Don’t Make These 5 Costly Medicare Mistakes

You do not have to sign up for Part B or C if you leave employment after age 65 if you are covered by your spouse's medical insurance. You can sign up, without penalty, once your spouse leaves employment.

I struggled with which plan to enroll in - Medicare Advantage (through Medicare) or Medicare Supplement (through a private insurer). Hopefully, I have the names correct because information relating to these two different choices often uses different names for these plans which adds to the confusion in trying to decide which plan/program to choose. After reading the Medicare Handbook from cover to cover, I was still confused. I contacted an agent for Humana. His advice was if you are in relatively good health, go with a plan through a private insurer for lower costs and adequate coverage. If you have health problems, go with a plan through Medicare for wider coverage but more costs. I went with a private insurer based on his advice (even though he was making a commission on my choice, I felt he was sincere in what he told me.) Recently, I listened to a seminar on line in which the speaker was recommending going through Medicare for a plan because there were no limits as to what doctors that you could use (provided they accepted Medicare). So, I am again unsure which way to go. I hope the videos suggested in the article will clarify it for me.

John thank you for sharing great information

If you have questions about Medicare, help is available. There is a ombudsman -type person at Medicare who will answer your case specific question. In the case of Medicare vs Medicare advantage, we chose Medicare Part B as it allows us the most freedom to choose a doctor or specialist anywhere in the country. P.s. I would caution about using an agent from any insurer as they have a vested interest in your selection. Medicare is the best place to go for advice.

FYI, the Mayo Clinic, one of the best hospitals in the world, does not take Medicare Advantage.

Not yet being of Medicare age, though it looms closer on the horizon than I care to admit, I am very interested in the wisdom that will be shared in these comments.

Thanks in advance.

I too am very interested in a discussion of Medicare Part B with then having to choose Medicare Part D - drug coverage VS a Medicare Advantage Plan. My employment offers a Medicare Advantage plan for its retirees. It would include drug coverage, vision and dental. My husband's employment currently only offers a Medicare Part B and D company plan. So, we will have to choose which employer we wish to carry our insurance through... and it scares me to know that I will be making this decision on the available facts on the day we sign papers. Then there is no going back. My husband's company could also move its retirees into a Medicare Advantage Plan and then...which one would be better?
I am very interested in anyone's experience with the Medicare Advantage. It seems it is the future for many employers to cut costs. But, as Chuck posted above, I also have heard that many notable hospitals and physicians are not signing up for Medicare Advantage.
Many are stating that it is already very difficult to move and get a new physician if you are already on medicare. This seems to only complicate matters more.

It is true that the Mayo Clinic will not take Medicare with Medicare Advantage as the supplement BUT will take Medicare with a Medicare supplement other than Medicare Advantage. We did not ask about the private insurance supplement option.

Two observations.
(1) If you have an employee-sponsored retiree plan ( mainly for those who worked for city, county, state, etc.), and you plan on leaving it for an HMO or MAP, be aware you may not be able to re-enroll later.
(2) If you are in a hospital, make sure you are formally admitted as an inpatient, not merely "under observation". "Under the rules, Medicare picks up the whole tab for the first 20 days in an approved skilled nursing facility for rehab or other care, but only if someone has spent at least three full days in the hospital as an admitted patient. If instead a patient has been under observation — for all or part of that time — he or she is responsible for the entire cost of rehab." Google "medicare-inpatient-vs-outpatient-under-observation" for details.

OldNassau is correct on the three full days in the hospital as an admitted patient to qualify for a stint in rehab. However, you cannot demand to be an admitted patient. My Mom was in the hospital and they WOULD NOT admit her as an admitted patient and put her in under observation status. They couldn't pin point what her problem was. She was scheduled for an endoscopy but they didn't want to keep her till the next day because they would have had to 'admit' her. She was in pain and it was totally wrong because they sent her home without diagnosing her problem. It turned out she had an ulcer on her esophagus from radiation treatments which we found out several days later after the endoscopy. I found the social workers not to be compassionate at all and it seemed their mission to evict my Mom as fast as they could. It is a very ugly process and you will never know how horrible it is till you go through it or witness a loved one suffer with an unknown health problem and be kicked to the curb. Mom had Medicare as her primary and State of CT health insurance as her secondary and she still couldn't stay according to the social workers.

