Enrolling in Medicare... need to vent!

[seadoug]

So, I was eligible for Medicare going into 2023, but I chose not to take it because they were going to charge me double because of my earnings in 2021... which is laughable because I retired in June 2020. I stayed on my partner's health plan because it was cheaper. So, I was automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. This year I decided to go on Medicare so the deductions from my partner's paycheck would be less. He is 8 years younger than me, so taking me off his insurance will save him tons.

On November 20, I went to the Social Security site and of course, it refers you to Medicare with a phone number. I called Medicare and spoke to someone who seemed very knowledgeable. I told him I was ready to enroll in Medicare Part B. We went through the various supplemental insurance packages and I chose one. Not once did he advise that I needed to contact Social Security, so I had no reason to think I hadn't been enrolled. I called the insurance company 10 days later and they told me they were happy to insure me but I hadn't been enrolled in Part B so they couldn't move forward. So, I called Medicare again and they told me they couldn't enroll me, it would have to be done through Social Security.

I contacted Social Security earlier this week, on hold for an hour, and they sent me two forms to submit. One was to indicate my desire to enroll in Part B and another was for my partner's company to verify my current enrollment in his healthcare program. (Why do they need to verify this? I either took Part B in 2023 or I didn't.) The instructions said to either "mail or fax" them to my local Social Security office. Who mails or faxes anything anymore, but I faxed them 3 days ago and I've heard nothing. I tried to call Social Security again because no appointments with my local Social Security office can be made online and again... 1 hour hold time. I'm going to try again next week.

All the red tape, antiquated methods and bureaucracy have been unbearable. I need to have Medicare Part B in place by December 31, but I figure if I need something to cover prescriptions for a few months I'll use something like GoodRX.

Anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[Teacher Terry]

If you don’t sign up for Medicare part B when you are turning 65 then you need to show that you had credible health insurance otherwise you pay a penalty for life.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I don't understand Medicare. The rules they had last year are totally different from the present rules. But if you didn't check the right box, two years ago; means you'll be screwed by next year's rules changes. Unless , there are changes.

 

[PurplePansies]

I didn’t have any problems enrolling in Part B. I did it all online. I don’t remember, but maybe it was easy because I have Tricare for Life as a military retiree and I had to enroll in Med B to keep the free Tricare. I know the Med B payment comes directly out of my Social Security.

 

[Jace]

O M G...
What's the old expression..
Trust us...we're here t o help!..Hah!

Good Luck!

 

[dilettante]

I try to keep up on this stuff by watching people on YouTube who cover retirement topics. Because I knew about the age 65 Medicare thing I got it taken care of easily.

I was on my former employer's retiree medical coverage up until then, and with Medicare that switched to a Medicare Advantage plan. Again, no issues.

So I got lucky, or got lucky another way by finding information before I needed it.

 

[Blessed]

Just wanted to check in and see if you got this issue resolved. I am currently doing the research for Medicare. It appears my best bet is staying with my federal insurance (postal widow benefit). I currently have Aetna insurance and they have a policy through the federal that is a Medicare plan and Aetna would become my secondary.

From what I have found the cost would be 275.00, they would give a rebate of 75.00. That would bring my total cost for health insurance to about 400. per month. I currently pay about 550 per month and I have all the copays, and any cost that is not covered by my current plan.

I have been well, only big surprise I have had was a hip replacement a couple of years ago. That was about 3500. out of pocket expense for what insurance did not cover.

With this change over I would not have that out of pocket expense. This question to all, does this sound like a good option?

I will say my Mom was on Medicare with UHC advantage plan. It worked very well for all the normal stuff, however, there were times that we had to travel more than 2 hours, 1 hour each way, for her hospital care. We have many large hospital systems closer but the insurance required her to go to certain facilities. That was hard as we could not get to her quickly or visit easily.

 

[seadoug]

Just wanted to check in and see if you got this issue resolved. I am currently doing the research for Medicare. It appears my best bet is staying with my federal insurance (postal widow benefit). I currently have Aetna insurance and they have a policy through the federal that is a Medicare plan and Aetna would become my secondary.

From what I have found the cost would be 275.00, they would give a rebate of 75.00. That would bring my total cost for health insurance to about 400. per month. I currently pay about 550 per month and I have all the copays, and any cost that is not covered by my current plan.

I have been well, only big surprise I have had was a hip replacement a couple of years ago. That was about 3500. out of pocket expense for what insurance did not cover.

With this change over I would not have that out of pocket expense. This question to all, does this sound like a good option?

I will say my Mom was on Medicare with UHC advantage plan. It worked very well for all the normal stuff, however, there were times that we had to travel more than 2 hours, 1 hour each way, for her hospital care. We have many large hospital systems closer but the insurance required her to go to certain facilities. That was hard as we could not get to her quickly or visit easily.

Thanks for checking. I still haven't heard a peep so I will be calling Social Security again next week. I don't have a routine doctor's appointment until next June but I will have prescriptions to pick up in January. I just signed up for GoodRX today to help with prescriptions. Their prices seem reasonable and I will be paying $9.99 per month.

