Medicare/part1and2

[donna1990]

I will be 65 in May, don't have a clue about this medicare.
Any advise will be appreciated.

[gja1000]

You should spend a lot of time at this site - http://www.medicare.gov/Library/PDFN...ub&PubID=10050

It will answer most of your questions.

Here is another site that looks to be very helpful http://www.medicareconsumerguide.com/ I think this link is very helpful and easy to understand.

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance provided by Medicare. Most people do not pay a premium for this coverage. Part A covers inpatient care in skilled nursing facilities, critical access hospitals, and hospitals. Hospice and home health care are also covered by Part A.

Medicare Part B is medical insurance to pay for medically necessary services and supplies provided by Medicare. Most people will have to pay a premium to receive this coverage (about $70 per month). Part B covers outpatient care, doctor's services, physical or occupational therapists, and additional home health care.

Medicare Part C is optional and it is the combination of Part A and Part B. The main difference in Part C is that it is provided through private insurance companies approved by Medicare. With this program, you may have lower costs and receive extra benefits. What this means is that you will have Medicare Part C INSTEAD of A&B. It is sorta like a Medicare HMO.

Medicare Part D is stand-alone prescription drug coverage insurance. Most people do have to pay a premium for this coverage. Plans vary and cover different drugs, but all medically necessary drugs are covered. You can choose what drug plan will be best suited to your needs.

If you have insurance from your retirement job or from your husband's job (such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield), then Medicare will become your primary health insurance and the work insurance becomes secondary.

If the work related insurance has prescription drug benefits, then you don't need Part D. BUT if you don't have prescription benefits you NEED to enroll in Part D - because if you don't enroll when you are first eligible, and then later want to enroll, your premiums will be MUCH higher than they would have been if you had enrolled when you were first eligible.

Medicare only covers 80% of everything, so you really need "gap" insurance (your work related insurance is considered gap insurance). If you don't have any work related insurance, then you can buy "gap" policies. I would recommend a gap policy - unless you have quite a bit of disposable income. It is not uncommon to have a $100,000.00 hospital bill, which would leave you paying $20,000.00 out of pocket. My husband was in the hospital for 3 days in October and his bill was one hundred thousand dollars Thankfully, he has Medicare (he is only 60 but is disabled) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield through is former employer.

You will be automatically enrolled in Part A (free) when you turn 65. You have to enroll in Part B (costs about $70 per month), it is voluntary.

[donna1990]

I do appreciate your help so much.

[judy]

Oh dear! I got dizzy just from reading that! I have 3 more years to figure it out.

I just found out that I have (and pay for) a supplemental health plan from work that may reimburse me for prescriptions co-pays. The thought of reading the fat boring pamphlet I have is making me very upset. I'm hoping I can get someone else to explain it to me. Luckily, I don't have a lot of medical expenses, so we're not talking about more than a few hundred dollars/year, if that.,

Good luck Donna! Maybe you can find a meeting that explains it. They have forums like that in the nursing home up here.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by donna1990

I do appreciate your help so much.

You are most welcome! If I can answer any of your questions, I'll be happy to try!

[lynne b]

Originally Posted by gja1000

You are most welcome! If I can answer any of your questions, I'll be happy to try!

Gayle, you are a god send.

Although mom had ins. through GM they dropped all surviveing spouses as of 1/1/09 and it was mind boggeling trying to find her a new plan, thank goodness she already had the medicare A & B. Her new ins cost her about 3 times as much and dosent cover as well as her old ins did and she dosent even have dental & eye ins. Had to get enough meds from CVS to cover her till they come from Medco which will be better once they start coming in cause it will be a 3 month supply through the mail, but cost extra to get the ones at CVS.
Its just crazy dealing with ins.

[gja1000]

Yes, it is indeed CRAZY

Health insurance makes me very very nervous. I think, just like GM dropping surviving spouses, that more companies are going to drop health insurance for retirees and even employees. Anyone with lots of health problems, would be bankrupt in a very short period of time without health insurance - even with Medicare, having to pay 20% doesn't seem like a lot, but with multiple hospitalizations or lots of medications, would take tons of money. For me, this is as scary and the economic crisis.

[Janet]

I saved these sites Gayle....it is so wonderful that we have you here with us. You are one in a million sharing your knowledge the way you do. I know there is seat at God's table just waiting for you.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Janet

I saved these sites Gayle....it is so wonderful that we have you here with us. You are one in a million sharing your knowledge the way you do. I know there is seat at God's table just waiting for you.

Janet! You are toooo kind! I'm just happy to help!

[Tiramisu]

Gayle, where were you when I was helping the MIL and my Mom sort through all this? THANKS for being here!

[donna1990]

Originally Posted by judy

Oh dear! I got dizzy just from reading that! I have 3 more years to figure it out.

I just found out that I have (and pay for) a supplemental health plan from work that may reimburse me for prescriptions co-pays. The thought of reading the fat boring pamphlet I have is making me very upset. I'm hoping I can get someone else to explain it to me. Luckily, I don't have a lot of medical expenses, so we're not talking about more than a few hundred dollars/year, if that.,

Good luck Donna! Maybe you can find a meeting that explains it. They have forums like that in the nursing home up here.

I have so many ins. companies calling, they will come to my home.
Don't really want to go to a nursing home yet.

[gja1000]

Donna, have you decided????

[donna1990]

No, I am still looking for a suplement, BlueCross, United Health Care, AARP,
Humana Gold Plus????

[gja1000]

So, you are going to go with regular Medicare + a supplement? Or are you going to do the Medicare HMO thingy???

[donna1990]

Originally Posted by gja1000

So, you are going to go with regular Medicare + a supplement? Or are you going to do the Medicare HMO thingy???

Yes, I think so. My husband has Humana Gold Plus and he has hardly paid for anything. Just his high blood pressure medication has gone up to $40 a month, still looking.