yellowstone?

I read the information below and was surprised. I did not realize that even if you have a regular Medigap plan that you may have to go through medical underwriting if you switch plans. Also moving counties let alone RVing and traveling full time could be an issue. It appears the Medicare Select plans they are talking about are Medicare Advantage plans?. Anyone know how any of this impacts us RVers? My current rural county where I am only at about 2 months every other year does not have alot of options for Medigap compared to some others. Thank you From ehealthinsurance.com Medicare Supplement insurance plans help with certain out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, and most states offer the same 10 standardized plans (Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have different plans available). However, because Medicare Supplement insurance plans can be used with any provider that accepts Original Medicare, you’ll be able to use the benefits even if you move, whether you’re moving within your state or moving out of state. In general, as long as you’re moving states but staying within the country, you should be able to keep your current Medicare Supplement insurance coverage without having to drop your coverage or enroll in a new plan, if that particular plan is available in your new zip code. This is true whether you are changing addresses within your state or moving out of state. You’ll need to make sure you stay enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, to keep your Medicare Supplement insurance plan. However, if you’re moving to or from Massachusetts, Wisconsin, or Minnesota, which have differently standardized plans, you may have to switch plans. Contact the state insurance department in the state you’re moving to for information. It’s a good idea to contact your Medicare Supplement insurance company to let them know you’re changing addresses, so that they have your current address on file for their records and billing purposes. How to change Medicare Supplement insurance plans if you’re moving out of state While you generally don’t have to change your Medicare Supplement insurance coverage when you move, you may decide you want to. Also, in some cases it may be necessary. Although most states offer the same 10 Medicare Supplement insurance plans, the specific plans available in your location may vary, since insurance companies aren’t required to sell every plan. If you’re moving to a different state, you may have other Medicare Supplement insurance plans available in your new location that weren’t offered previously. Keep in mind that if you’re moving to Wisconsin, Massachusetts, or Minnesota, these states offer different standardized plans than the rest of the country, and you may be interested in enrolling in one of their state-specific plans. However, it’s important to note that once you drop your Medicare Supplement insurance plan, you may not be able to get it back. Also, keep in mind that, except in specific situations, it may be difficult to change Medicare Supplement insurance plans once your Medigap Open Enrollment Period has ended. This is the six-month period that starts automatically once you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. This period is important because it’s one of the few times you can enroll in any Medicare Supplement insurance plan offered in your location with “guaranteed issue”; this means that the insurance company can’t deny you coverage if you health problems or charge you more for your plan because of pre-existing conditions*. Once this period is over, it’s usually harder to switch plans, and insurance companies may require medical underwriting or charge higher premiums if you have medical issues. When you need to change your Medicare Supplement insurance plan In some situations, you may not be able to keep your current coverage if you’re moving. Medicare SELECT plans are a type of Medicare Supplement insurance plan that requires you to use providers in the plan’s network to be covered. If you have a Medicare SELECT plan and move out of the plan’s service area, you have a guaranteed-issue right to buy any Medicare Supplement insurance Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L that is offered by an insurance company in your new state. If this applies to you, you’ll need to contact your Medicare SELECT insurance company to drop your current plan and enroll in a different Medigap plan. You can do so as early as 60 days before your coverage ends, or no later than 63 days after your coverage ends. Make sure to contact your Medicare SELECT company before you move to avoid a lapse in coverage. If you have any questions about how moving may affect your current Medicare Supplement insurance coverage, an eHealth licensed insurance agent can help you figure out your options. Contact eHealth today at the phone number listed below to learn more. *Pre-existing conditions are generally health conditions that existed before the start of a policy. They may limit coverage, be excluded from coverage, or even prevent you from being approved for a policy; however, the exact definition and relevant limitations or exclusions of coverage will vary with each plan, so check a specific plan’s official plan documents to understand how that plan handles pre-existing conditions. **Medicare Supplement Plans C and F won’t be sold to beneficiaries who are new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020. You won’t be able to buy either plan if you qualify for Medicare on that date or later. You can keep Plan C or Plan F if you already have one. Also, if you qualify for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can still apply for one of these plans. A high-deductible version of Medicare Supplement Plan G might be available in 2020. The product and service descriptions, if any, provided on these eHealth Insurance Web pages are not intended to constitute offers to sell or solicitations in connection with any product or service. All products are not available in all areas and are subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Related to excess charges this is from the Mayo Clinic web site. I also looked at the Medicare web site and excess charges are mentioned as more likely in specialty clinics. I believe I have heard MD Anderson is not accepting some insurance anymore. So if you want to go to a specialist pay attention to excess charges I guess is the take away. Does Mayo Clinic accept Medicare patients? For out-of-state-residents: Mayo Clinic is a participating Medicare facility in Rochester, Minnesota and all Mayo Clinic Health System locations. For out-of-state-residents in Arizona and Florida: Mayo Clinic has chosen to be a nonparticipating facility in Arizona and Florida, and thus does not accept assignment from Medicare Part B for out-of-state residents at its campuses in Arizona or Florida. Nonparticipating means that Mayo Clinic does not accept the Medicare approved amount as payment in full. For in-state residents in Arizona and Florida: Like other health care organizations that do not accept Medicare Part B assignment, Mayo Clinic can bill up to 15 percent above the Medicare allowable amount, for which the patient is financially responsible. Mayo does not add a straight 15 percent to the bills; rather, Medicare determines how much above the approved amount Mayo can bill. These charges are referred to as Part B excess charges by Medicare. Accordingly, Mayo bills the patient for the full amount of the charges and expects full reimbursement from the patient. In addition, Medicare will pay the patient directly for services rendered, and the patient will need to reimburse Mayo Clinic. Does my insurance cover preventive services? Each insurance policy is different. Please contact your insurance company for benefit-specific information. With regard to Medicare coverage, please note that in general Medicare does not cover routine or preventive services. Please refer to your Medicare booklet for more information.