We chose a medicare supplement plan instead of a Medicare advantage plan because we travel a lot and live 3-4 months in Florida and the rest of the year in Indiana. The Advantage option seemed more like an HMO type plan and was limited to the area we live in most of the year. With the supplement option, we are free to use medical facilities wherever they accept Medicare. I have been on the AARP supplemental type N plan for year and a half now and have no complaints. Something like $145 annual deductible and $125 monthly premiums.

As far as Plan D, I chose one that had free generics for mailorder prescriptions, as I am on several drugs for congestive heart failure. I pay $12/month and haven't paid a dime more for any prescriptions mailorder.

Keep in mind that whatever you sign up for, if you are not happy with the coverage, you can always change plans during the annual election period.

I have recently been informed I have been dropped bynmedicaid and Medicare. I called Medicare who suggested calling Medicaid. Then I was told to register online. I. Am having such a traumatic experience due to the overwhelming choices and suggestions, explanations, limitations as well as cost. Please help. I am receiving disability benefits (no health coverage). I have a family of 4, one in college. My husband works part time due to handicap.

Re: Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville : hospital does not take Medicare and providers do not take Medicare. Therefore, they can charge up to 15% more of the cost . Some medigap plans will pay nothing if you are not treated at a Medicare participating hospital or by a Medicare provider.

Our first 3 years on Medicare my husband and I went with Advantage Plans that were like PPO's where we paid a co-pay but in general all the hospitals and doctors in our area (Fort Myers, FL) seemed to take the plan (AARP Advantage United Health Care). Then we started receiving letters that in 2014 one by one our doctors AND major hospital in the area were no longer on the plan! We quickly changed to another Advantage Plan with Blue Cross that was regional to our area. That worked for 2014. The more we thought about it though as we are getting older and see other friends getting hit with major medical expenses that it was time to go back to regular Medicare and we did that for 2015 and have Plan "F" - this is the all encompassing plan with no restrictions on doctors, hospitals and we can use anywhere in the US and with some limitations when we travel. So far in 2015 we have experienced no out of pocket expenses and my husband had two surgeries. It is peace of mind to have this type of insurance. One caveat - it will cost you considerably more than the Advantage Plans.

Each county in every state has a Department of Aging to help seniors become more informed about Medicare and supplement programs. In Baltimore County, MD, there are Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) seminars in the public libraries various times of the year which help clarify the choices that are out there. I attended one of them several years ago and got lots of handouts even though I was not at the age to choose a supplemental plan. The Older Americans Act requires counties to provide this information to seniors and the public. Please contact your county Dept. of Aging office to find out when and where these health insurance sessions are taking place to get an idea well before you need to. It is very informative.

Terri, can you give an example of what is 'considerably more'? Can you tell us what one cost over the other? Right now Hub and I are on the Affordable Care Act (Obama care) and it is pretty costly. We are getting the subsidy of $1011.00 per month and it still costs us $495.30 a month plus copays ($30 for general practitioner and $50 for specialists) . Have not had anything major like surgeries so I can't comment on what those costs would be.

Hub will go on Medicare in about 1 1/2 years. Another slippery slope to navigate.

Louise:

By considerably more, I meant that the Advantage Plans we were under the first few years we paid zero additional premium. Remember Part B comes out of your Social Security check so I am not including that in these figures. We are paying monthly for Plan F $206.00 for my husband who is 70 and $190.00 for me and I am 68. As I mentioned, there is no co-pay for doctor visits. All the doctors/hospital bill Medicare first and then Blue Cross/Blue Shield gets that information, determines their portion and we get statements from them quarterly. At times there is "an amount you may be billed" showing after Medicare and BC/BS pay but we have never been billed for these amounts because our hospitals and doctors here all accept payment from these two sources as payment in full. Even if we did have to pay the "difference' most of the time it is so minor I wouldn't even question it. Hope this information helps!

