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08/16/10, 05:48 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Southwestern Colorado Mtns.
Posts: 259
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Medicare is not free!
I never realized that when you turn 65 a premium for medicare is taken right out of you SS check, reducing your net SS check. So what did you pay into all your life while you were working every month to pay for medicare? where does that money go. Does a person actually have to sign up for medicare or is it mandatory?? at 65? A friend of us just got the news of this when she got her SS check at 65. It was a real shocker to her.
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08/16/10, 05:58 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northeastern Oklahoma
Posts: 5,021
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Yep, and although Social Security usually gets a raise every year, the Medicare deductible also goes up every year, pretty much eating up the SS raise. Nice huh?
I don't know if it still is, but 15 years ago it was mandatory. At age 65, or after being on SS for two years if you were disabled, you were automatically enrolled, and the decuctible was taken out of your check before you ever saw it. Plus, Medicare didn't cover everything, so you still pretty much had to have a Medi-Gap policy to cover what Medicare didn't, and that usually ran another $100 a month or so. (I helped my parents and my brother-in-law with theirs back then).
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08/16/10, 06:00 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: West Central Texas
Posts: 5,084
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Medicare part A does not have a premium. That is hospitalization only. Medicare part B, which covers outpatient care has a monthly premium of around $97.00 -- don't remember the precise cost. Part D, which is the medication portion recent put in has a variable premium depending on which insurer you go with. A person can opt out of part B by contacting the Soc Sec office and filling out some paperwork. Some folks who have insurance through their job do not need part B -- but most of us will.
This is all explained on the official Social Security website:
http://www.ssa.gov/
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08/16/10, 07:00 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: MS
Posts: 3,839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calliemoonbeam
Yep, and although Social Security usually gets a raise every year, the Medicare deductible also goes up every year, pretty much eating up the SS raise. Nice huh?
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We didn't get a raise in SS for 2010 and from what I've read we won't be getting one for next year, however, Medicare went up this year and most probably will next year. Thanks Barry!
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08/16/10, 07:11 PM
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Miniature Horse lover
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Central WI.
Posts: 21,256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Country Lady
We didn't get a raise in SS for 2010 and from what I've read we won't be getting one for next year, however, Medicare went up this year and most probably will next year. Thanks Barry!
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And so did my Secondary coverage by Humana. A Advantage program, which was 35 dollars now it is 65 which includes schedule D the prescription part.
And I would suspect it will go up again when renewal takes place in Dec~!
and after that, who knows, as Obamacare wants to Stop ALL Medicare Advantage Programs~~~
Not something I am looking forward to, nor the millions of others that have The Medicare Advantage Program.
Last edited by arabian knight; 08/16/10 at 07:14 PM.
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08/16/10, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 139
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This was a shocker for me also. And then there is the additional cost for a supplement or advantage plan and you need to make sure you have a drug plan also which is usually included in the advantage or supplement plans. They only allow you so many days to get the drug plan and then the price goes up.
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08/16/10, 07:21 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Florida Pan Handle
Posts: 2,130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Country Lady
We didn't get a raise in SS for 2010 and from what I've read we won't be getting one for next year, however, Medicare went up this year and most probably will next year. Thanks Barry!
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The elderly mean nothing to socialist, especially now that we have been robbed for so many years and the money has been spent on all the "other" welfare programs, unlike ss that was funded by the pillage of every one of our paychecks. We've been used up and now we can only await that final "pain" pill to slide us out of the picture altogether. I predict NO more cola raises.
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08/16/10, 07:23 PM
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Miniature Horse lover
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Central WI.
Posts: 21,256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peaches
This was a shocker for me also. And then there is the additional cost for a supplement or advantage plan and you need to make sure you have a drug plan also which is usually included in the advantage or supplement plans. They only allow you so many days to get the drug plan and then the price goes up.
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BOY isn't THAT the truth.
I did NOT take D for a year and a half.
And I am Penalized (FINED), at the rate of 18 dollars MORE a month for D now that I have it.
It is a 1% FINE for EACH and every month you do NOT have the drug Coverage~!
I wonder how many know that? Or are just thinking of getting Medicare and skipping the Drug Coverage part.
Not a smart thing to do at all in my book, as I write the check out every month for my Advantage program by Humana.
And Believe me THEY WILL find out, I did not say a thing or sign anything or fill out anything,,,, and low and behold 2 months After I signed up for Schedule D The Cost Was AAdjusted to ADD the Fine in the monthly Total.
