Thread: Medicare and Social Security

well there is no charge for medicare Part A, so I see no problem with that; however, Part B is a different story. I kept my Federal BCBS health insurance and most of you know it is expensive, but good. Technically it has all the coverage Part B would provide; my problem is - will the Gov. make me by part B when I already have PPO BCBS?

that was my question after reading the above. I thought we could keep our health insurance into retirement but that it would become secondary payer behind medicare? By the time I retire this will likely all be different anyway due to gov deficit relative to GDP.

Originally Posted by Zebra

well there is no charge for medicare Part A, so I see no problem with that; however, Part B is a different story. I kept my Federal BCBS health insurance and most of you know it is expensive, but good. Technically it has all the coverage Part B would provide; my problem is - will the Gov. make me by part B when I already have PPO BCBS?

You may enroll in part B, but are not compelled to.

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/med...medicare02.asp

alevin

that was my question after reading the above. I thought we could keep our health insurance into retirement but that it would become secondary payer behind medicare? By the time I retire this will likely all be different anyway due to gov deficit relative to GDP.

At this time you can keep your Federal Health Ins. AND enroll in Medicare. MOST but not all pay secondary to Medicare, if you see a Medicare provider. If your provider does not accept Medicare (fairly rare), then your Federal Health Plan pays first. If you want your Social Security you MUST accept enrollment in Medicare. It is automatic when you reach 65 if you are already recieving SS.

Originally Posted by Family

alevin

that was my question after reading the above. I thought we could keep our health insurance into retirement but that it would become secondary payer behind medicare? By the time I retire this will likely all be different anyway due to gov deficit relative to GDP.

At this time you can keep your Federal Health Ins. AND enroll in Medicare. MOST but not all pay secondary to Medicare, if you see a Medicare provider. If your provider does not accept Medicare (fairly rare), then your Federal Health Plan pays first. If you want your Social Security you MUST accept enrollment in Medicare. It is automatic when you reach 65 if you are already recieving SS.

Dick Armey's claim about Medicare and Social Security is only partially true:

"beneficiaries collecting Social Security will lose those payments if they drop Medicare Part A — so long as they were enrolled in both programs in the first place"

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...social-securi/

So if I chose to drop out of Medicare I lose my Social Security, I don't see the connection between the two programs! I pay Medicare and FEHB and Medicare is primary. Works well no co-payments or doctor visit charges.

BUT TAKING MY SSA IS RIDICULOUS!
YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE OBAMACARE
THAT'S THE PLAN!

Originally Posted by nnuut

So if I chose to drop out of Medicare I lose my Social Security, I don't see the connection between the two programs! I pay Medicare and FEHB and Medicare is primary. Works well no co-payments or doctor visit charges.

BUT TAKING MY SSA IS RIDICULOUS!
YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE OBAMACARE
THAT'S THE PLAN!

Funny that you can drop SS and still have Medicare, but if you opt out of socialized medicine you are robbed of your entitlement. This goes back to the Clinton years evidently...

Associated Press

Report: Premium hikes for top Medicare drug plans
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of seniors enrolled in some of the most popular Medicare prescription drug plans face double-digit premium hikes next year if they don't shop for a better deal, says a private firm that analyzes the highly competitive market.
Seven of the top 10 prescription plans are raising their premiums by 11 percent to 23 percent, according to a report this week by Avalere Health.

Did the upstream assumptions get corrected? Med A is free, assuming you are young enough that you paid the Part A tax. No reason not to accept it at 65. No loss of Social Security benefits if electing to decline Part B and remain with FEHB as primary insurer, but watch that WEP. Boy, the surcharges on Part B premiums are stiff if income exceeds their limits.

Of surprise to many FEHB retirees, and their physicians, is the law that reduces the physician and other services fees paid by FEHB companies to Medicare Part B levels at a patient age of 65, even though the patient has not elected Part B. The FEHB insurance company pays one fee the day before the patient is 65, the physician's contract rate for preferred providers, and then a lower fee after the patient turns 65. Surprise, happy birthday!

I didn't want damn Medicare when I turned 65 they basically force you to join or pay the price! It really only pays 80% unless you stay in the hospital too long (no for God's sake) then you pay everything, look it up!
Medicare costs at a glance | Medicare.gov
Hospital inpatient stay

You pay:

• Days 1–60: $1,156 deductible for each benefit period.
• Days 61–90: $289 coinsurance per day of each benefit period.
• Days 91 and beyond: $578 coinsurance per each "lifetime reserve day" after day 90 for each benefit period (up to 60 days over your lifetime).
• Beyond lifetime reserve days: all costs.

Just turned 65 and am dealing with this issue now.

As was stated Part B seems unecessary if we have a FHBP, but if it's true you loose SS, is it really an option? Don't ya just love being drug around by your balls by the potiticians!

So I assume we all just bite the leather strap and pay for both even though it appears we don't need it.

So as a retired Federal employee ask yourself this question: is the Gubmint "really" picking up 70% of your health care in retirement like you were lead to beleive in those retirement seminars they gave us? I personally think not.