Yes, Terri, very helpful information. So between what is taken out of your SS check (Plan B) for Medicare and what you pay in Plan F it is quite costly too! I have been whining about what I pay but I see that down the road when we are both on Medicare it will be costly too.

This insurance stuff is very scary and it never goes down in price! I cannot see how future generations will ever be able to afford it in retirement.

I am so thankful we qualify for the subsidy or we'd never be able to afford insurance!

Keep the info coming regarding Advantage Plans VS Supplement. As I said above, my state employment only includes a Medicare Advantage Plan which looks great on paper as long as we don't move and our doctors/hospital accept it. I am reading more and more doctors and hospitals do not accept it as Terri reported above. My husband is employed by a utility and as of now, they offer their retirees a company plan Medicare Supplement which is the same plan offered to employees less vision and dental. The cost seems comparable to what I am reading can be purchased privately or through Medicare. We will have to choose which employer we wish to be insured with and it is not changeable down the line.

But...so many unknowns. We could choose my husband's plan, pay more to have a supplement instead of a Medicare Advantage Plan and then....his plan change and also move to a Medicare Advantage Plan. We would have to go with that OR change to a Medicare supplement..and also, never go back to the employee plan.

So many "ifs" and "whats" involved. We really want to make the best choice and then know that we will have to be flexible as life changes.

Appreciate everyone's comments and experiences. It always answers questions and also creates more that I should be asking!

Yes the cost of insurance even when your on Medicare is higher than I expected. For a Plan F through Mutual of Omaha our cost per month is $147.00 for me and $132.00 for my wife. In addition we have plan D policies through Silverscript costing $68..00 for each of us. Also have to include $104.90 per month coming out of SS for Part B. Am thankful that I have the Plan F as I had a heart attack in March and haven't paid a dime out of pocket.

I have read the article several times and some of it is sinking into my head.

Part A (Hospital) is free for most people who have worked 10 years.
Part B (Doctors, medical care). More costly. More availability than Part C but higher cost.
Part C Medical Advantage (Doctors, medical care). Lower cost and deductibles but limited choices.
Part D (Prescription drug coverage)

I have questions. There is no mention of Plan F in the article above. What is Plan F? Is it Medigap insurance? How do you get information on Plan F? Does information come in the mail from Medicare? Does this come out of the SS check or do you have to pay this bill directly to an insurance company?

Part A you get automatically if you already receive SS and is free, Part B or C is deducted from your SS check. How do you sign up for Part D? Does information come in the mail from Medicare? Does this get deducted from your SS check or do you have to pay this bill directly to an insurance company?

Thanks!

Great info and real specific examples! Keep it coming and thank you Louise for digesting it all - so confusing! My question is which of the costs are the same in all states, and which vary by location? Thanks all!

I recently went through the process of deciding what Medicare plans to choose.

I had heard it was confusing so I visited the local senior health care advocate. I believe every state has this and it is free. In FL it is called SHINE. The lady gave me a booklet issued by Medicare called Medicare and You. She went through the book and explained the basics. Having someone that could answer my questions was very helpful. She also went on the net and showed me how to use Medicare web site to get info on the various plans. She also put my prescriptions in the Medicare web site to show how to price out the Part D plans.

I found the Advantage plans to be cheaper but decided to go with traditional part A and B plus Medigap. As others stated previously, it seems like less Dr. are participating in Advantage plus I found out that the ACA changed the reimbursement formula resulting in less reimbursement for these plans (the Feds give the Advanrage private insurers $ based on a formula, the intent being to equal what Medicare would typically pay to cover the person under part A and B). Many people who analyzed the new formula said it would make the Advantage plans unaffordable once fully implemented. In 2014 Pres. Obama signed an executive order stopping the cuts to Advantage plans but this could be rescinded at any time with the stroke of the pen. So I decided the cost savings was not worth the risk of the potential future cost increase.

