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Tom Everson  Hi. I suggest you spend some time in figuring out what  type of medicare advantage plan works for you. Medicare pays 80% of your medical expenses ( you have to figure out the 20%).  Some advantage plans cost $0 per month and some come with prescription drug plans. They also have various levels of deductibles, co pays and restrict what healthcare organizations you use ( but again you pay $0 per month  for coverage. )Another plan called MEDIGAP. costs $200-300 per month does NOT have a prescription plan ( have to sign up for one ) but you can use any health care  organization as long as they accept original Medicare ,  have No co pays and most have No deductibles.   I guess it is PAY ME NOW or Pay me later. You can only sign up for MEDIGAP  ( in most cases) the very FIRST TIME YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.     FIND SOMEONE YOU TRUST and ask for help  in deciding what works for you.  Most people do not know about the Medigap  plans so you may have to ask for details. Good luck

Rex Austin   Thank you Susan! Music is a big part of who I am/was before December 5th 2022. Hope I’m able to get back out there and play again. Read some of your journal. Looks like you’re 5 years post surgery. Congratulations! 
Tom, thank you for that great information! I will certainly check on that medigap insurance. 

Rex Austin   Here’s a little bit of what happened to me if anyone is interested in reading. 
I went into pretty severe afib December 5th, 2022. Knew I had mvp most all my life with episodes of mild afib but that time was very different. It just wouldn’t go away. Dumb me should have went to the hospital that night but kept thinking it would be ok. Then I came down with the flu. Finally got in to see my doctor 16 days later and was sent straight to the er in heart failure. Echo showed severe mitral regurgitation. Was scheduled for a TEE and heart cath February 2nd. Met a surgeon the 23rd. He says it’s not repairable and will have to be replaced. Says he can’t do it minimally invasive. Has to done open heart. Plans to do a maze procedure and says I have a “pouch’ he needs to repair. Supposed to call back when I decide which type valve I want. Hoping to find a surgeon that will be able to repair mine instead of replacing it. As of now, I’m scheduled to go back and meet with him again June 8th with a plan to do surgery in August as I will be going on Medicare then.