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: >>>> 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. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>