The Medicare web site has cost info. on the various Medigap policies but it is just listed as a range in cost along with a list of insurers. It is left to the individual to call the companies to find out their cost. After several frustrating attempts at this I found a company on the web that said they had the cost info. by company already compiled. It really burned me up to have to pay $99 for thus info but I'm glad I did because I found a high deductible plan F for only $55 a month, which saved me about $30 a month on the cheapest that I had found in my own. The web site is Weiss Ratings. Note that Medigap policies are all standardized by the Feds so all you are comparing is price. You'll also want to consider if the Medigap policy is issue age rated or attained age rated because this has an effect on how fast the company may raise its prices in the future. (Issue age rated is better)

Part D can be researched to completion on the Medicare web site. You can put your prescriptions in the site and it will tell how much your annual cost will be vs. the provider. I choose the Humana Walmart plan for $15.70 monthly.

One concern I had was: it looks to me like you get one chance to sign up for a plan without having to go through underwriting (can be declined coverage due to current health problems) and without restrictions based in preexisting conditions. This time is during initial enrollment. So it was important to me to pick what I thought was something I could go with for the long haul.

It's so important to stay as healthy as possible so even if paying for health insurance and having Medicare, I need to use it as little as possible. It will be even more expensive if I have to use it. I'm in good health, but I'm taking steps to get in better health because this is the one critical variable, even more than money, that will determine the quality of my retirement. Eat healthy, eat less, be physically and mentally active, laugh lots.

Louise,

I believe the "Plan F" being referred to is Medigap insurance - it is offered via AARP. You can go to their website and get information on the cost per plan which is based on the area you live in.
https://www.aarpmedicaresupplement.com/medicare-insurance/find-a-plan-download.html

Plan F was the recommended plan for us by our Financial Advisor.
When we reviewed the plans, we definitely agreed this was the best plan for us.

You can either pay the Medigap insurance via payment booklet coupons (and personal check), or
you can save $2 monthly by having them deduct it from your checking account automatically on a date you choose.

Part D you can sign up from on the medicare site - you can input the medications you take to get a quote of what it will cost you. You also pick, the carrier for your Part D.
https://www.medicare.gov/part-d/

Part D, once you sign up, is also deducted directly from your SS check. The earlier you sign up for the Medicare plans, the easier it is to have it all work seamlessly. (3 months in advance)

Hope this helps.

Another perspective - I am 64, have been enrolled in Medicare for ten years because of disability (multiple sclerosis) and I carry Plan F through United Healthcare as a Supplement to Medicare. I currently pay $235.40 per month plus I pay for Medicare Part B and Part D. Since leaving my (very good) job, I have lived in four states and the premiums for Plan F did vary by state. California was the most reasonable (San Diego County) followed by Massachusetts. Arizona was higher and the current state (Alabama, my wife's home state) is the most expensive for Plan F and the state with the fewest options for a medicare recipient. When my wife finishes her teaching work, we will probably settle in a northern state that provides good access and quality healthcare.

Louise, Plan F is a Medigap policy sold by private insurers. There are many other letters assigned to other plans with different levels of coverage (Plan A,B,N more) but Plan F is the best (and most expensive). But I have no co-pays or deductibles for doctors and hospitals and the freedom to choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare assignment (that is the rub, because if a facility like Mayo Clinic does NOT accept Medicare payments because they are too low, then you need to plan in advance what you will do). I do know that Plan F for me covers 'excess medical' but I am not sure if that would mean that they pay the extra billing that would come from a place like Mayo Clinic.

Louise and Sandy,

You are correct, Part A is the hospitalization and that is no cost to those on SS or those who have worked at least 10 years.

Part B is the medical portion, ie, doctor's visits, lab work, radiology, etc. You pay for that on a scale based on your income but for under I believe it is $88,000 per year, it is $104.00 per month. This can be taken out of your SS monthly check or if not on SS yet, you can be billed or have it debited from you account. I believe the cost for this is identical nationwide.

Part C is medicare advantage. It generally provides more coverage than Part B but limited choices relative to your doctors etc. Not all that familiar with it as I opted to go with B.

