Re: Re: SSD and medicare - I found some answers

[Guest guest]

Loretta,

Thanks for the info. I found the following info at the Medicare web site. The

best that I can determine, Part B is optional, but you do have to pay for it if

you want it. In reading further, I found that even when I turn 65, I do not

have enroll in Part B of medicare. I am a retired federal govt employee and

according to the Medicare website the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan does

not require you to enroll in medicare part B even once you turn 65. I've got

over a year to go before I am even eligible for medicare so I'm going to have to

really look at the info on Part B to find out if it will be worth the extra

cost! At least I now know I'll have a decision to make when I become eligible

for medicare next year.

Here's just some of the info I found at the medicare web site, www.medicare.gov

Below is info copied and pasted from their question and answer section.

If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:

a.. You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability

benefit for 24 months.

b.. You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.

While you do not have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those

conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. The Part B monthly premium

in 2004 is $66.60. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad

Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you do not get any of the

above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3

months.

Medicare Has Two Parts. They are:

a.. hospital insurance or Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), which helps

pay for care in a hospital and skilled nursing facility, home health care and

hospice care; and

b.. medical insurance or Medicare Part B (medical insurance), which helps pay

for doctors, outpatient hospital care and other medical services.

Most people do not have to pay for Medicare Part A. Most people pay for Medicare

Part B.

QUESTION

I am under 65 and have Medicare based on a disability. I did not take Part B

when I first enrolled in Medicare. I would like to add Part B when I turn 65.

How do I enroll in Part B? Will I have to pay a higher premium?

Answer

If you are still entitled to disability benefits and therefore Medicare

Part A when you turn age 65, you will not have to apply for Part B. You will be

automatically enrolled in Part B. You will receive an Initial Enrollment Package

containing a new Medicare card reflecting the Part A entitlement date based on

disability and the Part B entitlement date based on age 65. You will receive the

package about three months prior to the month you attain age 65. You will not

have to pay a higher surcharge for your Part B because the attainment of age 65

begins a new Initial Enrollment Period. (The package will explain how you can

decline Part B if you do not want it.) If you are not entitled to disability

benefits and Medicare when you turn age 65, then you should contact Social

Security at 1- to enroll in Medicare. You will begin a new Initial

Enrollment Period and will not have to pay a higher premium for Part B. See also

our FAQ: How do I enroll in Medicare?.

For retired Federal Government employees, here's some good info

QUESTION

I am a retired Federal employee with health insurance under the Federal

Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) and am eligible for Medicare. Do I need

to enroll in Medicare Part B?

ANSWER

Federal retirees are entitled to Medicare under the same rules as all other

retirees. You are first eligible to enroll in Part B during your initial

enrollment period which begins 3 months before you turn age 65 and ends three

months after you turn age 65. If you do not enroll in Part B during your initial

enrollment period, you may only enroll during the General Enrollment Period that

occurs January 1 through March 31 of each year. Part B coverage is effective

July 1, of the year of enrollment. You may have to pay higher Part B premiums

because you did not enroll when you were first eligible. The Social Security

Administration handles Medicare eligibility and enrollment. To sign up for

Medicare or to add Medicare Part B, call Social Security at 1-.

You don't have to take Part B coverage if you don't want it, and your FEHB plan

can't require you to take it. There are some advantages to enrolling in Part B:

a.. You must be enrolled in Parts A and B to join a Medicare+Choice plan.

b.. You have the advantage of coordination of benefits between Medicare and

your FEHB plan, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.

c.. Your FEHB plan may waive its copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for

Part B services.

d.. Some services covered under Part B might not be covered or only partially

covered by your plan, such as orthopedic and prosthetic devices, durable medical

equipment, home health care, and medical supplies (check your FEHB plan brochure

for details).

e.. If you are enrolled in an FEHB HMO, you may go outside of the plan's

network for Part B services and receive reimbursement by Medicare (only when

Medicare is the primary payer).

In addition, it is important to keep in mind that the FEHBP plan contracts are

renewed yearly. What applies today may not apply during the next year. Plans may

change coverage, cost, or benefits. They can also terminate their contract with

the Office of Personnel Management. You should take this into consideration when

deciding whether to enroll in Part B.

The Office of Personnel Management provides useful information to retiring

Federal employees on their website, including a booklet, FEHB & Medicare with

health benefit information. For information about how to enroll in Medicare see:

How do I enroll in Medicare? and I want to add Part B to my Medicare. When can I

do that? To add Medicare Part B, you should contact the Social Security

Administration at 1-.

Hope this info is useful to some in the group.

W

alabama