[TMIC] healthcare
Congratulations with your new healthcare system. It is almost a copy of the Dutch system. Our minister of heathcare had been a few times in America and the White House to excplain the benefids of the system. At the end it will makes it all cheaper for customer, gouverment and insuerance companies. It provides healthcare for everyone. For those who had not healthcare and get an accident, taxpayers had to pay for it. Also people because of not having healthcare waited much too long to see a doctor, at the end ended in a hospital with much higher costs, wich came at the shoulders of the taxpayers. Here in Holland, because the insuerance companies demand you take the cheapest possible medications, the price of these is now so much lower, that Gemans and Belges come to Holland for the free medications, only Spain and Portugal are cheaper. Wim from Holland _ Alles over Windows http://www.windows.nl/About.aspx
Re: [TMIC] healthcare
Thanks Wim, it is quite exciting to see our country moving forward and making the health of our nation so important. From: wim from holland Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 7:08 AM To: TMIC Subject: [TMIC] healthcare Congratulations with your new healthcare system. It is almost a copy of the Dutch system. Our minister of heathcare had been a few times in America and the White House to excplain the benefids of the system. At the end it will makes it all cheaper for customer, gouverment and insuerance companies. It provides healthcare for everyone. For those who had not healthcare and get an accident, taxpayers had to pay for it. Also people because of not having healthcare waited much too long to see a doctor, at the end ended in a hospital with much higher costs, wich came at the shoulders of the taxpayers. Here in Holland, because the insuerance companies demand you take the cheapest possible medications, the price of these is now so much lower, that Gemans and Belges come to Holland for the free medications, only Spain and Portugal are cheaper. Wim from Holland Minder SPAM in de verbeterde Windows Live Hotmail
Re: [TMIC] healthcare
Me too! Cindy, I was told I would be in the position you are now.Catherine From: Cindy McLeroy cindymcle...@socal.rr.com To: bobby jim elbobber...@earthlink.net; lynnemye...@yahoo.com; tmic-list@eskimo.com; balmat...@aol.com Sent: Saturday, August 8, 2009 1:20:51 AM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare I was on LTD from my company and covered by the company insurance. After 2 years on LTD SSDI I became eligible for Medicare part B. I received the letters from SSDI to complete for part B. Since I already had coverage, I declined the medicare. About 3 years later my company was challenged by Medicare on who was the primary provider and who was secondary. The end result was Medicare was primary. All of those folks, including me, from my company that had declined the medicare now have to pay a 10% per year penalty because we did not take medicare when it was first available to us. For me, that is $130 a month instead of the $98 that others pay. Every year there is an additional 10% penalty. What is intersting here is that almost everyone of us has a different story of when and how medicare begins and what type of coverage we get. What really is the straight skinny??? I'm beginning to wonder who will really tell us the truth. Cindy McLeroy - Original Message - From: bobby jim To: lynnemye...@yahoo.com ; tmic-list@ESKIMO.COM ; balmat...@aol.com Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 7:47 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Me as well. When I applied for social security I waived the Medicare part as I was-is covered by my own HMO plan.The woman taking in my claim said 'no prob'. BobbyJim From: balmat...@aol.com To: lynnemye...@yahoo.com ; tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 6:30 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Lynne, Can I clarify? You are on Medicare part A and aren't paying for it? But, when you become 65 and you will then start paying what you would have when you were originally eligible? I declined since I had insurance, but didn't realize this was an option to do. Thanks, Barbara A -Original Message- From: lynne myers lynnemye...@yahoo.com To: tmic tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 6:21 am Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare I have been on Medicare for about 6 years now and it is also my secondary. Because my husband still works and we have insurance through there that is considered our primary. At this point I only have part A coverage which has paid for nothing. Part B would not be paying anything now if I did have it so it was recommended that I wait until I turn 65 to subscribe. At that time I will start paying at the rate it was when I first became eligible because of the fact that I have private insurance now. Lynne --- On Thu, 8/6/09, Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net wrote: From: Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: 'Todd Tarno' toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net, tmic-list@eskimo.com, 'Laurie Zissimos' lziss...