I've always considered myself a reasonably intelligent person,,,,

[KarenS]

however, I'm signing up for Medicare now and I'm feeling pretty ignorant these days.

Part A, Part B, Part D,,, Medigap,,,, my head is spinning and I'm so worried about making a huge mistake.

Goodness. Why is this all so complicated??

[LoisB]

1. I feel for you. Went through it myself. I chose to take only Part A and Part B of

traditional Medicare.

[KarenS]

10. Thank you.

I'm finding that everyone does it differently, for different reasons.

My Dad informed me that no matter what research I do or how I do it, I'll probably make a mistake
I said "Thanks, Dad" sheesh.

[Hoyt]

2. No matter if you are still employed or not, sign up for Part A. It covers hospital care and

it costs you nothing. You do have to pay a deductible and coinsurance (usually about 20% of the amount Medicare allows) if you need care. But, it will get you in the door if you get sick and need to be admitted to a hospital.

Part B -- which primarily covers doctors care, outside the hospital or when you are in the hospital -- costs you about $110 a month. If you have no other health coverage -- like through an employer -- you should sign up for it too.

Supplemental insurance, you don't have to take. But, if you can afford it, it will pay part, or all, of your deductible and coinsurance (the 20% Medicare doesn't pay on most hospital and doctor care). The more you pay per month for this, the more of the deductible and 20% it pays. If you can afford it and have assets to protect if you get sick, it's probably a good idea.

If you have few assets, like money in the bank, MediCAID might be an option in your state to cover deductible and the 20%. Depends on your income and medical expenses.

Traditional Medicare does not cover prescription drugs, which can be very costly if you are sick. Again, if you don't have a lot of assets, Medicaid may cover you for this, but you have to see if you meet requirements in your state. But, if you can afford it, Part D (which covers part of prescription drugs) is a good idea, I think.

Right now, I am still employed. So, I signed up for Part A. I might sign up for Part B if I get sick or lose my employment.

This is a gross simplification. There are a lot of ramifications and considerations. For example, you may be able to sign up for Part B or Part D only during certain times of the year. If you put it off until you get sick, there may be penalties (again, it depends on several factors).

But, no matter what you do or your circumstances, sign up for Part A.

If you have no health coverage and can afford the $110 a month, sign up for Part B.

Talk to someone about supplemental coverage and drug coverage. Try to find some senior/elderly non-profit advisory organizations in your area.

If nothing is available, I'd try AARP. They offer some supplemental coverage, so they might suggest that, but they won't beat you up to sign up. Their counselors offer a lot of help.

Ask questions here, and good luck. It ain't easy.

Again, this is a quick suggestion on a complex topic that varies depending upon your circumstances.

[KarenS]

11. Thank you.

At first, I just signed up for Part A bec my Husband is still working and I am covered by his insurance.
But after reading more and talking to others, I changed my mind and added Part B (my BDay hasn't happened yet so nothing will kick in til next month.) We're going to drop me from his insurance and I'm going with a Medigap policy. I still need to do the Part D sign up. I just think it's ridiculously complicated.

[Journeyman]

3. Contact the "Council on Aging" closest to you . . .

There's one in Pima County, one in Maricopa. They should offer regular classes designed to familiarize you with the ins and outs of the various programs. Great resource as well for advice and additional information.

Good luck.

[KarenS]

12. ohh Thank you,,,,

Even though I think I've decided what to do ~ I will check them out anyway.
I'm finding there lots to consider with this old age stuff

[Journeyman]

14. I think you'll find the COA a great source for a lot of different topics. . .

And all their help is free -- they ask for donations, but don't require payment for consultations or seminars.

We went to their Medicare classes to learn how to help our relatives (a disabled brother in Denver, a Florida mother-in-law we looked to move to California). Lots of great information. Still a little confusing, but then, we're not actually participating in the programs. In a couple years, when we are ready to sign up for the programs, we intend to start doing the research about a year or more before we need to make decisions.That way, we're certain we'll be best prepared.

Good luck with your decisions, Karen. And you're definitely right: Old age seemingly has more pitfalls than our youth.

[KarenS]

17. Ha,,,, I didn't worry about all this stuff when I was young.

The other thing I did was get in touch with an insurance broker. They don't charge you for their information they get paid by the insurance companies. My sister-in-law does medical billing for several doctor's offices and she recommended calling a broker. He didn't help with the Medicare decisions but with the supplemental/Medigap choices.

[JayhawkSD]

4. Don't delay signing up for Part B and Part D

If you are not otherwise covered, you MUST sign up for Part B and Part D as soon as you become eligible. If you do not do so you will pay a penalty in the form of higher premiums when you do sign up later, and the penalty is significant. Contact your Social Security office for details, but do not think you can just sign up any time you want to. Delay can cost you a lot of money.

