Aren't there social service offices that are supposed to be well versed on these services available to help people make these serious decisions with Medicare plans, etc?? It seems that each county office should have these available to their population since it can be so complex.? Here in California, different private plans are available depending on the?county you?live in, as well as the fees for them.? It seems that my mother in-law changes plans every few years.? She's learned to be pretty savvy about it, but it takes time to learn.
Hugs, Barbara A -----Original Message----- From: Lori Biehler <[email protected]> To: 'Todd Tarno' <[email protected]>; [email protected]; 'Laurie Zissimos' <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, Aug 6, 2009 12:23 pm Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare Sorry Todd, I have been on Medicare for 10 years and it is my secondary. Not sure of your circumstance, but it is not ALWAYS primary. I am on SSDI and am not over 65. Lori ? From: Todd Tarno [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:12 PM To: [email protected]; Laurie Zissimos 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. ?? ?? ?
