Medicare Part B 2016
#16
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
I always read these threads as well aware that time in life is past approaching (58 now) and these threads although scary as hell, are informative. As it seems that there an increasing number of members coming up to retirement age, is there any chance of someone creating a wiki link on such subjects?
#17
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
I've thought of this too. SS is fairly straightforward, but Medicare is unbelievably complex with endless variations. My experience is that a high proportion of Americans are ill equipped to have to make these complex choices (and, what is worse, have to revisit the choices every year.)
#18
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Revisiting this thread as I just received my first 2016 invoice -- the new rate is $121.80 per month, so a very manageable increase. I trust your wife's is the same?
#19
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
I'm not sure - she still lives in the U.S., I live in the UK, and right now we're in the Netherlands, visiting museums and going for long walks! So no paperwork handy, fortunately!
#20
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2015
Location: Columbia, Mo
Posts: 9
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Been searching for a forum to find out about Medicare. I file for SS shortly (at 66) and was asked whether I wanted to sign up for Medicare too. My husband (67) is still working and we have BC/BS health coverage through his employer. He has had heart surgery and but is doing fine.
OK so I admit I'm clueless. Some say we should have signed up for it already, but that we are fine on our BC/BS thing. On SS website they appear to show some options that you can buy through them. Or is it best to find an insurance broker who can sort things out for you independently? Are the Medicare premiums higher for people on a higher income? Should we wait until we are fully retired and on a lower income? Is it better to stick with what we have (the devil you know) or to just go with any plan for starters just to have something and change to another company the following year if we find a better plan?
Am I at the right forum to pose these questions? Is all the Medicare stuff more expensive than our high deductible BC/BS plan that is partially paid by the company? If you don't sign up at the right time I think it screws everything up.
One fear of mine is that were anything to happen to prevent him from working we could lose our employer health coverage and be stuck in no man's land. Can anyone help point me in the right direction please?
Sorry if I'm on the wrong page here. Thanks all.
OK so I admit I'm clueless. Some say we should have signed up for it already, but that we are fine on our BC/BS thing. On SS website they appear to show some options that you can buy through them. Or is it best to find an insurance broker who can sort things out for you independently? Are the Medicare premiums higher for people on a higher income? Should we wait until we are fully retired and on a lower income? Is it better to stick with what we have (the devil you know) or to just go with any plan for starters just to have something and change to another company the following year if we find a better plan?
Am I at the right forum to pose these questions? Is all the Medicare stuff more expensive than our high deductible BC/BS plan that is partially paid by the company? If you don't sign up at the right time I think it screws everything up.
One fear of mine is that were anything to happen to prevent him from working we could lose our employer health coverage and be stuck in no man's land. Can anyone help point me in the right direction please?
Sorry if I'm on the wrong page here. Thanks all.
#21
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
It is complicated by the fact your husband is working and gets health cover. If it were me I would speak with an independent broker and get advice. Even if medicare were the better option for you, which medicare plan is the best one for your circumstances and which medications you use is something which professional advice can help you through the minefield.
Last edited by lansbury; Nov 11th 2016 at 1:10 am.
#22
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Medicare.gov explains all the ins and outs. If you are still covered by insurance from an employer, I think you will find that it is a legitimate substitute for Part B and thus there will be no penalties.
#23
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
This is correct. I was insured by healthcare from my husband's employer until I retired when I was 66 and although I was qualified for medicare at age 65, I didn't apply as I had other coverage. When I did apply at age 66 when I was ready to retire, I incur no penalty for not having applied at age 65.
#24
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2015
Location: Columbia, Mo
Posts: 9
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Thanks for your responses. It does seem to be very complicated and dependent on so many variables. I had been about to sign up with a company that fielded us by telephone but checking reviews suggested customer service was rubbish and some agents were actually fraudulent (not ideal). Also I think it's important to find something reliable and universally accepted.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
#25
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Thanks for your responses. It does seem to be very complicated and dependent on so many variables. I had been about to sign up with a company that fielded us by telephone but checking reviews suggested customer service was rubbish and some agents were actually fraudulent (not ideal). Also I think it's important to find something reliable and universally accepted.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
#26
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Thanks for your responses. It does seem to be very complicated and dependent on so many variables. I had been about to sign up with a company that fielded us by telephone but checking reviews suggested customer service was rubbish and some agents were actually fraudulent (not ideal). Also I think it's important to find something reliable and universally accepted.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
A look at your doctors office web site might yield a similar recommendation. Another point to watch out for some doctors offices are now only accepting medicare patients who have an advantage plan, not basic medicare. As well as limiting which advantage plans they accept. You need to check what your doctor accepts.
#27
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Excuse me. We might be of retirement age but we are not mentally infirm
#29
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: Medicare Part B 2016
Thanks for your responses. It does seem to be very complicated and dependent on so many variables. I had been about to sign up with a company that fielded us by telephone but checking reviews suggested customer service was rubbish and some agents were actually fraudulent (not ideal). Also I think it's important to find something reliable and universally accepted.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
I'm waiting for an independent agent to call me back now and will also contact someone we know and trust from our last state of residence to see if they can help us out.
Your comments are encouraging. I've often thought they system a probable minefield for people at a stage in life when they are not best equipped to deal with such complexities. Appreciate your input. Thanks all.
AARP’s Medicare For Dummies®, 2nd Edition Helps Readers Get the Most out of Medicare and Avoid Costly Pitfalls- AARP
Additionally, read AARP and Medicare's own information online. You are correct, it is really ridiculous that healthcare is fairly straightforward for people in their working years (since they usually have little choice) but it becomes a minefield of potential pitfalls when you are retired or over 65.