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08/16/10, 07:29 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: N E Washington State
Posts: 4,605
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There are a very few exceptions, but almost everyone is enrolled in medicare at 65. I don't think there are any private companies that insure people over 65, other than the secondary policies. Congress of course is excepted, they get to keep their government insurance if they have served five years or more.
It is not free, it comes out of your SS check- about $100.00 a month.
Where do your premiums go when you are working? Into the general fund.
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08/16/10, 07:39 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,341
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The Part D penalty rather defeats the purpose of taking care of yourself, eating right, excercizing and avoiding unnecesary drugs as long as you can doesn't it? I've known several people that were on no meds, or very basic ones at age 65.
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08/16/10, 07:49 PM
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de oppresso liber
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,948
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Tanstaafl
__________________
Remember, when seconds count. . .
the police are just MINUTES away!
Congress has no power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. . .Davy Crockett
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08/16/10, 07:54 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,960
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What happens if you refuse to buy the added Medicare coverage through a private plan? Is there a fine or something?
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08/16/10, 07:54 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: near Abilene,TX
Posts: 5,323
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Not only that, you also need supplemental insurance for what Medicare will not pay....ours just increased over $40 each, close to $200 for each of us this month as well as what Medicare takes out.....no fun getting old......plus the medicine one is extra and has to be paid for as well.
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08/16/10, 08:00 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ouachitas, AR
Posts: 6,049
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Too funny! $97 a month for health insurance at the ripe old age of 65? I would say that is a steal! Ask the average healthy 20 year old if they can get full coverage health insurance for that price......
Your money put in over the years helps to give you very low cost healthcare today. I am 42 and I will never see a penny of what we have put in for the last 20 some years. If I were you I would be counting my blessings rather than complaining.
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08/16/10, 08:03 PM
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Miniature Horse lover
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Central WI.
Posts: 21,256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mekasmom
What happens if you refuse to buy the added Medicare coverage through a private plan? Is there a fine or something?
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You end up PAYING the 20% that Medicare does Not Pay Out Of Your Pocket. When any hospital bill comes along. Medicare Only picks up 80%, at best, of the hospital costs.
No fine on not getting one..... But You will HAVE to pick up the Schedule D Drug plan OR be fined, when you do pick it up.
Last edited by arabian knight; 08/16/10 at 08:05 PM.
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08/16/10, 08:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patt
Too funny! $97 a month for health insurance at the ripe old age of 65? I would say that is a steal! Ask the average healthy 20 year old if they can get full coverage health insurance for that price......
Your money put in over the years helps to give you very low cost healthcare today. I am 42 and I will never see a penny of what we have put in for the last 20 some years. If I were you I would be counting my blessings rather than complaining.
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If it were full coverage, I'd agree with you..but it's not. Medicare pays 80% of what "IT" decides is a reasonable cost for services. You pay the remaining 20%, in addition to the monthly deductible..Medicare doesn't cover blood transfusions, dental care, etc. etc. For Part A, it's a $1000 deductible for you whether you've spent 1 day in hospital or 2 weeks. There are numerous things which Medicare doesn't cover.
IF I had to pay $90-100/month premium and get a plan akin to an HMO which covers everything medical/surgical I'd be happy as that proverbial pig.
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08/16/10, 08:15 PM
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This is my life
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: SC
Posts: 3,736
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My step-dad is still working, so has insurance through his union. When my mom started her medicare she had to show that she has a primary insurance and didn't need the schedule D.
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Life is uncertain, eat dessert first 
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08/16/10, 09:05 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bartow County, GA
Posts: 6,780
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Yuppers have to have Part D - then find out that those $4.00 drugs are cheaper than paying for the same drugs through the insurance... 
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Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible
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08/16/10, 09:05 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The Beautiful Ozarks
Posts: 1,394
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patt
Too funny! $97 a month for health insurance at the ripe old age of 65? I would say that is a steal! Ask the average healthy 20 year old if they can get full coverage health insurance for that price......
Your money put in over the years helps to give you very low cost healthcare today. I am 42 and I will never see a penny of what we have put in for the last 20 some years. If I were you I would be counting my blessings rather than complaining.
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I agree. I'm under 40, have a premium well over $100 a month for the barest of bare bones coverage, a $5,500 deductable, then 80% paid by insurance, NO drug coverage.
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I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. - Thomas Jefferson
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08/16/10, 09:15 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 139
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I just turned 65 and the part B cost is $110. per month now. I believe it will be that for everyone next year unless it goes up even more.
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