Daphne_Stevens

My former boss posts here on travel and told us some regulars here could help us. We're moving to the east coast when we turn 65 next year. Our problem is my company closed, terminating our health insurance. We think we might still have a small policy but someone at outplacement said ne needed enquire about Medicare.

This is starnge turf for all our family, and we never thought about Medicare or needing it. Can you explain what Medicare will do for us, how we apply and how we select a health plan in our new home locality. Thank you for your help to us, we are very concerned we might make an error.

Anonymous

I'm surprised that you haven't thought about Medicare; virtually everyone over 65 uses it.

Don't expect accurate info on a travel board. You're more likely to incite a heated dispute over specific details! Have you looked at the Medicare web site?

http://www.medicare.gov/

GoTravel

A travel board is the last place I'd look for advice on medical insurance. I would contact Medicare.

You will probably still want to have a small policy. Is anyone in your family a veteran?

Daphne_Stevens

That website is the first place we looked. We thought someone here might have experienced the same situation. No, no veterans in our immediate family. Would this help? We must admit we didn't think about this issue sooner. My brother said he has this super duper policy so he's going to opt out of Medicare, is that wise? No wish to start a debate, just looking for some information.

GoTravel

Call medicare. I don't have a phone number but you can do a google search.

Daphne_Stevens

Thanks for all the suggestions, and my husbands already talked to them before we posted. We had the website too. I'm beginning to see why my boss is former, his ideas didn't pan out too well.

traveler24

Wow..what a dilemma !!!
While I am NOT a n expert but from my experience--
I worked for 40 years and contributed to Soc. Security. However, my husband was a State worker and only contributed to the the State Retirement system. He is eligible for Medicare as my spouse...
Unless you are fairly "well off" $$$$
You will need a supplementary policy to cover what charges are left over after Medicare pays their %.
special note ---Medicare says it pays 80 % of APPROVED charges...
This means --Md's office visit is 70$---Medicare may only pay 80%
of $45.. I had x-rays at hospital---$250 --Medicare paid
100$
Here in CA. there is a non-profit organization call HICAP
I helped me a lot. Even though it is CA based the issue and questions about Medicare are nation wide
www.cahealthadvocates.org
they also have great info about longterm insurance (Nursing Home)
Medicare DONOT cover long-term care..
Keep investigating--you will eventually find some answers...

ronkala

Stop in your local social security office for medicare info. If you belong to AARP inquire about their supplimentary policies. If you need several prescriptions filled, think Canada. We use ADV-Care in Canada for a $2000.oo annual savings by not using my former companys prescription plan.
(ADV-CARE.com)

GoTravel

Might I suggest from personal experience that your supplimentary insurance provide hefty Major Medical?

After going through a serious illness with a family member, screw the little stuff like copays.

With a major illness, you could easily end up with a $100,000 hospital bill. If medicare only covers 80%, you are still responsible for $20,000. You don't pay it? The hospital can legally come after anything you own including your home.

wantsomesun

I don't know what part of the east coast you are moving to, but you should check with HIP (Health Insurance Plan), they are one of the best HMO's in the area and they work with Medicare. We got my Mother on that through Medicare and they took very good care of her. The premium is paid by Medicare so you have minimal out of pockte expenses.

Hope this helps.

FainaAgain

Are you aware that you can't apply for Medicare at will, they have set dates, probably the first 3months of the year when you can do so.

Medicare has 2 parts, one is for hospital coverage, everybody automatically gets it for free at 65, one is for doctors' visits, and for this, if you apply, they take out part of your social security. But it never gives you 100% coverage.

To cover what Medicare doesn't cover you can (if you want to pay for that) buy Medi-gap, it's a private insurance, same as regular health insurance, you need to search and find the one which is best for you.

There are so many rules and restrictions that I wish I won't live to see that I know from a relative, so: GOOD LUCK! She has Kaiser as medigap and pays like $60-80 to medicare and the same amount to Kaiser. She said it's the cheapest she could find.

tom42

I highly suggest that you find a number to call to speak to someone that deals specifically with health care for the elderly or look to the website of the state agency that deals with insurance. In NY, the NYS Insurance Dept. has a Medicare section on their website. It has some pretty helpful suggestions. Like Faina said, you automatically get Medicare Part A for free and have to opt in to Medicare Part B for a fee. There may be consequences down the line if you do not enroll in Part B when you turn 65. There are also several options as far as type of coverage (original Medicare, Medicare supplement - which is also called Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Select and in 2006 there is the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit).

