Medicare is not free!

arabian knight · #**161** 01/14/11, 08:28 PM

In one word. Yes

willowworker · #**162** 01/14/11, 09:05 PM

Excellent thread info. I would like to bring up something I did not see in this thread.

In MN. there is an organization called MN Senior Citizens Federation. Through this organization there is a sub program called Senior Partners Care. Now, this is not a health insurance.....What the Sr. Cit. Fed. has done up here in the arrowhead region in No. MN is talk with Drs., hospitals and clinics in the area and has made agreements with them that for certian senior citizens on medicare, who meet certian income, and asset guidelines, have no other health ins, and go to those Drs., clinics and hospitals for their care, the drs., clinics and hospitals have agreed to not charge the patient any $$$ beyond what medicare will pay. They will simply accept what medicare will pay them.

I had hip replacement surgery this summer. I did not have to pay 1 cent for my doctor, my clinic, my hospital or my therapy. The only $$ I had to pay out is $50./per year for membership in the Sr. Cit. FED. Now, I stumbled on to this program accidentally....overhearing a conversation in church. So my point is......sometimes there are programs out there......we simply have to try to find out what they are. If I had not stumbled on to this program, I probably would be mucho big bucks in debt right now.

The guidelines for this program are: Income around$20,000/year; assets under $40,000; there is one or 2 other guidelines, but I cannot remember them now(stroke). You are allowed 1 vehicle and your home. For $5 more per year this organization also has a med program....get meds from Canada.

Hope this is clear....if not, please feel free ask questions.
WW

Nevada · #**163** 01/14/11, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordy

................So , is the consensus that part d enrollment is better from the getgo , given the fact that as we age our Rx usage will increase ? fordy

Yes. But the real problem with Medicare Part D is that they increase the premium based on what you take. There is a utility at the medicare.gov website where you can search for Part D providers in your area, and you can experiment with various meds to see what the impact on premiums are.

In my elderly friend's case her minimum Part D premium was around $20, and stayed pretty much the same when I added the inexpensive generics she takes. When I added Evista (costs $125/month with no insurance) the premium jumped up to about $40. So if we run the numbers, for Evista she would have to pay a copay of $30/month, plus her Part D premium will increase by $20, so Evista will really cost her $50/month. Instead we get it from overseas for $10, and then don't tell anyone but her Dr that she taking it.

https://www.genericdoctor.com/308_Evista-60-mg

It's well worth your while to experiment with providers and premiums at the Medicare.gov website and see if you can source some of your meds overseas.

My friend takes 3 pricey meds now (Evista, Boniva, and Cymbalta), which are all available inexpensively overseas. It saves us a fortune.

Txsteader · #**164** 01/14/11, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordy

................So , is the consensus that part d enrollment is better from the getgo , given the fact that as we age our Rx usage will increase ? fordy

Well, we figure that at some point, we're all going to need prescriptions of some sort. Problem is, we don't know when or what type.

We talked about possibly postponing enrolling in part D for a year and getting a year's supply of generic Rx from Canada. Even counting the penalty for late enrollment, we'd still come out cheaper that way. Now, I fully expect Washington to close that opportunity in the near future, but in the meantime, it's what some seniors are choosing to do.

Bottom line.....the options vary greatly. It takes time and diligence to find the most cost effective choice to fit your needs. It's best to line up your information resources and start doing your research ahead of time.

Nevada · #**165** 01/14/11, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txsteader

Well, we figure that at some point, we're all going to need prescriptions of some sort. Problem is, we don't know when or what type.

We talked about possibly postponing enrolling in part D for a year and getting a year's supply of generic Rx from Canada. Even counting the penalty for late enrollment, we'd still come out cheaper that way. Now, I fully expect Washington to close that opportunity in the near future, but in the meantime, it's what some seniors are choosing to do.

Bottom line.....the options vary greatly. It takes time and diligence to find the most cost effective choice to fit your needs. It's best to line up your information resources and start doing your research ahead of time.

