Medicare in Sequim (Seattle, Bellingham, Port Angeles: real estate, living, prices)

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

https://medicarewire.com/medicare-plans/county/53009/

Actually you can lay direct blame on the lost of Advantage plans in our area directly to Obama and Obama care. I was on an Advantage plan, Zero premium and I lost it when Obama care took effect.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

You might consider driving around, and going up I90 to the Swedish at Issaquah Highlands. I have spent a lot of time there in the last couple of years. It's much easier to get in and out, lots of free parking, and all of the specialists. Many of them also work at Seattle or another location, so you just have to get appointmnts in advance. When getting treated there I met people coming in from Cle Elum and even Yakima. With the construction around the ferry terminal Seattle congestion is worse than the few times I had to go to Seattle Swedish. One time the parking garage was completely full, I had to find another lot and pay even more, and walk several blocks.

With family in Sequim, we have found that driving around via the Tacoma Narrows bridge is about the same time as the ferry on a good day, faster than when you miss the ferry and have to wait for another.

Actually it is easier to take the walk on ferry and hire a taxi to visit Seattle area hospitals. Parking at Bainbridge ferry is cheap and the ferry ride to Seattle is free. The ride back for seniors is about $7 bucks the last time I had to ride. I would say the cost of the car ferry ride over and back versus the cost of the walk on and....... Taxi averages about $12 depending on traffic it could be higher. But whatever it saves a lot on your nerves and gas not to have to drive it yourself.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

You might consider driving around, and going up I90 to the Swedish at Issaquah Highlands. I have spent a lot of time there in the last couple of years. It's much easier to get in and out, lots of free parking, and all of the specialists. Many of them also work at Seattle or another location, so you just have to get appointmnts in advance. When getting treated there I met people coming in from Cle Elum and even Yakima. With the construction around the ferry terminal Seattle congestion is worse than the few times I had to go to Seattle Swedish. One time the parking garage was completely full, I had to find another lot and pay even more, and walk several blocks.

With family in Sequim, we have found that driving around via the Tacoma Narrows bridge is about the same time as the ferry on a good day, faster than when you miss the ferry and have to wait for another.

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

I lived in Port Townsend for 5 years and still visit a former neighbor there several times a year. She has been able to get most of her health problems taken care of at the hospital in Port Townsend, but her son has complex heart problems that he can only get care for in Seattle, and her husband had to be taken to the hospital in Bremerton, where he died. This was years ago and it still bothers her that she wasn't with him at the time because she needed someone to drive her back and forth and didn't have a ride that day. A lot of people on the Peninsula have medivac insurance in case they need to be taken by helicopter to Harborview in Seattle or elsewhere for emergencies.

It's one reason I left PT before I went on Medicare. I had to drive to Sequim for a dermatologist, to Silverdale for an ENT, and wait months for physical therapy for an acute problem. I'm getting older and I want to be closer to better health care with a variety of specialists nearby. So far I haven't needed any of them, but I feel confident knowing they are there if I do.

I miss the Olympic Peninsula and occasionally think of moving to Sequim for the weather, but the health care situation deters me.

I have live in Sequim for over 20 years and only had to travel to either Silverdale or Seattle a couple times. (if Seattle I take the walk on ferry-taxi)

I use Jamestown clinic and have been very satisfied. Jamestown coordinates with OMC in both Sequim and PA for any service they don't have. Like imaging or hospital short term stays. Yes major surgery may take a trip to Seattle but everyday care is very good in Sequim and PA.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

Actually it is easier to take the walk on ferry and hire a taxi to visit Seattle area hospitals. Parking at Bainbridge ferry is cheap and the ferry ride to Seattle is free. The ride back for seniors is about $7 bucks the last time I had to ride. I would say the cost of the car ferry ride over and back versus the cost of the walk on and....... Taxi averages about $12 depending on traffic it could be higher. But whatever it saves a lot on your nerves and gas not to have to drive it yourself.

???

