[Danaus29]

I am in that situation right now. I have been on disability a few years and already negotiated the Medicare mess.

Once you turn 65, or you have been on disability long enough to get Medicare you must sign up for part A. When I had to do it I was able to find the part where part A is required but I don't have that in front of me right now. Part A doesn't cost anything but it automatically becomes your primary HOSPITALIZATION coverage.

Part B, C, D and whatever other letters they use is not mandatory as long as you have equitable coverage. If you have insurance through your employer, a severance package or a spouse's employer you do not need to sign up for other Medicare letters. If you do not have other equitable coverage after you become eligible for part B and a prescription plan, you will be penalized according to however long you have gone without coverage. You will pay the penalty forever after. If you are hospitalized after becoming Medicare eligible, part A is your primary insurance. Anything not covered will be submitted to your other insurance which is your secondary insurance.

I'll see if I can find the information later.

 

[Danaus29]

Ok, I found the Medicare site. Part A is not madatory (they said it was when I got stuck with it). COBRA or an ACA plan is not equitable coverage.

Here is the site.

When does Medicare coverage start? | Medicare

www.medicare.gov

I am still covered by hubby's employer. His HR representative had to contact their underwtiter's department to see if I would still be eligible for their insurance. They said yes so I am covered that way.

 

[Danaus29]

Why on earth would anyone WANT Medicaid?
Medicaid is totally different than Medicare. Medicaid is for people dependent upon welfare who don't have a job that has medical insurance benefits, or otherwise are unable to obtain insurance.
Medicaid is the bottom of the barrel for health care and many, many doctors will not even accept it as the re-payment rate is so low.

This depends highly on your location. If you live near a big city you will find many doctors that accept Medicaid and nearly all hospitals accept Medicaid patients. There are different Medicare/Medicaid plans and different plans have different participating providers.

I know a few people that had big health issues taken care of through Medicaid.

 

[Danaus29]

@Forcast, if your income is low enough you can get a Medicare/Medicaid plan. The type of plan varies from state to state. Ohio has several plans through different companies (similar to the different Medicare Advantage plans). I don't know about other states, only how it's done in Ohio. You can choose plans that cover different doctors, hospitals, dentists, optometrists and medication formularies. Some have those extra benefits like health care items and groceries. By going with a different plan you get better service and more choices for medical providers.

Ok, I just looked it up and in Ohio it is called managed care. The plans are offered by insurance companies like Humana, Anthem and Aetna. You have to enroll through the Medicaid online portal.

But most of the time the billing departments for doctors offices and hospitals do not look at the insurance card close enough to see that it is a Medicare/Medicaid plan so you end up spending hours on the phone disputing bills. Last year I spent several hours helping someone with a doctor's office that kept refusing to submit their bills properly. That was a nightmare!

 

[Danaus29]

Right around your 64th birthday your mailbox will be packed with ads from various insurance companies wanting you to choose their plan. They don't seem to accept that you still have a year before you can sign up and they don't tell you their plans will be changing before you can sign up.

 

[Danaus29]

Hubby and I both know we will need medical care after he retires.

 

[Danaus29]

@Pony and @robin416 I had to read the whole section on their site. You have to get part B first if you have to BUY part A. Part A is free if you or your spouse have paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. The pdf won't let me copy and paste the info. Grrrr.

 

[Danaus29]

"If you don’t qualify for Part A without having to pay a monthly premium, you might be able to buy Part A. To buy Part A, you must also sign up for Part B."

From this site;

Ready to sign up for Part A & Part B | Medicare

www.medicare.gov

The whole mess is really confusing and frustrating because Medicare wants you to sign up just to ask questions about anything and then you get directed through their preset question tree.