@aol.com Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:23 PM Sorry Todd, I have been on Medicare for 10 years and it is my secondary. Not sure of your circumstance, but it is not ALWAYS primary. I am on SSDI and am not over 65. Lori From:Todd Tarno [mailto:toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:12 PM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com; Laurie Zissimos Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare Hi Laurie, I found out the hard way that Medicare is ALWAYS primary. I too, tried to keep my COBRA Medicare, but when I went to get a MRI, they told me that Medicare was primary. When I tried to get back my COBRA payments, they wouldn't return the payments and didn't want to pay for my medications for that month. So, I had to tell them either return my COBRA payments or pay for my medications, which are over $3,000 a month. They paid for the medications. Thanks goodness. I don't remember what Part B is. I do think you will need Part D for medications. Since you already using Blue Cross and you like them. I would stay with them with Part D. I would talk to Blue Cross to see they can help you find a plan that works for you. Hope this helps a little, Todd in CC, TX --- On Tue, 8/4/09, Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com wrote: From
RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
Thanks for the information Lori, I'm just going by what the reception told me at the MRI place. They had already had me into a hospital gown but in my IV and then told me that, if I had Medicare, it would be my primary and that I had to have a nurse on site for Medicare to pay. I had to leave the MRI place in my hospital gown with my IV still in and go to the hospital to have my MRI there. This was a nightmare, lol Todd in CC, TX --- On Thu, 8/6/09, Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net wrote: From: Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: 'Todd Tarno' toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net, tmic-list@eskimo.com, 'Laurie Zissimos' lziss...@aol.com Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 2:23 PM Sorry Todd, I have been on Medicare for 10 years and it is my secondary. Not sure of your circumstance, but it is not ALWAYS primary. I am on SSDI and am not over 65. Lori From: Todd Tarno [mailto:toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:12 PM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com; Laurie Zissimos Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare Hi Laurie, I found out the hard way that Medicare is ALWAYS primary. I too, tried to keep my COBRA Medicare, but when I went to get a MRI, they told me that Medicare was primary. When I tried to get back my COBRA payments, they wouldn't return the payments and didn't want to pay for my medications for that month. So, I had to tell them either return my COBRA payments or pay for my medications, which are over $3,000 a month. They paid for the medications. Thanks goodness. I don't remember what Part B is. I do think you will need Part D for medications. Since you already using Blue Cross and you like them. I would stay with them with Part D. I would talk to Blue Cross to see they can help you find a plan that works for you. Hope this helps a little, Todd in CC, TX --- On Tue, 8/4/09, Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com wrote: From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com Subject: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 5:46 PM see below -Original Message- From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com To: rn11...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:31 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Maybe you can help me. I was diagnosed with TM in Dec 2005 and went on SSDI a year and a half later. This September I have to enroll in Medicare and I don't know whether or not to get Part B/D at this time. I am on my husband's COBRA until January unless I file for an extension which I may do since I have that option being disabled. It's pretty expensive, but Its Blue Cross and they have covered almost all of my medical exp since the diagnosis. Our Blue Cross plan is a PPO so we don't need precerts/pre auths. It makes it much easier seeing specialists. He also has another plan through a part time employer but I don't think the benies are that great. My first question is whether or not I should sign up for Part B, Part B Advantaged, or Part B and D. I am trying not to lose the BlueCross, but I also don't know which of the new health coverages would be primary, secondary! or other. Is Medicare always considered primary or is it secondary?? Laurie -Original Message- From: rn11...@yahoo.com rn11...@yahoo.com To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm Subject: [TMIC] healthcare Hi, I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8 days).It also includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the benefits will change. I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of what I was earning in 1995. I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house! Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do! My best wishes to everyone, Cheryl in HOT Easthampton,MA.