The Plans (whatever letters are utilized including F & G) are medigap insurance and piggyback the Part B in that it will pay the 20$ deductible of all Part B bills, some will pay the $147.00 annual Part B deductible, some will pick up what Part B was paying when those benefits are exhausted, and it also pays the Hospital deductible of Part A. The costs vary from state to state as do the benefits of each plan. The better the coverage, the higher the cost. You should do your research carefully by requesting info from insurance carries such as AARP, Cigna, Anthem, Bankers Life, et al) or from the independent insurance brokers themselves. If you are approaching 65 I expect you would be inundated with phone calls and promo literature from them. You pay the insurance companies direct.

Part D is the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. I found this to be the most confusing and aggravating. Again, insurance carriers have the Part D so you should get the info from them as to what they cover. Each one is different as is the cost and I expect again it would vary from state to state. Research carefully relative to the deductibles, how much they pay for a drug and check to see if your drugs are on the formulary. My research shows a lot of brand name drugs are not included and thus will cost you out of pocket. It's the gov't's attempt to put everyone on generics. You pay the insurance company direct either via credit card deduction or automatic withdrawal from your checking account or monthly check.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

Seems like A, B, and D plus purchasing C from the government or E/F -- private medigap coverage) are necessary for full coverage of hospitalization, doctors and medicine. Whew. Got it. I'm still in early 60s, and trying to develop a retirement budget. I can figure out A & B. I'm concerned that C won't meet my needs, so I anticipate wanting to buy E/F Medigap coverage plus D from a private insurer. It's very difficult to find any info about actual costs of policies for budget planning. I appreciate the info that is being shared very much.

Kate, you can call insurance companies (AARP, Anthem, Cigna, Bankers, etc) and ask for a medigap package (the Part B supplement) or go online to any of their websites. Costs are zip code based and even though the benefits for the Plans are identical across all insurance companies, the cost will also vary depending on which insurance company you go with. Also some insurance companies do not offer all the Plans. Rates will go up each year and some go up more than others so factor increases in. Rate of increase can't be determined but the way it's going I'd expect it to be substantial. You can also ask for packages on their Advantage Programs if they offer it and their Part D plans if they offer that. I would give a bogus birth date as not sure they will provide the information if you are not close to 65. Good luck.

This information was very helpful and thanks to all who contributed!

Very good information to newbies trying to prepare for the next phase of retirement!

My question is if you don't buy Part D (prescriptions), does Part B or Plan F pay anything towards prescriptions through their plans?

It would be nice if the article above was revised to compile some of the comments here to help clarify what is written in the article. The commenters have really helped me understand this so much better than the original article!

Louise,
My Plan F policy through Mutual of Omaha did not include plan D drug coverage so I purchased a separate policy from Silverscript. I'm not sure if Plan F policies through other insurance companies include plan D drug coverage. From what I've gathered all Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans must meet certain criteria established by the government.

I heard that there is a $2500 cap on prescription plans - is this true?

Just to clear a few things up,

Part A covers 100% of hospital insurance.
Part B covers 80% of such things as Doctor visits, procedures, and outpatient services.
Part D covers medications and prescriptions.
Part C is called Medicare Advantage which encompasses Part B and Part D. Also can include things like dental and vision, but limited in geographic area and specific doctors. If you pick this policy, you do not pick Part D or part B medigap insurance.
Medigap insurance covers the 20% of Part B that is not covered above.
Depending on your area code, there are multiple TYPES available, type A,B,C,D,F,G,K,L,M,N. Each of these have different types of monthly premium and deductible. Each type is offered by multiple insurance company.

Something else to keep in mind. You and your spouse do not have to take the same type of Medigap insurance. If you have ailments that require more care, you might pick a policy that pays more with a higher premium. If your spouse does not need much ongoing care, she might pick a higher deductible with low monthly premiums.

Very interesting article and articulated to where it's easy to follow and understandable. Really great follow-up comments likewise!!

