I am sorry to say that the more I read, the more confused I get.? Just for kicks and giggles, and I really don't mean that, but I can't help but say it, I am going to call me Social Security office and see what information I get about the situation.? If needed, I will go there in person.? I live in a small-ish town and it's not too busy generally.? If needed, I can make an appointment.? I am really amazed at the different stories floating around.? This is serious business for all of us, as for those of us who aren't affected now it may not be, but it will be down the road.
And how will all of this change if the government takes over with their plan?? Will we no longer have to pay for all of these plans and pay on a sliding scale or what?? I don't understand how that's work Hugs, Barbara A -----Original Message----- From: Cindy McLeroy <[email protected]> To: bobby jim <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 10:20 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare I?was on LTD from my company and covered by the company insurance.? After 2 years on LTD & SSDI I became eligible for Medicare part B.? I received the letters from SSDI to complete for part B.? Since I already had coverage, I declined the medicare.? About 3 years later my company was challenged by Medicare on who was the primary provider and who was secondary.? The end result was Medicare was primary.? All of those folks, including me, from my company that had declined the medicare now have to pay a 10% per year penalty because we did not take medicare when it was first available to us.? For me, that is $130 a month instead of the $98 that others pay.? Every year there is an additional 10% penalty. ? What is intersting here is that almost everyone of us has a different story of when and how medicare begins and what type of coverage we get.? What really is the straight skinny???? I'm beginning to wonder who will really tell us the truth. ? Cindy McLeroy ----- Original Message ----- From: bobby jim To: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 7:47 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Me as well.?? When I applied for social security I waived the Medicare part as I was-is covered by my own HMO plan.??? The woman taking in my claim said 'no prob'. ? BobbyJim?????? From: [email protected]????????? To: [email protected] ; [email protected]??????? Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 6:30 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Lynne, Can I clarify?? You are?on Medicare part A and aren't paying for it?? But, when you become 65 and you will then start paying what you would have when you were originally eligible?? I declined since I had insurance, but didn't realize this was an option to do.? Thanks, Barbara A -----Original Message----- From: lynne myers <[email protected]> To: tmic <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 6:21 am Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare I have been on Medicare for about 6 years now and it is also my secondary.? Because my husband still works and we have insurance through there that is considered our primary.? At this point I only have part A coverage which has paid for nothing.? Part B would not be paying anything now if I did have it so it was recommended that I wait until I turn 65 to subscribe.? At that time I will start paying at the rate it was when I first became eligible because of the fact that I have private insurance now. Lynne --- On Thu, 8/6/09, Lori Biehler <[email protected]> wrote: From: Lori Biehler <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: "'Todd Tarno'" <[email protected]>, [email protected], "'Laurie Zissimos'" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:23 PM 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. ?? ?? ?