Re: [TMIC] healthcare/Medicare
I am sorry to say that the more I read, the more confused I get.? Just for kicks and giggles, and I really don't mean that, but I can't help but say it, I am going to call me Social Security office and see what information I get about the situation.? If needed, I will go there in person.? I live in a small-ish town and it's not too busy generally.? If needed, I can make an appointment.? I am really amazed at the different stories floating around.? This is serious business for all of us, as for those of us who aren't affected now it may not be, but it will be down the road. And how will all of this change if the government takes over with their plan?? Will we no longer have to pay for all of these plans and pay on a sliding scale or what?? I don't understand how that's work Hugs, Barbara A -Original Message- From: Cindy McLeroy cindymcle...@socal.rr.com To: bobby jim elbobber...@earthlink.net; lynnemye...@yahoo.com; tmic-list@eskimo.com; balmat...@aol.com Sent: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 10:20 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare I?was on LTD from my company and covered by the company insurance.? After 2 years on LTD SSDI I became eligible for Medicare part B.? I received the letters from SSDI to complete for part B.? Since I already had coverage, I declined the medicare.? About 3 years later my company was challenged by Medicare on who was the primary provider and who was secondary.? The end result was Medicare was primary.? All of those folks, including me, from my company that had declined the medicare now have to pay a 10% per year penalty because we did not take medicare when it was first available to us.? For me, that is $130 a month instead of the $98 that others pay.? Every year there is an additional 10% penalty. ? What is intersting here is that almost everyone of us has a different story of when and how medicare begins and what type of coverage we get.? What really is the straight skinny I'm beginning to wonder who will really tell us the truth. ? Cindy McLeroy - Original Message - From: bobby jim To: lynnemye...@yahoo.com ; tmic-list@ESKIMO.COM ; balmat...@aol.com Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 7:47 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Me as well.?? When I applied for social security I waived the Medicare part as I was-is covered by my own HMO plan.??? The woman taking in my claim said 'no prob'. ? BobbyJim?? From: balmat...@aol.com? To: lynnemye...@yahoo.com ; tmic-l...@eskimo.com??? Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 6:30 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Lynne, Can I clarify?? You are?on Medicare part A and aren't paying for it?? But, when you become 65 and you will then start paying what you would have when you were originally eligible?? I declined since I had insurance, but didn't realize this was an option to do.? Thanks, Barbara A -Original Message- From: lynne myers lynnemye...@yahoo.com To: tmic tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 6:21 am Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare I have been on Medicare for about 6 years now and it is also my secondary.? Because my husband still works and we have insurance through there that is considered our primary.? At this point I only have part A coverage which has paid for nothing.? Part B would not be paying anything now if I did have it so it was recommended that I wait until I turn 65 to subscribe.? At that time I will start paying at the rate it was when I first became eligible because of the fact that I have private insurance now. Lynne --- On Thu, 8/6/09, Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net wrote: From: Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: 'Todd Tarno' toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net, tmic-list@eskimo.com, 'Laurie Zissimos' lziss...@aol.com Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:23 PM Sorry Todd, I have been on Medicare for 10 years and it is my secondary. Not sure of your circumstance, but it is not ALWAYS primary. I am on SSDI and am not over 65. Lori ? From: Todd Tarno [mailto:toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:12 PM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com; Laurie Zissimos Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
Hi Laurie, I found out the hard way that Medicare is ALWAYS primary. I too, tried to keep my COBRA Medicare, but when I went to get a MRI, they told me that Medicare was primary. When I tried to get back my COBRA payments, they wouldn't return the payments and didn't want to pay for my medications for that month. So, I had to tell them either return my COBRA payments or pay for my medications, which are over $3,000 a month. They paid for the medications. Thanks goodness. I don't remember what Part B is. I do think you will need Part D for medications. Since you already using Blue Cross and you like them. I would stay with them with Part D. I would talk to Blue Cross to see they can help you find a plan that works for you. Hope this helps a little, Todd in CC, TX --- On Tue, 8/4/09, Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com wrote: From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com Subject: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 5:46 PM see below -Original Message- From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com To: rn11...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:31 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Maybe you can help me. I was diagnosed with TM in Dec 2005 and went on SSDI a year and a half later. This September I have to enroll in Medicare and I don't know whether or not to get Part B/D at this time. I am on my husband's COBRA until January unless I file for an extension which I may do since I have that option being disabled. It's pretty expensive, but Its Blue Cross and they have covered almost all of my medical exp since the diagnosis. Our Blue Cross plan is a PPO so we don't need precerts/pre auths. It makes it much easier seeing specialists. He also has another plan through a part time employer but I don't think the benies are that great. My first question is whether or not I should sign up for Part B, Part B Advantaged, or Part B and D. I am trying not to lose the BlueCross, but I also don't know which of the new health coverages would be primary, secondary! or other. Is Medicare always considered primary or is it secondary?? Laurie -Original Message- From: rn11...@yahoo.com rn11...@yahoo.com To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm Subject: [TMIC] healthcare Hi, I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8 days).It also includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the benefits will change. I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of what I was earning in 1995. I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house! Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do! My best wishes to everyone, Cheryl in HOT Easthampton,MA.