My question specifically regards Medicaid. The article points out that Medicaid programs vary from state to state. Does anyone know which states have more favorable Medicaid programs, and which states have the less desirable plans? I'm sure there are parameters and certain requirements that must be fulfilled first, but I wish there was a good resource, or article, that addressed this topic and exactly what the alternatives will be, depending upon state of residence. I'm asking about this on account of my 92 year old mother who has no long-term care insurance and very limited assets. If anyone could steer me in the right direction, it sure would be appreciated!

This whole Medicare thing is so extremely stressful. I'm not there yet, but will be sooner than I'd like. I've been worried about this since I was in my 30s. LOL I hate not having choices and being limited in my health-care decisions and forced to get care from what I believe are inferior providers. Not one doctor I currently see takes Medicare patients, which means no Medicare plan or supplement will be of any use to me. Yet, I have to pay for it. I don't get the advantage really. Being forced into a program that is limited at a time when our medical needs may be increasing seems crazy. Also, being thrust into a confusing system at this time of our lives almost seems cruel. Right now, the only ailment I have is Medicare, but that could lead to more. I read here trying to understand, but everything I read just tells me that I'm screwed. Looking for a Medicare consultant (fee for service) to help me navigate the waters. If you know of any, please share. Thank you and sorry for the rant, but this is so distressing and I'm scared of it.

Ginger,

I have used this person to help me make a choice with various Medigap plans. Unsure if that will be helpful to you, but at least you can speak with her, no charge. She did save me money by putting me in a different Medigap plan.
I live in Greenville SC and we also had to make numerous calls before I could locate a PCP who accepts Medicare. Hang in there and don't give up!

Policy Services
United Medicare Advisors
866-282-5797 ext. 2008 (desk) | (888) 977-9410
kara.cook@unitedmedicareadvisors.com

www.UnitedMedicareAdvisors.com

Any insurance company that sells supplemental insurance will have people that can help.

Just ran the numbers from lots of research for my husband who turns 65 this year and me in two years. Took me several days - all day. Between the Part B premiums, Part D prescription plan, and a supplemental Humana Part F plan to cover copays and dental and vision needs, the monthly costs to us would be $660 per month! This is at today's dollars - a modest cost increase would be 5% per year., so by the time I enter the Medicare system, it will be 10% more! We are budgeting $800.00 per month in our retirement budget - the highest monthly cost in the budget. Very disappointing!

Ginger,
I've been on Medicare for about 6 months and generally feel more secure now than when I was on regular insurance. The monthly cost is less than what I was paying for insurance through my job. In addition it can't be taken from you like it could if you lost your job. Granted you could get cobra coverage at a very high cost. I had a heart attack about one month after getting on Medicare. I haven't paid a dime in out of pocket expenses. Don't think that would have happened under regular insurance.

Well, if the whole mega-vat of worms that is health care administration in the United States weren't so ludicrously Byzantine (the rules of Calvin ball got nothin' to match this) the amount of problems such as this article suggests (and countless other similar issues) would be diminished by an incalculable, but very significant, margin.

The whole system is broke, and each attempt to fix it breaks it more.

What everyone needs to understand is the following:

Advantage is good ONLY in the state you live in. Repeat - ONLY good in state you live in. PERIOD. If you get sick out-of-state; like on vacation ~ All Expenses Come Out Of YOUR Pocket. ALL of Them. Advantage providers, in each state Write their own Drug Formulary which you can NOT research ahead of time. Advantage drug formulary can also change the pricing at any time. If you find this hard to believe; call MAYO or Sloan-Kettering; Stanford Med Center; Mass General;. Tell them you want a 2nd opinion and that you have Name of State ADVANTAGE thru Blue Cross; Humana; Pres. and listen to what they tell you. You are welcome to come; and all expenses are yours personally to pay. Advantage is Fake Medicare. And ADVANTAGE is under the direction of Your State so it is Different in all 50 States.