I'm sure I will eventually be enrolled in Part B but the government institutions move at a glacial pace.

 

[dobielvr]

Thanks for checking. I still haven't heard a peep so I will be calling Social Security again next week. I don't have a routine doctor's appointment until next June but I will have prescriptions to pick up in January. I just signed up for GoodRX today to help with prescriptions. Their prices seem reasonable and I will be paying $9.99 per month.

I'm sure I will eventually be enrolled in Part B but the government institutions move at a glacial pace.

What a hassle seadoug.
I hope everything works out soon.

 

[Blessed]

@seadoug try to get this figure out asap. Are you staying on your husbands insurance for now? We never know when an accident or urgent medical need may come up. This is the one thing I preach to everyone I know. Always be prepared for the worst.

My husbands cancer diagnosis came out of left field. Thank God we had very good insurance and when it got really bad clinical trials paid for everything. The medical care, flights, hotels, car rentals, meals. The clininical trials were a god send and helped prolong his life with very little side effects.

I guess this is why, lesson learned from experience it is the best thing to have the best insurance you can.

 

[seadoug]

@seadoug try to get this figure out asap. Are you staying on your husbands insurance for now? We never know when an accident or urgent medical need may come up. This is the one thing I preach to everyone I know. Always be prepared for the worst.

My husbands cancer diagnosis came out of left field. Thank God we had very good insurance and when it got really bad clinical trials paid for everything. The medical care, flights, hotels, car rentals, meals. The clininical trials were a god send and helped prolong his life with very little side effects.

I guess this is why, lesson learned from experience it is the best thing to have the best insurance you can.

No, he had to make a decision on December 8 as to whether I would continue on his policy, so I told him just to exclude me and I would work things out on my own. It will save him lots of $$$.

He is actually financially helping his sister, who is undergoing chemo for breast cancer, so I want him to have as much take home pay as possible. She is divorced and has 4 kids ages 16 to 24. When I was working, I used to give her checks occasionally to help her with the bills. This is now a small way I can help.

I do realize that I could be diagnosed with something unexpected at any time, so I will continue to push for Medicare Part B and a Medicare supplement. I've never been without insurance, so it's an uneasy feeling. Thank you for your words of wisdom.

 

[Knight]

I don't know where you live only that you show Texas. If the city is large enough did you check to see if there is a Soc. Sec. office you could go to get what you need done?

 

[Blessed]

When you sent that letter letting Medicare know you had your spouses insurance did you send it certified carrier for a signature that it was delivered? That could be the key to setting your Medicare in motion without any penalty.

 

[seadoug]

I don't know where you live only that you show Texas. If the city is large enough did you check to see if there is a Soc. Sec. office you could go to get what you need done?

Yes, I have visited the local office on behalf of my mother, and I actually faxed the forms to my local Social Security office. However, there is no local phone number for appointments.

Appointments are only available through the national Social Security line. I called the national line and my wait was over an hour. The representative came on the line at precisely the time that my electrician finished his job and wanted to explain what he'd done. Talk about bad luck. I'm going to try again next week.

 

[seadoug]

When you sent that letter letting Medicare know you had your spouses insurance did you send it certified carrier for a signature that it was delivered? That could be the key to setting your Medicare in motion without any penalty.

I was instructed to either send the appropriate forms via mail or fax to my local Social Security office, so I went to Fedex and faxed the forms. I'm trying to make an appointment with my local Social Security office, but they are only available through the national line so I'm still dealing with the 1 hour+ hold times.

 

[Blessed]

Well you are covered if you saved the fax and confirmation. There is a SS office in Arlington off Hwy 360. That is where I went when my husband died. There should be a local number for that office. It will be a little drive for you but maybe you can get in there sooner than the office closest to you.

 

[Blessed]

nope, I am wrong, the only number listed to all the locations is a 800 number, not a local number. I guess things have changed since my husband died. He passed in December of that year but I had no problem getting an appointment.
Sorry, I know you must be so frustrated.

 

[seadoug]

I explained in the OP why I've had such a difficult time.

Just an update on this. I received a letter from Social Security today indicating I am now enrolled in Medicare Part B. It only took from early November to early February! I submitted all the proper paperwork on January 4, including a note saying I was under my partner's insurance program. When nothing happened, I finally spoke to someone with SS and she said "you had insurance through your employer". I said no, it clearly indicates it was my partner's employer and I was on his insurance. She got it, and said they had all the necessary paperwork.

To say I'm ecstatic is an understatement. I've been without insurance since Dec. 31. I've used GoodRX for my prescriptions and they have been surprisingly cheap. I'll now start looking for supplemental insurance. I've had chronic neck and back pain since December and have been unable to visit my doctor due to lack of insurance.

Thank you for listening and for all for your previous input. We're going out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate!

 

[David777]

Not problem here.

When I retired at age 68 or 2 years beyond standard 66, I read what to do and recall accomplishing doing so with Kaiser Permanente in a single session with a KP representative since I had already been using KP for 7 years at my employer. So that went smoothly.