----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Catherine <[email protected]>
To: Todd Tarno <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2009 3:58:15 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
Hi Todd,
I found out the hard way that Medicare is my secondary insurance. Needless to
say they have paid for nothing! Yet I pay that $99.00 charge each and every
month for nothing. I wonder how many others have experienced this.
Catherine
________________________________
From: Todd Tarno <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]; Laurie Zissimos <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2009 3:11:52 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
Hi Laurie,
I found out the hard way that Medicare is ALWAYS primary.
I too, tried to keep my COBRA & Medicare, but when I went to get a MRI, they
told me that Medicare was primary. When I tried to get back my COBRA payments,
they wouldn't return the payments and didn't want to pay for my medications for
that month. So, I had to tell them either return my COBRA payments or pay for
my medications, which are over $3,000 a month. They paid for the medications.
Thanks goodness.
I don't remember what Part B is.
I do think you will need Part D for medications. Since you already using Blue
Cross and you like them. I would stay with them with Part D. I would talk to
Blue Cross to see they can help you find a plan that works for you.
Hope this helps a little,
Todd in CC, TX
--- On Tue, 8/4/09, Laurie Zissimos <[email protected]> wrote:
>From: Laurie Zissimos <[email protected]>
>Subject: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
>To: [email protected]
>Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 5:46 PM
>
>
>see below
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Laurie Zissimos <[email protected]>
>To: [email protected]
>Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:31 pm
>Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare
>
>
>Maybe you can help me. I was diagnosed with TM in Dec 2005 and went on SSDI
>a year and a half later. This September I have to enroll in Medicare and I
>don't know whether or not to get Part B/D at this time. I am on my husband's
>COBRA until January unless I file for an extension which I may do since I have
>that option being disabled. It's pretty expensive, but Its Blue Cross and
>they have covered almost all of my medical exp since the diagnosis. Our Blue
>Cross plan is a PPO so we don't need precerts/pre auths. It makes it much
>easier seeing specialists. He also has another plan through a part time
>employer but I don't think the benies are that great. My first question is
>whether or not I should sign up for Part B, Part B Advantaged, or Part B and
>D. I am trying not to lose the BlueCross, but I also don't know which of the
>new health coverages would
> be primary, secondary! or other. Is Medicare always considered primary or is
> it secondary?? Laurie
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
>To: [email protected]
>Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm
>Subject: [TMIC] healthcare
>
>
>Hi,
> I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting
> tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this
> since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist
> $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8
> days).It also includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my
> meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days
> through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the
> benefits will change.
> I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I
> had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of
> what I was earning in 1995.
> I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you
> pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not
> having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he
> turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house!
> Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do!
> My best wishes to everyone,
> Cheryl in HOT Easthampton,MA.
>
>
>