Re: [TMIC] healthcare
Aren't there social service offices that are supposed to be well versed on these services available to help people make these serious decisions with Medicare plans, etc?? It seems that each county office should have these available to their population since it can be so complex.? Here in California, different private plans are available depending on the?county you?live in, as well as the fees for them.? It seems that my mother in-law changes plans every few years.? She's learned to be pretty savvy about it, but it takes time to learn. Hugs, Barbara A -Original Message- From: Lori Biehler lbieh...@earthlink.net To: 'Todd Tarno' toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net; tmic-list@eskimo.com; 'Laurie Zissimos' lziss...@aol.com Sent: Thu, Aug 6, 2009 12:23 pm Subject: RE: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare Sorry Todd, I have been on Medicare for 10 years and it is my secondary. Not sure of your circumstance, but it is not ALWAYS primary. I am on SSDI and am not over 65. Lori ? From: Todd Tarno [mailto:toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:12 PM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com; Laurie Zissimos Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare ? Hi Laurie, I found out the hard way that Medicare is ALWAYS primary. I too, tried to keep my COBRA Medicare, but when I went to get a MRI, they told me that Medicare was primary.? When I tried to get back my COBRA payments, they wouldn't return the payments and didn't want to pay for my medications for that month.? So, I had to tell them either return my?COBRA payments or pay for my medications, which are over $3,000 a month.? They paid for the medications.? Thanks goodness. I don't remember what Part B is. I do think you will need Part D for medications.? Since you already using Blue Cross and you like them.? I would stay with them with Part D.? I would talk to Blue Cross to see they can help you find a plan that works for you. Hope this helps a little, Todd in CC, TX --- On Tue, 8/4/09, Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com wrote: From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com Subject: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 5:46 PM see below ? ? -Original Message- From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com To: rn11...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:31 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Maybe you can help me.? I was diagnosed with TM in Dec 2005 and went on SSDI? a year and a half later.? This September I have to enroll in Medicare and I don't know whether or not to get Part B/D at this time.? I am on my husband's COBRA until January unless I file for an extension which I may do since I have that option being disabled.? It's pretty expensive, but Its Blue Cross and they have covered almost all of my medical exp since the diagnosis.? Our Blue Cross plan is a PPO so we don't need precerts/pre auths.? It makes it much easier seeing specialists.? He also has another plan through a part time employer but I don't think the benies are that great.? My first question is whether or not I should sign up for Part B, Part B Advantaged, or Part B and D.? I am trying not to lose the BlueCross, but I also don't know which of the new health coverages would be primary, secondary! or other.? Is Medicare always considered primary or is it secondary??? Laurie ? ? -Original Message- From: rn11...@yahoo.com rn11...@yahoo.com To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm Subject: [TMIC] healthcare Hi, ?? I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8 days).It also?includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the benefits will change. ?? I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of?what I was earning in 1995. ? I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house! ?? Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do! ?? My best wishes to everyone, Cheryl in HOT Easthampton,MA. ?? ?? ?
