California senior looks to lower Medigap premiums, but fellow users say to verify benefits first

"They say that the amount of paperwork involved makes it not worth the effort, so I have never bothered."

A 78-year-old man in Santa Cruz, California, hoping to reduce his Medicare supplement premiums, got a cautionary response from Reddit users.

He was thinking about moving from Blue Shield's Plan F Extra to Plan G to cut costs in 2027, but commenters wondered whether he had fully checked what he would give up.

Here's what to know

His opinion of the added benefits depended on whether local providers took Medicare. In a Reddit post, he said opticians, dentists, and hearing-aid providers in his area did not, leading him to view those benefits as unusable.

"None of the 'extras' are of any use to me … so I want to save on premiums for 2027 by switching to Plan G," the original poster wrote.

He figured the yearly premium savings would be enough to offset what he believed would be a $292 deductible under Plan G.

He was also considering his wife's Medicare supplemental insurer, United Healthcare, and hoped her coverage might qualify him for a household discount.

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But his comparison of UnitedHealthcare and Blue Shield showed premiums that were nearly identical, differing by only about a dollar. That led one commenter to question whether he understood the benefits he might lose by switching.

More background

One commenter said the key issue was how the Extra coverage actually worked, not simply whether a provider accepted Medicare. Blue Shield's Extra benefits could include allowances or access to contracted dental providers.

In that user's view, paying an extra $20 to $30 a month for Extra could bring benefits worth hundreds of dollars. The commenter was referring to the California Blue Shield Extra plan they knew, which included dental, vision, and over-the-counter benefits. In reply, the original poster clarified his situation.

"When I retired and switched to Medicare (67) i was told by my dentist that he didn't accept the Medicare dental plan and the same for my optician," he said. "This appears to be a common problem around here. They say that the amount of paperwork involved makes it not worth the effort, so I have never bothered."

Another commenter noted that Blue Shield of California also offers a 7% family discount, giving him another possible way to reduce costs before changing insurers.

He also asked whether he would need to cancel his old policy separately when enrolling with a new insurer, since his current Blue Shield premiums were being paid by automatic bank withdrawals.

What can be done?

Several commenters pointed to California's birthday-rule protection for Medigap policyholders, which allows certain coverage changes without medical underwriting. One commenter described a 60-day window after a birthday, while others advised looking into that option before applying outside the window.

"The birthday rule is your best friend here, makes the switch way easier than it usually is for most folks," a commenter wrote. "You'd enroll in the new UH plan first and then cancel the old Blue Shield one after it's active, don't cancel ahead of time or you'll have a gap."

The same commenter suggested calling United Healthcare directly instead of enrolling online so a representative could explain the household discount tied to his wife's coverage. Another commenter recommended speaking with a broker to compare Plan G premiums.

The original poster later said he had a November birthday, which could make the change easier.

Where can I learn more?

Switching Medigap plans to save on premiums means balancing deductibles, benefits, and eligibility for replacement coverage.

• A $245 Plan G quote raises the question of whether high-deductible Medigap could be a better fit.

• A Florida couple asking about high-deductible Plan G faced an agent's scare tactics.

• A Medicare shopper said a broker discouraged guaranteed-issue coverage before he was denied coverage.