Thanks Rose. I think th elack of state assitance is a huge deciding factor in me looking at advantage plans. While it limits my doctors and increases my copays, it does have a more reasonable "spread" than the regular medicare. I can space out the copays, and it would cover all my in-patient hospital stays for medical, and most of it for mh.
I'm also applying for the extra help. I was told by one person I automatically qualify because I also get a form of medicaid through the state, but it's a conditional coverage, so I'm not sure it meets the requirements for the extra help.
I am planning on moving "soon" (the time-frame is now up in the air, but preferably before the summer), so I would have to switch plans again at that time. I know the plans for where I am moving have much better coverage. I also know that I would likely get covered by medicaid in my new state, but the current one is historically difficult to get aid (very much a red state that doesn't want to help *anyone* at all, even when they are required to do so - Monthly, I have to accumulate medical bills just under the amount I get through SSDI before they will cover anything at all. If I don't meet that super-high deductible each month, I am responsible for all the bills. I try to avoid all medical care because it has happened more than once that my bill was $1 or $2 shy of the minimum so they refused to pay for anything. I didn;t get my denial until 3 months later, so there was nothing I could do but figure out how to pay it)...
Anyway, thanks for the info and things to think about. There is one plan that would cost me nothing to enroll, and would cover at least the psychologist, so that's a plus.