This is from the Mayo Clinic web site Clinic and physician services Although Mayo Clinic doesn't participate with Medicare Part B in Arizona and Florida, Medicare will help pay for services provided at all Mayo Clinic sites regardless of whether they participate with Medicare Part B. Claims will be filed to Medicare Part B and supplemental or secondary insurance companies on your behalf. In some cases, Medicare Part B and supplemental or secondary insurance payments may be sent directly to you. When this happens, patients will be responsible for reimbursing Mayo Clinic for any payments they receive and any balances not covered by their insurance. Medicare assignment Mayo Clinic is required to accept assignment for Medicare Part B for certain services designated by government regulations (for example, clinical laboratory, drugs and biologicals). Medicare supplemental or Medigap insurance crossover If you expected your claims to cross over from Medicare to your supplemental or Medigap insurance and this did not occur, please contact your Medicare supplemental or Medigap insurance organization to inquire. Medicare Advance Beneficiary Notice Before certain items or services are provided, Medicare patients may be asked to read and sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) that explains Medicare payment restrictions and estimate of charges. By signing the ABN, you assume financial responsibility in the event Medicare denies payment. Noncovered services, such as eye refractions, foot care, hearing aids, screening exams, preventive medicine services and elective procedures, do not require prior notification and are not subject to the ABN requirement. Patients are financially responsible for all noncovered services. Any questions regarding a noncovered item or service should be directed to Medicare at 800-633-4227 (toll-free). Medicare Advantage plans Medicare Advantage plans are plans offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide all of your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. In most cases, Medicare Advantage plans also offer Medicare prescription drug coverage. There are various types of Medicare Advantage plans, including HMO, PPO, cost-based, HCPP, Medicare Medical Savings Account and private fee-for-service plans. If your plan is considered out of network, your out-of-pocket expenses will be higher. As a general rule, Medicare Advantage plans should process the same as Medicare. The following Mayo Clinic campuses limit access to some of the Medicare Advantage plans: Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona. Patients covered by any types of Medicare Advantage Plans (exception Cost share/HCPP) that are not contracted may not be seen. Patients cannot be seen on a self-pay basis. Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida. Patients covered by Medicare Advantage HMO plans without authorization may not be seen. Patients cannot be seen on a self-pay basis. Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Patients covered by Medicare Advantage HMO plans without authorization may not be seen. Patients cannot be seen on a self-pay basis. Medicare Advantage HMO plans require authorization prior to scheduling appointments at the Mayo Clinic site that is contracted or that has accepted your plan; without authorization, the patient will be financially responsible. Mayo Clinic's campuses in Arizona and Florida do not agree to the terms and conditions of noncontracted Medicare Advantage plans, due to administrative and financial challenges. Please refer to your Medicare Advantage plan for a list of in-network providers.

