MEDICARE - Has anyone dealt with it -How does it work ?

7/13/2011


I know this is going to sound stupid , I received my Medicare card today, talk about
confusing ! I spoke to them today and I was told the Medicare insurance that comes
out of your check is $115- I almost had a stroke ! There is so much confusion with the
different kinds of Medicare, can anyone who gets it explain this to me in simple English ?
The more I talked to them the more confused I got, I don't want to make a stupid mistake.

Cheers..Joe....

Joe, that is the current cost of Medicare Part B. It covers office visits. It is optional, but worth the money. It would cost much more for an equal coverage in private insurance. Medicare Part A is free for those who qualify. It covers hospital costs. There is also a Part D for drug prescription coverage. I get that from my pension, so I'm not enrolled in it and don't know exactly how it works. That is an extreme oversimplification, I'm afraid.

Since I am on a teacher's pension, my situation is a little different. I cannot collect both Social Security and my pension, and my pension pays more, so since I don't get SS, my Part B payment cannot be deducted. (I still have a monthly deduction for my TRS health care, which pays for the things Medicare doesn't pay) I have to pay for Part B myself, quarterly. I would much rather have it deducted on a monthly basis, to be honest. It would be easier than coming up with $345 every three months.

Ann

7/14/2011


Ann..

Thanks.....I think they try to make it even more
confusing and I was told even though it states in the
letter if you don't want to join, you don't have to ! I
was told by someone else that it's actually mandatory,
I would be stupid if I said no.. I was also told there's a
Medigap ?


Cheers..Joe

Joe,

You have a deal. I get to pay twice that every month.

Because Dave saved his money and is now withdrawing it, we are rich people .

If you don't sign for Medicare the price will go up.

It works great for 80% of your cost, You will need extra insurance for the remaining 20%.

Joe, it is not stupid at all. I think we need better or simpler explanations on things. I was under the iimpression that Medicare part A took care of hospitalization, and part B was to take care of the doctor's part of your costs. I was also told part B was optional.

Perhaps I need to go to the soc. sec. office and talk to someone. I did not take part B, thinking that anything I needed a Dr. for would be an emergency situation, as my health is quite good--my disability is in my limitaions of activity.

I think medigap is for when you spend your limit and still have costs that are not covered.

I probably have it all wrong.

Contact AARP. They helped me a lot. I think it's worth the $16 a year membership fee; but they will help you even if you are not a member.

Be sure to get Part B and the gap insuance. The gap is the diference between the 80% Medicare will pay and the 20% you will owe.

Say you have a $40,000 bill Medicare decides they will allow $30,000. They will then pay $24,000 leaving you with $6000.00 to pay.

My step-mother-in-law allowed her gap insurance to lapse and was out of money quickly..

I have AARP Secure Horizons Advantage. They are paid whatever Medicare takes from Social Security. It acts like normal insurance. The hospital part is a big co-pay per day short term, but long-term works out well. I think what I have is best for someone like me seldom sick. I pay $10 to my general doctor co-pay and $30 per visit to specialists. I have a prescription plan that has mostly $4 co-pays to $6 co-pays for generics and more for name brands. I like it because it reminds me of the insurance I had before Medicare.