What ferry are you talking about? You still have to get yourself to Seattle! There are no ferries in Port Angeles or Sequim except for the Black Ball that goes to Canada. The Bainbridge ferry is 123 miles from Sequim. The Kingston ferry is 54 miles from Sequim.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by CalWorth

???

What ferry are you talking about? You still have to get yourself to Seattle! There are no ferries in Port Angeles or Sequim except for the Black Ball that goes to Canada. The Bainbridge ferry is 123 miles from Sequim. The Kingston ferry is 54 miles from Sequim.

I don't know where/how you drive from Sequim to the Bainbridge ferry but it actually 58 Miles.

I believe I mentioned the Bainbridge ferry. I think the drive around over the Narrows bridge to Seattle would be around 130 miles, at times traffic backed up for miles on I-5. I will take a 50 miles trip to the ferry any day over that. A leisurely trip on the walk on ferry over a gut wrenching drive in I-5/Seattle traffic.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

I don't know where/how you drive from Sequim to the Bainbridge ferry but it actually 58 Miles.

I believe I mentioned the Bainbridge ferry. I think the drive around over the Narrows bridge to Seattle would be around 130 miles, at times traffic backed up for miles on I-5. I will take a 50 miles trip to the ferry any day over that. A leisurely trip on the walk on ferry over a gut wrenching drive in I-5/Seattle traffic.

I googled the distance from Sequim to the ferries, Bainbridge & Kingston, so. that's on Google. But I guess I was unclear. Not ALL specialists are in downtown Seattle. We have had to see specialists in Wallingford near UW & in Ballard. Those areas are nowhere near the ferry.

Also...have you walked in downtown Seattle within the last 2 years? It has changed. Also, some people have disabilities that make a walk off the ferry very difficult.

[CalWorth]

^^Also, you did not factor in cost of parking your car at ferry parking lot. There just is not a thrifty way to make this trip.

As an aside, there is a huge billboard in downtown Port Angeles advertising jobs at Olympic Medical Center. I have never seen this before. They are extremely short-staffed.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by CalWorth

I googled the distance from Sequim to the ferries, Bainbridge & Kingston, so. that's on Google. But I guess I was unclear. Not ALL specialists are in downtown Seattle. We have had to see specialists in Wallingford near UW & in Ballard. Those areas are nowhere near the ferry.

Also...have you walked in downtown Seattle within the last 2 years? It has changed. Also, some people have disabilities that make a walk off the ferry very difficult.

I you had read my post a little more closely you may have noticed I mentioned 'taxi' and the cost of such. Reference my post #22 and #23.
What ever....you do your thing and I will do mine.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by CalWorth

^^Also, you did not factor in cost of parking your car at ferry parking lot. There just is not a thrifty way to make this trip.

As an aside, there is a huge billboard in downtown Port Angeles advertising jobs at Olympic Medical Center. I have never seen this before. They are extremely short-staffed.

One: the parking at the ferry terminal is about $11...the walk on is free going over and about $8.50 coming back. The cost of the car ferry (passenger car) is $20.90 +$9.50 per passenger $4.60 for seniors. Now double that for a round trip. Higher for other type of vehicles.

Two: Driving around, the traffic, toll bridge, gas you can see a walk-on and taxi is cheap. Fact is there is a bus service from PA to Bainbridge ($2) and back. But.....an hour and half each way.
https://www.rome2rio.com/Bus/Sequim/...Ferry-Terminal
https://www.bing.com/search?q=what+i...0454&mkt=en-us

[CalWorth]

Thank you for the information about Bainbridge ferry. I don't want to argue, I appreciate the info. I just know when I had to go to Swedish First Hill & Swedish Issaquah this summer, it was expensive and the traffic and conduct of the drivers was terrible and I have more appointments to go. I have lived here for awhile, probably not as long as you, and it was always a long haul to get to Seattle to see a Dr. but now it is a marathon. And if you need a specialist, you are already at a disadvantage, you may be in pain, have decreased mobility.

If people move here they need to know this. When I moved here I was healthy and it wasn't as hard to get medical care here in Clallam County or to get to Seattle if necessary. But things have changed.