RE: [TMIC] healthcare
Catherine, I am not sure why they aren't paying anything, mine pays all my co-pays, etc. after I pay the deductable, which is under $200.00 a year. At first I was paying all my co-pays and since I didn't owe any money to my doctors or hospitals, they didn't bill medicare. I pay no co-pays, nothing and they first bill my primary, then they send the EOB to Medicare and Medicare sends me my statement and that is that. I had open heart surgery last September and my bills were well over 200K and I paid a total of 32 bucks! My primary paid their portion and Medicare picked up the rest. Lori From: Catherine [mailto:camoa...@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:59 PM To: Transverse Mylitis Group Subject: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare - Forwarded Message From: Catherine camoa...@yahoo.com To: Todd Tarno toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2009 3:58:15 PM Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare Hi Todd, I found out the hard way that Medicare is my secondary insurance. Needless to say they have paid for nothing! Yet I pay that $99.00 charge each and every month for nothing. I wonder how many others have experienced this. Catherine _ From: Todd Tarno toddtm2...@sbcglobal.net To: tmic-list@eskimo.com; Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2009 3:11:52 PM Subject: Re: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare Hi Laurie, I found out the hard way that Medicare is ALWAYS primary. I too, tried to keep my COBRA Medicare, but when I went to get a MRI, they told me that Medicare was primary. When I tried to get back my COBRA payments, they wouldn't return the payments and didn't want to pay for my medications for that month. So, I had to tell them either return my COBRA payments or pay for my medications, which are over $3,000 a month. They paid for the medications. Thanks goodness. I don't remember what Part B is. I do think you will need Part D for medications. Since you already using Blue Cross and you like them. I would stay with them with Part D. I would talk to Blue Cross to see they can help you find a plan that works for you. Hope this helps a little, Todd in CC, TX --- On Tue, 8/4/09, Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com wrote: From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com Subject: Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 5:46 PM see below -Original Message- From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com To: rn11...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:31 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Maybe you can help me. I was diagnosed with TM in Dec 2005 and went on SSDI a year and a half later. This September I have to enroll in Medicare and I don't know whether or not to get Part B/D at this time. I am on my husband's COBRA until January unless I file for an extension which I may do since I have that option being disabled. It's pretty expensive, but Its Blue Cross and they have covered almost all of my medical exp since the diagnosis. Our Blue Cross plan is a PPO so we don't need precerts/pre auths. It makes it much easier seeing specialists. He also has another plan through a part time employer but I don't think the benies are that great. My first question is whether or not I should sign up for Part B, Part B Advantaged, or Part B and D. I am trying not to lose the BlueCross, but I also don't know which of the new health coverages would be primary, secondary! or other. Is Medicare always considered primary or is it secondary?? Laurie -Original Message- From: rn11...@yahoo.com http://us.mc822.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rn11...@yahoo.com rn11...@yahoo.com http://us.mc822.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rn11...@yahoo.com To: tmic-list@eskimo.com http://us.mc822.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=tmic-l...@eskimo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm Subject: [TMIC] healthcare Hi, I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8 days).It also includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the benefits will change. I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of what I was earning in 1995. I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house! Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do! My best wishes to everyone, Cheryl in HOT
RE: [TMIC] healthcare
There is a SHIP, Senior Health Insurance Program, office in every county or district. Medicare can give you the number if you call them, the drag is they are all manned by volunteers, so if there are no volunteers, or educated volunteers in the services they offer, you have nowhere to turn. I have never had a problem getting the answers I needed from 1 800 Medicare. I did need to file a protest against one provider that refused to bill Medicare as my secondary because they did not have the software necessary and it worked great. They now have the software, were fined and every person that had Medicare as a Secondary was paid back from the provider. Sad that there is no one in your area to help you. Lori -Original Message- From: Akua [mailto:a...@artfarm.com] Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 7:43 PM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Aren't there social service offices that are supposed to be well versed on these services available to help people make these serious decisions with Medicare plans, etc? Social services are inefficient and uninformed where I am. I have been sent-- by social services-- to organizations that don't exist, received information that is ten years out of date, or just wasted my time. Most of my bad treatment and nearly all of my disappointment is from social services. Every encounter has been energy draining. They raise my expectations, collect checks for allegedly servicing me and do nothing.My latest horror was with the public nurse-- occupational therapy and physical therapy. OT gave me exercises ( say wha?) PT brought a salesman to my house to estimate the cost for fixing my wheelchair--- 100s of dollars I don't have. Now the PT person gets $140/hr in other words, they got paid and nothing, nothing in my life is changed and no need was addressed... and they consider my case closed. I am trying to start a paratransit service because none exists in my county. Think anyone would help me, nevermind offer the service with 20% of the county disabled?! I began to keep a list of who I talked to, so I could rattle off who I had talked to. It's an impressively sad list. I'm too often the educator and informer, vs. the one being helped and I'm the one paralyzed in the wheelchair. Perhaps in other parts of the world, but not here. Akua It seems that each county office should have these available to their population since it can be so complex. Here in California, different private plans are available depending on the county you live in, as well as the fees for them. It seems that my mother in-law changes plans every few years. She's learned to be pretty savvy about it, but it takes time to learn. Hugs, Barbara A --
[TMIC] healthcare
Hi, I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8 days).It also includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the benefits will change. I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of what I was earning in 1995. I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house! Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do! My best wishes to everyone, Cheryl in HOT Easthampton,MA.