It seems like if the Advantage plan is assuming all the financial risk then they would. be the ones that require medical underwriting if you move from a Medigap plan and not the other way around.

Thanks Linda I wanted to hear from someone who had been through it. I find it hard to trust insurance companies at times. Just wondering why advantage plan switches require underwriting and Medigap plans do not. I think that if you switch from one advantage plan to another there may not be underwriting but the Medigap plans do require it. I am sure it is money related and worry about the cost of care.

Since you are switching out of an Advantage plan I assume you will need to go through medical underwriting. Does anyone have experience with this process? I am guessing unless you have a pre existing condition it is no big deal.

I am watching videos for people new to Medicare put on by Boomer Benefits which is pretty good. AM Best is suggested for looking at rating of insurance companies. Linda I do not have experience with the other insurance companies you mention. I have been impressed in the past with Aetna.

As a provider of health services I found United Healthcare extremely difficult to work with to get paid and they often would try to bill the patient for what they did not cover for out of network providers or more than usual and customary. They use a go between company that gets paid based on how much they discount services from the provider. That may have been non Medicare but it still left a bad experience for me.

I will be new to Medicare late in 2020 but it appears to me that all states do not offer all Plans. For example Plan N. It also appears that some rural areas have very few insurance company options. I have the same problem with my current plan choices outside of Medicare and I thought Medicare would be better.

I have been there and it was not smelly when I was there. Sounds like it is not a healthy place to be for any length of time. I knew that from my visit for the wildlife but it is extending to us humans too. Hope other natural places do not end up like this.

Has anyone volunteered at the Salton Sea? I would like to know how your experience was at the visitor center. I may be looking at Feb - May for 3 months. Thank you

I worked at Grand Canyon Dec-March and stayed in my RV. I was winterized. The Grand Canyon is as busy as the summer between Christmas and New Year and alot of international guests. Most days was at least in the 40s during the day. If the weather does snow I40 is a horrible road to drive. I would just watch the weather.

I see workampers is now promoting the group health insurance plan through the Road Life Project. It does not seem to me that this is much different from some of the other options I have heard about. Wish they could come up with a group plan that is major medical. Don't need first dollar coverage. Anyone see something in this plan that I don't see? https://www.facebook.com/roadlifeproject/

I may have been the agent you spoke with. There are only about 10 electric sites and maybe half of those are reserved for ADA sites. There are no reservations for these sites prior to arrival. Count on dry camping and if you get a hookup site it would be a bonus. If you require hookups I would suggest staying outside of the park with a reservation at some of the campgrounds recommended above. Many national parks are just not setup for large RVs and electric which can go down at any time in remote locations. No cell phone, internet or TV at Crater Lake. We even had trouble with the land lines.

My understanding the current issue in FL is not just voting but allocation of money in the counties based on the number of residents. A local county to where mail services are located are saying the county is getting money for residents that spend no time in that county

Sounds like any new applications are on hold. Don't know anything else.

It came from St Brendans Isle mail forwarding service in Florida to their customers. The Carrs are also following this for Escapees. There has been events leading up to this. https://www.sbimailservice.com/