Medicare enrollment before Dec 7th. Additional plans, costs and penalties.

[TerryMiller]

I'm not an expert on this stuff, but here is what happened with me. When I turned 65, I guess I was automatically enrolled in Part A (Hospital.) At the time, I was told/read that if I didn't sign up for Part B (Doctor), that I would be penalized for every month that I did not have Part B. At the time, I was still working and had insurance for state employees. Rather than go through all the nonsense of having "someone" submit forms to Medicare to give me a waiver, I chose to go ahead and enroll in Part B. What they didn't tell me was that there would also be a penalty for NOT signing up for Part D (prescriptions.)

After we retired and moved to Colorado for 20 months, I signed up for a Part C (Medicare Advantage) plan. Then, we moved to Oregon and while there, I found out that Part C would not help me because I no longer lived in the state where I signed up. My only options for health care under those circumstances was to go to the ER for all medical treatment. Luckily, I was and still am in good health.

After moving to Utah, we somehow managed to get off of the Part C and back on Part A and B. In addition, we got a supplement through USAA and I am currently on Plan N with that supplement. I will NEVER go on another Part C and can never recommend that for anyone. In addition, even with being back on regular Medicare, I am STILL paying the penalty each and every month because of 14 months of not having a prescription drug plan.

So, do your research and be prepared to sign up for A, B, and D if you want to avoid penalties for the rest of your life.

 

[JD8]

@TerryMiller

Worth a shot.

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Appeal...ApplGriev/Late-Enrollment-Penalty-LEP-Appeals

Also, make sure you are shopping your Part D out at least every couple of years. You can put your formulary in the Medicare's website and it will give you an estimation of yearly costs with various carriers. If you have little to no meds then it's not worth it, but if you have a good number of meds you take, or expensive ones, it's absolutely worth it.

 

[TerryMiller]

@TerryMiller

Worth a shot.

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Appeal...ApplGriev/Late-Enrollment-Penalty-LEP-Appeals

Also, make sure you are shopping your Part D out at least every couple of years. You can put your formulary in the Medicare's website and it will give you an estimation of yearly costs with various carriers. If you have little to no meds then it's not worth it, but if you have a good number of meds you take, or expensive ones, it's absolutely worth it.

Thanks. I'll look into that and see if it can help. This whole thing with Medicare Advantage and the Part D penalty dates back to 2016 and 2017.

 

[Pstmstr]

Ok so what if I do this. I’m turning 65 in Feb. what if I keep my regular health insurance, Bc&Bs federal retirement and take Medicare A&B? After all the talk about C I’m rethinking what I was going to do earlier which was sign up for C and suspend my federal health benefits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Snattlerake]

Well I went to the guy's "class" It was just me and his padawan. All we did was talk and not about Medicare until it was time to leave. I finally got some brochures and some prices and I'm still cornfused as hell. He explained part F worked the best but it was no longer available because it worked the best and I'm not eligible. I can get part G which is not as good as F.

All my wife wants to know is what will Medicare pay for and what it won't. Is that too much to ask?

The parts you buy are other medical stuff it won't pay for then you have to buy gap insurance to pay for the gaps all the parts don't pay for. Then you can buy supplements like dental and vision. Even a cancer policy that pays you $10K the day your are diagnosed with cancer.

 

[JD8]

Ok so what if I do this. I’m turning 65 in Feb. what if I keep my regular health insurance, Bc&Bs federal retirement and take Medicare A&B? After all the talk about C I’m rethinking what I was going to do earlier which was sign up for C and suspend my federal health benefits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I believe that in that situation you can use Medicare A&B as primary, and then use your BCBS Fed as secondary or what would go in place of a supplement. With access to both, there is no way in heyell I'd go the Advantage route.

https://www.fepblue.org/our-plans/Medicare/-/media/PDFs/Brochures/2020 Medicare and Blue.pdf

I'd talk to BCBS Fed administrator to see how exactly it works and what it's going to cost.

 

[JD8]

Well I went to the guy's "class" It was just me and his padawan. All we did was talk and not about Medicare until it was time to leave. I finally got some brochures and some prices and I'm still cornfused as hell. He explained part F worked the best but it was no longer available because it worked the best and I'm not eligible. I can get part G which is not as good as F.

All my wife wants to know is what will Medicare pay for and what it won't. Is that too much to ask?

The parts you buy are other medical stuff it won't pay for then you have to buy gap insurance to pay for the gaps all the parts don't pay for. Then you can buy supplements like dental and vision. Even a cancer policy that pays you $10K the day your are diagnosed with cancer.

G is a good plan, only real difference is that it won't pay your Part B deductible but plan F is no longer offered IIRC. Be careful and read the fine print on dental and vision plans, many have a pay out limit. Also read the fine print on the cancer policies as to what triggers coverage/payout.... some are garbage, some are decent.

 

[Duncandl]

Research your co-pay and network for whatever plan you are looking at, we aren't there yet but having a wife in the Home Health and Hospice business for the last 17 years comes in handy sometimes.

We had some family members buy Humana Choice or United Healthcare (UHC) and it was difficult to help them when they needed home health. Do your homework, meet with a specialist. We are going to talk to Richard Devilbiss one of these days, let me know if you want his phone number.

 

[dennishoddy]

My recommendation is to visit a couple of independent insurance agents and get their opinions what is best for you in your personal situation.
I get 100% medical and prescription care from the VA but was still required to join medicare Part A and B. Because we travel a lot we may not be near a VA facility for immediate care so I subscribed to the supplement and the prescription plans. Its there for an emergency which is the purpose of having insurance.
We go to the insurance agent every year at sign up time to see how the supplement plans and prescription plan have changed and they do change every year. What is good for you this year may not be so good next year depending on your personal circumstances.

 

[Snattlerake]

Just staying current with thread.