First .. why a Medigap? Those are what used to be referred to as "Specialty Products, in the health insurance industry .. HUGE commissions for the peddler and TREMENDOUS profits for the companies. Just like the accident and cancer policies. On the supplements, they're freaking age banded .. so, the 120 a month .. by the time that you hit your mid-eighties .. in many instances, they're pushing three and a half .. I've seen 'em as high as five.

Just with nothing but Medicare .. Part A (the "freebie") has a 1316 deductible .. for a benefit period (defined as sixty days) .. which means, no matter how many times that you're admitted over that sixty days .. after the 1316 .. all facility based charges are on the system .. doctor fees, surgery, medication, etc., About the only thing that might slip through the cracks is if something is sent out of the hospital for review .. such as a pathology report.

Part B .. runs $134.00 per month OR higher .. since Bushie II .. they've income adjusted that premium .. Not the original intent of the law .. but what does that matter? You pay more when you're working .. just to be hit harder when you're using it .. The Nazi Fascist Way ... However, you have an annual deductible of $183.00. After that .. it's 80/20 ..but it's 80/20 DRG (diagnostic review guide) .. For example .. I don't know if these are the fees, but three years ago.. these were DRG, in this Medicare Region .. A primary care physician visit was 48.50 .. so, call it fifty bucks. Medicare, following that tiny deductible, would pay forty ... you're hit with ten .. Specialist visit was, I believe, around seventy dollars .. So, your share is fourteen. Lab services DRG .. are next to nothing .. Some services that have a "street rate" of eighty or ninety dollars .. DRG is around five bucks .. I kid you not .. Even an MRI, DRG was around 350 .. Street rate .. between two and four large ...

Now, compare that to my ACA coverage .. Twelve large INDIVIDUAL deductible .. followed by 60/40 coinsurance .. For that plan, I have the privilege of paying around a thousand dollars per month (that's for two people, of course).

Medicare Part C .. aka Medicare Advantage Plans are ,, sometimes a better deal than straight Medicare, but that depends upon the year and issuer .. and your needs ... If the plan changes, or your needs change .. Next enrollment .. just go back to Medicare.

I doubt if I even consider a supplement .. but that's just me .. My wife hits it next January .. and I'll hit it in October .. 276 (part B premiums for two .. and whatever the income adjustment hits me for ...) and for substantially superior coverage than our ACA plan .. at a grand a month .. Sounds like, if I live that long, I'll be a winner.

You referenced being "shaken down" .. That is one of the major reasons, other than just getting old and not wanting that much responsibility any more, that I have no W-2 employees. Any that I needed ... I set up with their own licensure, bonding, and requisite liability insurance . First year, on me .. after that .. up to them. That was solely due to being able to legally 1099 them. No more group life .. No more worker's comp., no more paying half of their SS and Medicare tax ...

Just me, myself and I.

Humorous aside here .. five of these guys .. only one that I still use .. When w-2 employees used to always complain about being underpaid .. and "how much money the made me ..." Those five ,,, even though their first year I bore the cost of their licensure, bonding, insurance, etc. AND gave them thousands in tools ... AND .. they did not have to solely work on my projects .. Those five told me "how tough it was out there .."

I always replied .. "Must have been a lot easier, a few years ago, when you were making me ALL of that money ...."

Your idea of getting grants may be worth a shot, under the old ... If You Can't Beat 'em Join 'em ..

Me? I just want to be alone .. Although, serving cocktails and having ambulance attendants dressed out of Hooters .. That one does appeal to me.