I suggest carrying Part D and using it just for inexpensive generic meds, while getting your expensive meds from overseas. That will keep your Part D premium at a minimum, while offsetting at least part of the premium with the savings on your generics. Then if anything goes wrong you've got Part D in place and you avoid any penalty.

Tricky Grama · #**166** 01/15/11, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Or 24 months after a person is on SS Disability. A 2 year waiting period, just a FYI on that, in that 24 months you may have the choice to get insurance through the COBRA law, but that only lasts for 18 months. So there is still a 6 month spot in there when some may or may not have any health insurance at all.

You're right there too, I often forget about the disability. Also if you retire at 62 you're w/o ins for quite a while.

mightybooboo · #**167** 01/15/11, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

If it were up to me, Medicare would be a zero sum game. Recipients would pay 100% of the cost, divided up equally amongst all users.

Which is exactly how insurance should work.

My answer is to get as many meds as possible that are generics and pay out of pocket,they are cheap and available for most conditions.

As for the latest greatest,if it isnt a cancer med or such,stay away and stick to proven,and Safe GENERICS. always SEEING THIS 'LATEST/GREATEST' MED HAS BEEN PULLED BECAUSE IT KILLS YOU (after APPROVAL BY THE BOUGHT OFF FDA)

YOU can keep your med costs very reasonable by letting your MD know you want the cheap meds on the Walmart/Costco pharmacy lists.

BTW,I treat my BP and thyroid cheaper paying out of pocket at Costco than I can with our insurance and its copay.

mightybooboo · #**168** 01/15/11, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenCityMuse

Precisely correct! The so called Social Security trust fund is simply ink on paper. There is nothing actually there.

And like HermitJohn said, most elderly people just died when they got cancer, pneumonia, etc. Now they are rushed into the hospital and live 2, 3, 4 years and then die, often after multi-millions of dollars are spent.

This is turning into another example of the 'tragedy of the commons'

Yup,waste at end of life is a worthless huge drain on the system for awful returns.

mightybooboo · #**169** 01/15/11, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

I'd lay ya dollars to donuts that, if people hadn't learned to expect the govt to take care of everything, there'd be a lot more responsible people.

And when the govt finally gets its hands out of our pockets, people will learn how to take care of themselves once again. Granted, that's going to be one sharp learning curve for many, but it's about time people stood up and took some personal responsibility.

ABSOLUTELY!!! We have become lazy incapable bums thanks to gov intervention!

mightybooboo · #**170** 01/15/11, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenii

$97 dollars is just a small part of what one has to pay. Medicare only pays a very,very,small percentage of Dr and Hospital bills and no medication at all... One need a supplemental insurance and a separate insurance for meds....here is what my husband gets and pays....now this is just him, I am almost as much....

He gets $1100 a month from Soc. Security that he paid into all of his life. He pays $97 of that a month to Medicare....Supplemental is $285 a month, then he has perscriptions from the Veterans Ad. that he pays $8 each for( he has 4 of them).,we also pay for SeniorCare in case he needs a perscription right now that the VA can't process for awhile...$30 a year for that.(and $500 deductible)..this is just to keep half way healthy...then don't forget the life insurance at $200 a month, home owners insurance at $400 a year,Real estate taxes , at $2400 a year, and car insurance at $600 a year.... We don't go anywhere at all, he has alzheimers..Can't afford any help with him, so I do it all by myself..we are not poor enough for Medicaid(almost, but not quite). Haven't even figured all of the extras he needs .We had 401K plans, but they are gone......Hope you understand better now.

Sorry,but YOU cant afford all these insurances.Reality,look at the Amish,NO insurance You need to do without and take some risks.Or pay the the price. Me,if Im in that position house insurance would be gone,supplemental is a rape,car would be a clunker with minimum,cant avoid property taxes.My house has survived 75 years and insurance wasnt needed.A risk,yet small.

Sorry,but if you dont have the resources you have to do without,IMO.

I wish you the best though,I truly do.

mightybooboo · #**171** 01/15/11, 02:54 PM

Plavix = RIPOFF!!!!

Take an aspirin a day,dirt cheap,safer and about as effective. You are being sold a pig in a poke on that one.