RE: BCBS, Medicare part A,Tricare??? vs VA benefits

[Guest guest]

Hi, Darryl,

Tricare will require that the patient sign up for Medicare and Medicare is always primary to Tricare. Tricare will not pay at all on a transplant if the patient does not have Medicare.

Even though the patient is under 65, Tricare then functions as Tricare for Life instead of Tricare Prime as long as the patient has Medicare.

Ruth

Ruth Wilhelm Financial Coordinator The Virginia Transplant Center Henrico Doctors' Hospital Richmond, VA phone fax Ruth.Wilhelm@...

From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Battin, Daryl J.Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 8:37 AMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: BCBS, Medicare part A,Tricare??? vs VA benefits

New patient with Tricare Prime from her spouse (retired military) – she is 58, he is 62 so neither of them has Medicare yet. She started dialysis February 2008.

Will the insurance scenario be the same for her? They are telling me that I need to check each CPT code on their website to make sure that any test, procedures, etc covered.

Daryl Battin, LICSW

Financial Coordinator/Social Worker

Lahey Clinic -- KidneyTransplant

41 Mall Road

Burlington, MA 01805

PH: /FAX:

-----Original Message-----From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Patti MontemayorSent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 1:10 PMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: Re: BCBS, Medicare part A,Tricare??? vs VA benefits

Tricare for Life makes you take both Medicare A & B so prescriptions arenever an issues. We always have a certain amount of logistical problemswith VA and VA usually has to authorize care at an "other" facility thanthemselves. I think Tricare for Life is very simplistic and a wonderfulbenefit for the veteran. Co pays for meds are usually $9 at say Walmartfor one month or they can use mail order and it is still $9.00 for threemonthsPatti Montemayor, RN CCTCTransplant Coordinator and White Hospital2401 S. 31st StreetTemple, TX 76508254/724-8448FAX 254/724-8772>>> phortonwkhs 4/2/2008 11:14 AM >>>Hi, I have a liver tx eval patient that has BCBS through his wife's employer. The patient has been declared disabled over 4 years ago, he is ex military and has the option of using his VA benefits or if he purchases Medicare part B( He has part A then Tricare for Life will begin again. What advice would you all give to this patient? Is he going to be penalized if he doesnt purchase part B and if not when canhe pick up part B again?? Any help is appreciated.Thanks Trish HortonWK/LSU Regional Transplant CenterShreveport,LA

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