My first week on Medicare. What's different? [View all]

Sept 1 marked the start of my Medicare coverage. I have a Kaiser Permanente Advantage plan, so in addition to the $135 a month I have deducted from my SS for basic Medicare, I pay an additional $20 a month for hearing, vision and dental coverage.

That’s $155 a month, total.

Previously, I was on a KP plan thru Covered CA. I had a subsidy from Obamacare, so my monthly premium was under $4. But the devil is in the details. Under my old plan, I not only had co-pays, but I would get hit with charges later. For instance, I paid $60 to see my doctor at the time of the visit, and a month later I would get a bill for an additional $130 for the same visit. My deductible was $6500 a year.

I had been holding out to have a few things done until Medicare kicked in. Boy, I was not disappointed. Here’s what I paid today v what my old plan would have cost:

Specialist visit with ortho for my knee injury: $0 v at least $250 (got an exam, a cortisone shot and a new knee brace at no charge. Assuming that would have cost $250 on the old plan).

Labs: $0 v $10-200

Flu shot: $0 v $0

Topical ointment prescription: $0 v $90

Yes, I sure wish there was a way to have Medicare for All.