Re: WHY? (Re: One-pot dish)

jmcquown wrote:

On 11/26/2024 9:57 AM, fos@sdf.org wrote:

On 2024-11-26, jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:

On 11/25/2024 10:47 AM, fos@sdf.org wrote:

On 2024-11-23, Cindy Hamilton <chamilton5280@invalid.com> wrote:

On 2024-11-23, jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:

On 11/22/2024 12:38 PM, Carol wrote:

fos@sdf.org wrote:

  

On 2024-11-21, Carol <cshenk@virginia-beach.com> wrote:

 

Here's my own OT.  Medicare season for all the
supplement scam packages here is in full swing.  The
spammers are even worse this year.

 

my wife turned 65 this year. does the stream of
medicare related postal mail ever slow down or even
stop? at our house it goes directly from the mailbox to
the recycle bin. why do people hate trees so much?

  

Fos, perhaps you should sign onto Medicare.gov and elect to
only get email notifications.  Save a tree!

 

It's not that.  It's the unending stream of Medicare
supplement providers.  Every insurance company doing business
in the state feels the need to mail brochures and call
potential customers.

 

i thought because my wife signed up for only part A since she's
still on my insurance from work, that we'd be spared all the
sales literature. i am a silly, silly man. :facepalm:

 

As far as I know you can't just sign up for Part A.  You get Part
A & B automatically when you turn 65.  It's the supplement plans
they're yapping at you about.  Even though she's on your
insurance plan from work, Medicare becomes Primary and your
insurance at work becomes Secondary.  Anything not covered by
Medicare but is also covered by the Secondary insurance plan
cover the rest of it.  Subject, of course, to deductibles, etc.

 
i had to enroll her in medicare within plus or minus 3 months
from her 65th birthday. part A is no cost to us. i specifically
declined part B which had a cost of $174.70 a month for the year
2024. there are penalties for not enrolling in part B within the
three month period but we have an exception because she's on my
group health plan from my employer and can enroll in a special
enrollment period when she no longer is.
 

I did not know there is a charge for PartB.  Apparently it's
income-based.  I'll find out next year.
 

how exactly it works with my existing insurance i don't know.
part A is intended to help with hospitalization. if she's
hospitalized we will present both her medicare and group
insurance info and let them sort it out. then i'll know.
 

It's called "coordination of benefits".  The Primary insurance is
billed first and the Secondary insurance covers the remainder, based
on the specifics of what is covered.
 
Jill

Yes, they have to coordinate.  By law, govt insurance pays second but
medicare isn't quite the same.

I am *NOT* an insurance specialist nor have ever claimed to be.  I do
listen however to the brief's I've gotten all my life, both as military
then as contractor and lastly as a federal employee.

I once lost all usable insurance for 8 months.  I opted for Aetna as a
contractor and found out the hard way that Tricare *and Aetna* demanded
they be 2nd payee.  Aetna would not pay a dime until Tricare paid.  You
could only go to a provider who supported *both* and I could not find
one in my area.  I paid out of pocket until I left that job and was
much more careful.  (I didn't leave the job over the health insurance
issue but because something better opened up).

My suggestion *if it fits*:  if you have 2 insurances, make sure they
work and play well together.  If they lock you to just their
organization, it can get bad fast.  If they only support 'in network'
you could be in for a surprise.  Say your own plus a spouse's.  Most of
the time it works out but not always.

Medicare-A, free.  Hospitalization.
 Part B- tests, office visits, follow-ups etc.  Not free, 174.70$ or so
 Part C- 'Advantage plans' etc to replace part B or augment it.  Tricky.
 Part D. prescriptions, (we don't need it).  There are a ton of
alternatives for that one.  I don't know how theirs works.

See if your company has a brief for it. It's fine to take it early just
for planning.

Jill, for you it's simpler.  You presumably just have your own employee
related insurance, no other. You can keep or drop your company
insurance at 65.  I think you can delay Medicare part B (or one of
those other plans) until you actually retire but just to be sure, a 10
minute call can tell you if your current insurance is 'creditable' or
if you'd be better getting part B.

You can even take part B but send them money for it and wait to claim
SS until age 70 or so, if you want.  I have a few months to decide
this.  I might just pay the Part B and wait until 67 for SS.