[OKNancy]

5. Glad you posted this. I was going to do the same thing.

I did A, B, and D ( 12.00 a month with Humana )
My supplemental is with USAA. There are different supplemental but they all are the same no matter what company you use.
I debated between plan N and F - I went with the higher coverage of F. All those 3 extra plans cost $267. ( I have to pay 11.00 more because I still smoke a little. I didn't lie because I can afford the extra 11.00 )

[KarenS]

16. Hi OKNancy,,,

Sounds like we made mostly the same decisions on the supplemental I was debating plans N, G & F and decided on plan F partly because the insurance broker said that the people pool was the largest and it seemed the most like what we already have. Nobody has asked if I still smoke ~ I won't lie either, if they do I'm planning to finish this up soon but I'm probably going with the Humana Part D as well.

[whathehell]

6. I am Medicare eligible as of this November, but my husband is still employed

and has health insurance which covers both of us.

From your post, I'm assuming that this coverage means I'm not required to sign

for any Medicare at all until he drops his coverage at retirement, correct?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[JayhawkSD]

7. Correct.

As long as you are covered by other means you can delay signing up for Medicare (B and D) without penalty. You should still sign up for Part A, however, since it costs you nothing.

Once he drops his health coverage then the penalty clock starts ticking from zero.

I am in your same position. I'm 71 and covered by my wife's insurance. When I was hospitalized for ten days with pnuemonia, Medicare Part A paid everything which was not paid by our primary insurance. Saved us several thousand dollars.

[whathehell]

8. Thanks so much, Jayhawk..You've helped me and Mr. Whathell a lot! n/t

[KarenS]

15. Hi,,,,

I am dropping my Husband's coverage and going with Part B & Part D and a Medigap policy now for just a little more that what we are paying now for me through his company's insurance. They consider turning 65 a 'life event' and I can drop out and his coverage will continue. I am planning to stay on his vision plan and dental plan for now. Like I've said,,,, It's just crazy complicated and I'm worried about messing it up.

[whathehell]

18. Hi, Karen..

Thanks for your input -- I'm sure I can use all the information

I can get on this apparently complicated issue.

I have just one question about what you've said here:

Why you're dropping your husband's coverage, since it costs

even just a bit less than Medicare Part B & Part D -- Do those

provide better benefits than your husband's private insurance?

[KarenS]

19. Hi again,,,,

I'm not sure if the benefits are better (I really, really hate the fine print) for us it's the timing.

Huz will probably retire later in the coming year plus he's in the kind of job that they've been outsourcing. So in either case I'd be looking for new insurance anyway. While Medicare opens a new window for you to sign up, the private insurance companies behind the supplementals do not. They would want to know things in my medical records ~ specifically cancer diagnosis or early parkinson's stuff like that ~ while there's really nothing like that in my records, I just hate that they look. Plus I figure when Huz retires or gets laid off, I/we will be stressed and busy enough with his stuff. Plus if I'm going to make a mistake that costs money, I'd rather do it while he's still working. So, that's the logic behind my decision.

[whathehell]

21. I see..

Sounds like wise thinking on your part.

I know what you mean by the "looking" through your medical records -- feels

like an invasion of privacy.

[KarenS]

13. yes,,,,

and even though there's a grace period for when you're no longer insured with Medicare Part B & Part D;
I found out through an insurance broker that the Supplement companies require more information about certain diagnoses if that initial 'just turned 65' window has closed.

I just decided it was easier to do it all now.

[SheilaT]

9. Just to add my 2cents:

Go ahead and sign up for Part A as soon as you turn 65. The rest can wait until you are no longer covered by some other plan.

The penalties involved concerning the other parts only kick in if you do NOT sign up for them during the first period in which you are eligible.

I got my Part A as soon as I turned 65, last year. Then back in April I decided to quit work and after some confusion on my part got myself signed up for Part B. Even if you take no prescription medications whatsoever, you want to select a Part D, because somewhere down the road you're likely to be prescribed something, and if you don't sign up when you should, there's a penalty.

There are also various other choices that you will want to look at carefully, perhaps talk to some friends who've already been through this. I went with an Advantage Plan through Humana which covers more things than the regular Medicare seems to and at lower out-of-pocket costs than my previous excellent health care plan.

So far I've been extremely happy with my coverage. I agree, it's far more complicated than it needs to be. Yet another reason why some sort of single payer or universal coverage would be good.

[KarenS]

20. Yes, yes,,,

"some sort of single payer or universal coverage would be good"

Amen to that, Sheila!!

[1monster]

22. Go through AARP... Your medicare premium goes to them and they administer your medicare... the

bonus is AARP's medicare plan covers drugs, while paying the same amount for just plain medicare does not. If you chose to do without the drug coverage under plain medicare, then it will cost you more if you decide to sign up for it later. If you use AARP as your provider, then you will not have that problem.

[SheilaT]

23. I just want to clarify that AARP is not the only

company that does this. I have a plan with Humana, same deal. They get my Medicare premium, and I have my coverage through them, including prescription drugs, vision, and dental.

There are various other choices out there. I am NOT trashing AARP, but I just want everyone to understand they are not the only game in town.

[llmart]

24. AARP is not a "provider".

AARP is not an insurance company.

[LiberalElite]

25. Bookmarking for later in

the year when I'm eligible.