dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 1:34 PM Ok, thanks. I was really hoping I didn't have to do that. We have a small office that serves several towns and the wait time is usually horrendous. Forget calling. They won't answer. You have to come in. lol

3canstorun - 2016-10-17 1:58 PM

You still have to sign up for medicare even if you are not going to use it.  If you don't, when you do start using it, your premiums will be higher for not signing up.  It is a penalty.  There is easy step by step instructions on their web page. 

I did it recently for a few of our employees here at work. 

Just another way for the government to keep track of you and penalize people who don't use the system - this case medicare at age 65.  

dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 2:23 PM


Do you mind sending me the link to that webpage? I went to Medicare.gov and came away more confused. I didn't see anywhere to sign up. I know that for Social Security, I had to do it 9 months before I wanted to draw it, so I went to the webpage and what I saw said that I would be automatically enrolled since I was already drawing SS. That said, how do I make choices if I'm already enrolled? And just to show how naive I am, I didn't think we had to pay ANYTHING for the premium....only for our 20% it didn't pay....I should have known better.

dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 3:23 PM Do you mind sending me the link to that webpage? I went to Medicare.gov and came away more confused. I didn't see anywhere to sign up. I know that for Social Security, I had to do it 9 months before I wanted to draw it, so I went to the webpage and what I saw said that I would be automatically enrolled since I was already drawing SS. That said, how do I make choices if I'm already enrolled? And just to show how naive I am, I didn't think we had to pay ANYTHING for the premium....only for our 20% it didn't pay....I should have known better.

dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 11:33 AM

I will be 65 in April, 2017, and am wondering how I get on Medicare. One place I went online said that I would automatically be enrolled on my birthday if I was already drawing Social Security (which I am). Is this correct? Or do I have to do something else to get enrolled? I saw somewhere else that I would have to select a plan and Idk how to do that. Also, should I just stay on my current insurance until Medicare takes effect or what? I'm so confused!

dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 11:33 AM I will be 65 in April, 2017, and am wondering how I get on Medicare. One place I went online said that I would automatically be enrolled on my birthday if I was already drawing Social Security (which I am). Is this correct? Or do I have to do something else to get enrolled? I saw somewhere else that I would have to select a plan and Idk how to do that. Also, should I just stay on my current insurance until Medicare takes effect or what? I'm so confused!

Frodo - 2016-10-17 1:47 PM I talked to SS just last week because I'm on a company medical plan which is going up by 30% and have about decided to go back to Medicare.  Call the number on the SS website and when they tell you it will be a 45 minute wait "or" you can have them call you back, take the second option.  They called me back and were very helpful.  It will drag $120 out of your SS check for Part B which is a must.  My dilemma is choosing a supplemental plan.  There are so many out there.  I keep asking people and everybody has something different. Medco, Humana, BC/BS, USAA, Coventry........so many. 

jd&ez - 2016-10-17 7:27 PM


You will be automatically enrolled in A and B. It will be effective on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 unless your birthday is on the 1st in which case it will be effective on the 1st of the prior month.

If you don't want part B you will have to tell them. The part B premium for anyone new to Medicare this year is $122/mo.  You will be a 2017 enrollee and the part B premiums for next year have not been announced yet. The $122/mo is taken from your SS check. It is higher than $122 if you a high wage earner.

Some people pay a premium for Part A. But you would know already if you are one of those. You will get your medicare card about 3 months before it's effective date. Some get them sooner.

Part A is your hospitiazation coverage. A hospital admission has about a $1300 deductable. This will also change for 2017 but not announced yet. Part A is also the first 20 days in a nursing home.

Part B is your doctor coverage. This year it has a $166 deductable. That will also most likely change. After you met your $166 deductable Medicare pays 80% and you pay 20%.

That is the Medicare program in a nutshell.

Part D is your Rx coverage. It is provided by private carrier. Way too many moving parts to go into detail here. I would discuss this by PM if you want more details.

Medicare advantage is Part C. Also provided by private carriers. You do not use your medicare card if enrolled in part C. Medicare pays that provider a set amouint to provide your Medicare coverage. Most Part C, MA Plans}, are rolled into one today that includes your drug coverage, MAPD. Most MA plans today are PPO's or HMO's. Some are PFFS, Private Fee For Service.

Then you have supplements. Also called Medigap. Again, way too mcu inforamtion to spell out here. They are lettered plans, A, B, C, D, F, M, N, etc. Not to confused with the letters of Part A and B and C and D,

Long story short, Plan F is the most popular plan in the US because it pays everything. The Part A deductable, the Part B deductable and any excess charges. Medigap plans do not include Rx coverage if it was sold after 2006. Your Rx, Part D, would be a separate purchase if you chose to go with a Medigap plan.

All Medicare supplements, Medigap, are the same by law. Plan F is the exact same plan no matter what company you buy it from. They can, and do, charge different premiums for the same exact plan. And it varies wildly. It's not unusual for me to save someone $150/mo or more on the same plan. Usually we can save people $40-50/mo between the best priced plans and the average plan that someone bought.

The problem is that after open enrollment a person has to qualify medically to change plans. Open enrollment is the first 6 months after your Medicare starts. You can buy any Medigap plan from any company in your state with no medical questions during that time.

For Medicare advantage and Rx coverage you can buy any plan during the 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month, the month you are 65 and 3 months after. A 7 month window. Then you can only change those plans one time a year unless there's a "special" circumstance.

It can be overwhelming. That's where the advice of a good indepent agent would serve you well. And I mean truly independent. An agent that is contracted with all the major medigap players in your state and also the MA plans in your area. And they vary by county.

I believe you to be in Florida? If so, you will have limited choices compared to many other states. UHC is going to be a big player in Florida. That is the plan that AARP markets. In most states they are so overpriced to not be considered. In Fl they are competitve. If you are not in Fl then disregard.

Then there's "extra help". many levels of that as well and all completely income based. Rule of thumb, an individual making over $1200/mo is not going to qualify for extra help. They could be an exception to that rule?

 

dianeguinn - 2016-10-17 8:02 PM I wish I was in FL! Lol I'm in OK. Thank u SOOO much for all the info!! Really appreciate the help!

jd&ez - 2016-10-17 8:31 PM Then disregard that part. Everything else is the same and you have more choices in Ok than Fl for medicare plans.



We normally know about the COLA raise in mid Oct and also the part B premiums and the deductables. I have a feeling we won't know this year until after Nov 8.



I told you $122 on the part B premium. You will hear of people paying $104.90/mo for the part B premium. That's what the premium was for 2 years before this year. So, they are correct when they tell you they are paying that.



There's a "hold harmless" provision that says that part B premiums cannot be increased if there is no COLA raise and can only be increased in accordane with the raise.



Since was a nominal increase Jan 1 of this year the people paying $104.90/mo could not have their premiums increased. The $122/mo was only for people new to medicare after Dec 1, 2015. There's rumore of part B premium being $140+/mo next year.



But they can't raise the premium on current payers unless they get a huge pay raise. If there is no pay raise the people paying $104.90 will contine to do so and the people paying $122 will continue. Only people new to Medicare would pay the 2017 Part B premium. Whatever it is?



Getting confused now?