Medicare Question

[scootr]

Here's a web page that lays it out:

When does Medicare coverage start?

The date your coverage starts depends on which month you sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. Coverage always starts on the first of the month.

www.medicare.gov

Been on Medicare for 5 yrs. Works good enough I dropped my expensive health care provider. This year I got my medicare update booklet...it's a half inch thick encyclopedia of what's covered and what's not under various plan options! If you comprehend all that you just passed 50% of of your annual physical

 

[KennyG]

I just went to the Medicare office and sat down with a what ever they are called. I'm still working so I only signed up for Part A which you must do at 65. Your window for doing so is limited, especially after you turn 65. I think it's like a month or two. Part B you can sign up for at any point when you get rid of your employer sponsored health insurance.

Just to be sure, check and see if your employer plan meets Medicare Part D standards. If it doesn't, you will be charged a premium when you do sign up for Part D. I found out my plan didn't meet the requirements after I finally retired and now I will have higher Part D costs for life. I would have ended up ahead by getting Part D while I was still working. Probably doesn't affect you but it's not a rare situation.

 

[workinonit]

I never knew that Kenny. So apparently I must be good. When I started approaching 65 I sat down with an insurance broker friend of mine and we reviewed and got quotes on supplemental part G and part D plans. I already know what it's going to cost me. Nothing came up about my insurance not qualifying. I would be surprised if that was the case. I work for a huge automation and controls corporation. Appreciate the heads up.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Here's a web page that lays it out:

When does Medicare coverage start?

The date your coverage starts depends on which month you sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. Coverage always starts on the first of the month.

www.medicare.gov

Thank for posting the link.

 

[KennyG]

I never knew that Kenny. So apparently I must be good. When I started approaching 65 I sat down with an insurance broker friend of mine and we reviewed and got quotes on supplemental part G and part D plans. I already know what it's going to cost me. Nothing came up about my insurance not qualifying. I would be surprised if that was the case. I work for a huge automation and controls corporation. Appreciate the heads up.

I mention this because my company offered multiple plans, all standard Blue Cross/Blue Shield options (we were self insured but used BC/BS to administer the program). I had chosen the low cost/high deductible option because I was in good health. I guess that plan had too little included coverage for drugs to be Part D compliant.

 

[dougtrr2]

My wife and I retired in 2019. She retired in Jan and I continued to work until August, carrying the employers health insurance. We signed up for Medicare in advance and gave my exact retirement date. We found out that I had to contact them on the retirement date to confirm that I had actually retired and dropped my employers insurance. It was a bit of a mess because we didn't find that out until AFTER we had had some medical treatments done. It took some calling but it finally got straightened out. My wife had actually read thru the Medicare booklet and that little fact was not in there.

Doug in SW IA