SB_Travlr

I'm not quite at that age, but DH is --Medicare is pretty complicated, and you just have to educate yourself! You've had good advice here. (Disclosure: I work for a healthcare insurance company, nothing to do with M-care.)

One issue to consider is that you are not even eligible for M-care until you turn 65 (not sure how far off that is). If your work-based insurance has ended because the company closed, you may be without coverage, not a good situation. Under COBRA, you have the right to carry forward your work-based coverage, and your former boss should have told you about that when he closed the business. COBRA can be expensive because you pick up the whole tab instead of sharing with the employer -- but individual insurance is also expensive when you're over 55, and may not offer the same benefits.

Good luck!

Ryan

The best thing you can do is to contact your nearest Social Security office. They administer Medicare.

The people there can answer your questions based on your specific cirmcumstances, not broad generalities from those of us who don't have all your relevant facts and information.

As it is a Federal program, there is no reason why you cannot contact the office near where you now live, regarding benefits you will get in a different state.

LoveItaly

SB you are right, as you know.
Unfortunatly.
About 60 days or so before one becomes 65 social security will send a notice advising that they have enrolled you in medicare. The medicare portion starts the first day of the month you become 65. For example. You will be 65 on the 25th of March. Medicare starts March 1st.

Do not know about other states but generally speaking in California the insurance avaiable for suppelment to medicare is rather limited. As Faina stated, Kaiser is one choice.

Medicare will send you a booklet advising you of all the insurance companies that write supplemental insurance policies for medicare patients about 45 days before the month you turn 65. You need to refer to your zip code.

Under 65, and company has closed down or you have retired. Oh boy! At least in California.

SB is right. You will be entitled to COBRA. But the cost is awful. But unless you have no assets at all you cannot afford to not pay this. But of course with the cost you cannot really afford to pay this.

A big problem for a lot of people in USA.

When you become 65, do not opt out of Medicare. If you ever want to get on Medicare later in life you will be penalized.

This may be a travel board but you have received some really good advice from people here.

KT

Each state has an publicly funded office that you can call for Medicare information and assistance. Here's one list of them:
http://hiicap.state.ny.us/home/link08.htm#links

Here are a couple of private nonprofit advocacy websites that provide Medicare information online:
www.medicarerights.org
www.medicareadvocacy.org

If you apply for Social Security retirement benefits at age 65 or older, that should automatically trigger the Medicare application process. If, for some reason,such as delaying your SS retirement benefits until after 65, you aren't automatically enrolled, you are indeed restricted to certain annual enrollment periods.

KT

I see that LoveItaly had already posted good information about automatic enrollment while I was typing my post.

BTW, COBRA only applies if your employer had 20 or more employees, and there are other restrictions. And it only lasts for either 18 or 36 months, depending on the reason your previous coverage ends. It's only a stopgap.

BTW, I edit some books on elder law, and this is a notoriously complicated subject.

FainaAgain

I vaguely remember there was something about medicare cost (taken out of your monthly fees) going 10% up each year if you don't join at 65 for no reason. Anybody knows more?

I gotta print this thread out and keep till 65

LoveItaly

Faina, yes medicare does increase with a penalty if you do not sign up (actually Social Security signs you up and you only send the form back if you want to decline Medicare). The penalty is around 10% or something. I will pull out my file and repost.

For sure, when one is 65 DO NOT DECLINE MEDICARE. Oh, the golden years!

mikemo

There are several issues:
Medicare Part A - inpatient, hospital, etc. Paid by taxpayers with lots of deductables, etc.
Medicare Part B - outpatient, docs, etc. Beneficiaries pay 25 % - taxpayers 75% - this has consumed most of the 2.7% increase in SS for next year for many.
The new drug coverage - if you don't sign on at 65, the out of pocket cost increases each year.
This system is really awful: the nickel and dime mentality of all involved is counterproductive.
Best advice: choose your parents/grandparents well, live long, healthy lives, buy high deductible indemnity health insurance, exercise, love the one you're with, and enjoy a glass of wine daily.