Re: Medicare

[Guest guest]

Mike

the pre existing conditions apply to the private insurance industry and the supplemental insurance needed to cover what medicare does not cover

yes you are very fortunate that you will have both medicare and VA benefits

my ex has both and the VA picks up a lot of stuff that medicare doesn't

during the 2 year wait for medicare to kick in, i wrote letters to congress people complaining about the unfairness of the 2 year wait

you retire on disability, have less income, but have to pay for private medical while waiting for medicare to begin -- it really doesn't make sense

Pink Joyce (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: MedicareTo: Breathe-Support Date: Monday, June 22, 2009, 5:33 PM

Last year, I was classified as being disabled by social security with an effective date of May 2008. I was also told that two years from that day, I would be eligible for Medicare. I will be turning 63 just before this two year period passes. Until now, I have been carrying private insurance as I retired in late 2005. Recently, I discovered I qualify for VA benefits. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining for there are many people on this site who don't have insurance of any type and I at least have options. But this set of circumstances is creating a lot of confusion as to what I should do come May of 2010. Bruce, you stated that when you are eligible for medicare and sign up on your first opportunity then there is no exclusion for pre-existing clauses. I also have been led to understand that once a decision is made with regard to Medicare, there is no turning

back. Do you know if this "pre-existing" condition applies in a scenario like mine where I qualify for Medicare based on being disabled rather than the more typical way of reaching the age of 65? I would rather - if I am able to live to 65 - to apply for Medicare then for right now with the changes in the White House we really have no clue where we are headed with healthcare.

MIke

[Guest guest]

Mango Man, My husband was disabled at age 61. He also had private

insurance paid by his work (he retired from Briggs and Stratton corp at

age 55) until he was 65. At 63 he simply received his Medicare card, we

did nothing, it just showed up in the mail. At that time his primary

insurance went to secondary until he was 65 and then he got a Medicare

Advantage plan with Humana which he had til he passed. It really was

quite painless and not any worse than any other insurance, we still kept

his same doctors, etc. Now Medicare Part D is horrible if you hit the

donut hole which he did with chemo meds but luckily we had the means to

get through that. Now I don't know what happens if you turn down

Medicare, maybe Bruce knows more about that.

Dyane Phoenix IPF 02

>

> Last year,�I was classified as being disabled by social security

with an effective date of May 2008.� I was also told that two years

from that day, I would be�eligible for Medicare. I will be turning

63 just�before this two year period passes.� Until now,�I

have been carrying private insurance as I retired in late 2005.�

Recently, I discovered I qualify for VA benefits.� Don't get me

wrong,� I am not complaining for there are many people on this site

who don't have insurance of any type�and I at least have

options.� But this set of circumstances is creating a lot of

confusion as to what I should do come May of 2010.� Bruce, you

stated that when you are eligible for medicare and sign up on your first

opportunity then there is no exclusion for pre-existing

clauses.��I also have been led to understand that�once a

decision is made with regard to Medicare, there is no turning

back.��Do you know if�this " pre-existing "

condition�applies

> in�a�scenario like mine where I�qualify for Medicare

based on being disabled rather than the more�typical way of

reaching�the age of�65?� I would rather�- if I am

able to live to 65 - to apply for Medicare then for�right

now�with the changes in the White House we really have no clue

where we are headed with healthcare.

> �

> MIke�

>

[Guest guest]

Mike/Dyane

Generally if you're eligible for medicare and not eligible for other

insurance you're going to want to enroll in both Part B and Part D

(prescription). Part A is automatic. If you fail to enroll in either of

those during your first enrollment period, then two things happen.

First, you have to wait until the next general enrollment period.

Second, you will pay a penalty for the late enrollment which will

increase your monthly premiums forever.

> >

> > Last year,�I was classified as being disabled by social

security

> with an effective date of May 2008.� I was also told that two

years

> from that day, I would be�eligible for Medicare. I will be

turning

> 63 just�before this two year period passes.� Until

now,�I

> have been carrying private insurance as I retired in late 2005.�

> Recently, I discovered I qualify for VA benefits.� Don't get me

> wrong,� I am not complaining for there are many people on this

site

> who don't have insurance of any type�and I at least have

> options.� But this set of circumstances is creating a lot of

> confusion as to what I should do come May of 2010.� Bruce, you

> stated that when you are eligible for medicare and sign up on your

first

> opportunity then there is no exclusion for pre-existing

> clauses.��I also have been led to understand that�once a

> decision is made with regard to Medicare, there is no turning

> back.��Do you know if�this " pre-existing "

> condition�applies

> > in�a�scenario like mine where I�qualify for Medicare

> based on being disabled rather than the more�typical way of

> reaching�the age of�65?� I would rather�- if I am

> able to live to 65 - to apply for Medicare then for�right

> now�with the changes in the White House we really have no clue

> where we are headed with healthcare.

> > �

> > MIke�

> >

>