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Medicare advantage plan for retired military
I am retired USAF and wife and I are on tricare for life. In helping a non vet friend new to Medicare I found out that some military retiree’s find the advantage plans worthwhile. i see the ads about dental, vision, money back, etc. As 100% VA disabled I dismissed it for me until I was told by an agent that United Health Care has overseas coverage as well, something standard Medicare does not, although tricare supposedly does.
So, because we do travel some overseas, especially the wife, that caught my attention. The wife also liked getting dental and money back of course. I was also told we could still go to our doc’s because in this area and indeed nationwide most doc’s are in the plan.
Any mil retiree’s have experience with these plans good or bad?
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georgelesley
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08/17/22 04:22pm |
Around the Campfire
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Traveling via B&B/hotel vs RV
This topic has been moved to another forum.
You can read it here: 30344093
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georgelesley
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06/24/22 09:27am |
Around the Campfire
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Traveling via B&B/hotel vs RV
First a bit of context. We have owned nearly all types of RV’s and have RV’ed for well over 20 years. Last year we sold our class A MH and have not bought another RV. We just returned from a 9000 mile road trip with our car traveling thru the Midwest and Rockies staying in B&B’s and hotels.
B&B’s suit our style much better than hotels. However, for quick one night stands, hotels are usually cheaper and are generally a better option for just a place to sleep.
B&B’s usually have a cleaning fee added and sometimes a “service fee”, which hotels do not so staying in a B&B for only one night is more expensive, but if the added fees are spread over several days the benefits of the B&B such as being able to prepare your own meals, often having separate TV’s showers, etc, tend to even the costs out
Both options especially multi day stays in B&B’s require reservations usually well in advance, thus locking you into a hard schedule, whereas hotels are often more flexible and have more liberal cancellation policies.
Contacting the owner/managers of B&B’s is not always as easy as a hotel for maintenance issues. We found some truly excellent, some never responded.
Since B&B’s are individually owned usually, the quality of furnishing and utensils is a **** shoot, some just like or even better than home, some pretty run down. With chain hotels at least the quality is usually more consistent with a particular chain anyway.
We did buy a picnic sized portable refrigerator that we put in the back seat of the car and plugged into 12V. That really made a difference in having the basics available to prepare basic meals.
Bottom line: for one night stands, hotel are usually the best option, like them or not.
For multiple night stays in one place, we much prefer the B&B style.
Cost wise, hotels may be cheaper, but when you factor in meal preparation in a B&B, over several days the costs even out, although some hotels offer some options there as well especially breakfast. We did note that since Covid came along, the hotels with breakfast are fewer and breakfast is often much simpler and less than it used to be, so beware.
One thing we really missed about the RV style of travel was the option of boondocking and the ability to change our plans on short notice. Another was the interaction you can have with fellow RV’ers at a campground. Staying in a B&B or hotel you don’t talk to other people much.
We are also looking into staying at campgrounds that have cabins for rent but have not really found a site that has a good listing of such.
So is another RV in our future? Maybe a small travel trailer we could pull behind our SUV. TBD.
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georgelesley
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06/24/22 09:27am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Turbo car engine in mountains
The 2017 Lincoln's turbo is water cooled. The cooling continues after it's turned off by water coolant thermal siphoning.
This is exactly what I wanted to know. I figured that the auto makers had done something to solve the problems early turbo’s had, just wanted to know what. My advice to my friend is that in his normal driving do not worry about it. But when we climb the Eisenhower tunnel, or one of the few other really high and long climb passes we will be going over, not to shut it off immediately at the top. I will not be shutting ours off either as the exhaust manifold on both cars will likely be pretty hot. Just using “an abundance of caution” as a popular saying goes.
Thanks again for all the input and info.
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georgelesley
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05/05/22 04:33am |
Around the Campfire
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Turbo car engine in mountains
We are leaving next month for a 5000+ mile trip from TN thru the Rocky Mountain states, friends will be tagging along we both will be driving cars and staying in B&B’s. Our friends have a 2017 Lincoln 4 cylinder with turbo. I know turbo’s can get hot, especially the main bearing after pulling a long mountain grade.
I also remember that cast iron exhaust manifolds get hot and coasting a long downgrade after just climbing a steep upgrade can lead to the exhaust manifold cracking which is one reason many passes have pull overs at the top for letting things cool down.
My initial advice to my friend has been that we should pull over at the top of a long climb and let the engine on his car idle for a few minutes while we enjoy the view and not shut the engine off or start the downgrade until the engine has had a chance to cool off.
I am a bit behind on this subject having never had a turbo engine so am seek any advice from those that know more than I do about the subject. Thanks in advance.
BTW, our car is a 2020 Acura V-6 non turbo with a transmission cooler recently dealer installed in case we wish to tow in the future.
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georgelesley
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04/21/22 04:10am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: No more photo posting... huh?
I very seldom had any luck with the posting and #1 reason I don't post pics...PITA!!!
+1. I managed to get it done a few times and just quit. Too much trouble, and I agree it is a shame.
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georgelesley
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04/18/22 04:42am |
Forum Posting Help and Support
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