Fwd: [TMIC] healthcare
see below -Original Message- From: Laurie Zissimos lziss...@aol.com To: rn11...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:31 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] healthcare Maybe you can help me.? I was diagnosed with TM in Dec 2005 and went on SSDI? a year and a half later.? This September I have to enroll in Medicare and I don't know whether or not to get Part B/D at this time.? I am on my husband's COBRA until January unless I file for an extension which I may do since I have that option being disabled.? It's pretty expensive, but Its Blue Cross and they have covered almost all of my medical exp since the diagnosis.? Our Blue Cross plan is a PPO so we don't need precerts/pre auths.? It makes it much easier seeing specialists.? He also has another plan through a part time employer but I don't think the benies are that great.? My first question is whether or not I should sign up for Part B, Part B Advantaged, or Part B and D.? I am trying not to lose the BlueCross, but I also don't know which of the new health coverages would be primary, secondary or other.? Is Medicare always considered primary or is it secondary??? Laurie -Original Message- From: rn11...@yahoo.com rn11...@yahoo.com To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm Subject: [TMIC] healthcare Hi, ?? I have been on social security disability since 1996,5 months after getting tm.I was 49 (now I'm 63).I have a medicare hmo health plan.I have had this since cobra ran out.I pay $173 a month.My dr visits are $10,a specialist $20.I have a deductable of $100 per day if hospitalized (for the 1st 8 days).It also?includes the part d to help pay for meds,but I get many of my meds at walmart for $10 for a 90 day supply.The others I get for 90 days through express scripts.I'm sure that on Jan 1st the cost will go up and the benefits will change. ?? I pay out of pocket over $4000 a year for insurance and meds.Thank God I had long term disability insurance when tm hit me.I get a total of 60% of?what I was earning in 1995. ? I live in Mass.,where you must have some type of medical insurance,or you pay a penalty when you file taxes.My ex husband paid $600 this year for not having health insurance last year. I finally got him to get medicare when he turned 65 in March.Now if I could convince him to insure his house! ?? Well,I don't post often,but I'm sure wordy when I do! ?? My best wishes to everyone, Cheryl in HOT Easthampton,MA. ?? ??
[TMIC] Healthcare and President
Also for not Americans, it is important who will be president of the US. Not only the financial management in the world, also for health care. It makes a big diference if there is somebody in charche that make it possible that for this group of TM'rs scientists can do there work and that there is enought money to do so. If you want to fight a war, do it in the labs. If they can get 1% of the money cancer cures, and lot of others are cumming closer by. Don't let the US become a third world nation, by going on , on this path, but make it back the number 1 in the world. Is it to much for the richest country in the world, to ask for there people to have heathcare for all, heathy food and a roof on top of there heads? Aids groups of doctors and dentists are now working in the US, in staed of Africa to give free heath care for the 51 million who do not has heathcare in your country. Don't you shame your self. See that you get your info, not from Foxnews, but from BBC and CNN. Look what is really going on. And choose for a President wich can those matters make better. You need a change... Wim from Holland PS. This is also a good subject to discus on the TMIC group in my poit of few. _ Uniek: Onbeperkt chatten op je mobiel voor maar € 2,95 per maand! http://www.overaljevriendenbijje.nl/#superdeal
Re: [TMIC] Healthcare and President
Thank you, Wim, for taking the time to send your thoughts. We often think we are the only ones affected by everything but it goes across the world and you said it very well. Our health care is greatly affected as we all know. We can't be without it and some of us have to pay so much to keep what we have because no one else will take us on because of our problems. We paid $633 a month which took a big chunk out of our income but we had no choice! Thank God I get on Medicare as of 11/1 and it goes down to $350 a month! I am so blessed! We all have our own stories, many similar so we need to support each other as much as we can, in many ways. We are so different in our lives, beliefs, religions, and political views but we are drawn together by our desire to be together with our TMIC. If we don't care for what is written, that little 'delete' button is quick and easy. That is one of the wonders of our priceless 'freedom of choice'. Jeanne in Dayton who at this time is having many issues with unending pain...dang it!!