I live in NM. 3 years ago i qualified for Disability as I have Blood Cancer. Federal Gov't said I qualified for Medicare. State NM said no. I was under 65. Federal Law specifically says must be 65. So all i could get was Lovelace Advantage which was bought out by Blue Cross. NIGHTMARE. The games the state plays and the Advantage providers play is a disgrace.

I am now old enough to get R~E~A~L U.S. Gov't Medicare and I bought Plan G. All i have is a $147.oo deductible and all other charges are paid. This combination is ACCEPTED at all major facilities across the country. Since I have blood cancer I want a Major Facility like Mayo or Stanford.

There is no STATE requirement to put up ONE website, that tells state residents the Insurance Companies that provide Supplemental Ins. plans, i guess E thru N.in your home state. This is also a nightmare. Lots of insurance companies got into the Supplemental Plan business and have dropped out; been bought out, etc etc etc. The only way to go since this is your health, is to go with an A+ Rated Carrier, like Mutual of Omaha. You can google "A Rated Medicare Supplement Name of Your State."

Plan D - Meds was a snap. The U.S. Gov't control this on the Medicare website. When I plugged in New Mexico, i had 6 choices. you may have more depending on state you live in. But this was easy; controlled; clear; no bogus info.

The plans, or Supplements need to also be controlled so we are not wading thru tons of paper; fielding hundreds of calls [seems everyone knows when you turn 65].

Yes - someone posted earlier; lots of independent docs will not take Medicare. All hospitals associated with a Medical School; all State Hospitals; and the MAJOR facilities do take Medicare. I would love to go see a doc at Mayo in PHX or MDAndersen in TX.

No one knows when they will get sick. And how sick you can get. And how much high profile meds; like for Parkinson; Cancer; Stroke; etc - what these drugs Cost/per month. Better to have more insurance and not need it; than buy too little and be told you can get the $250,000 treatment ~ but all will be your personal expense. Even 20% of some of these cancer treatments, specifically , in hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you sign up for a lower Supplement and do learn you have Parkinson; Stroke; any form cancer; and you decide THEN ~ you want to upgrade your supplement to F or G; any carrier can deny your application to upgrade. If you are accepted, you know you will have a very expensive premium and/or large deductible. I could not get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. I was considered indigent and only facility i could go to was the hospital associated with the NM Medical School. I know what i am talking about when it comes to health care - both a lack of; pre-existing conditions; monthly premiums no one could pay and also pay for doc visits; treatments; chemo meds; food; rent; utilities;

And when you want a 2nd opinion or Surgery by one of the best in the country - you H~A~V~E to have Medicare With Supplement F or G. If you have Advantage, you are stuck with the "best doc" in your State. Think about it...

This Comment came in from Daniel:

Sandy yes, we were very disappointed when we ran the numbers and took care of parts B and D additional coverage for copay etc and prescriptions through an insurance in my wife's school system and we will pay $544 each per month for the coverage. Under the other plans you never know what you are paying for and can not depend on what drug you will be able to have covered. I used the "calculators" and in many cases got strange results requiring a phone call to the system to tell them that their calculator told me that my wife's annual cost for prescriptions was coming out as $ 108,000. A few twerks later it was between $3,500 and $ 8,000 depending on how each company calculated the monthly plan costs and how they handled your specific prescriptions etc. We went with the school's plan because there was far less guessing as to what one would get based on your needs as you grow older. We hope we made the correct decision because it starts in September for us. We will see what it all looks like in the world of retirement health care next year!

We can spend hours calculating, but sadly things can change both our health and insurance itself. This blog is great. I figure as much research as possible helps, but tomorrow is another day. Life can be a challenge.

My Medicare plan is through my prior employer (state of NC)and I had a choice of Humana or United Healthcare advantage plans. Prices were the same for out of state as in state for either plan, but are still an advantage plan. I presently live in VA. But like anything else, it can change. Just got a card in the mail watch for enrollment material...so who knows what that will bring. Right now I do not take any prescrip...that's the good news. But the bad news is I am planning for a pig in a poke. Trying my best to stay healthy, but tomorrow can bring anything.

Thank you Jim and Fionna for the information! I plan to read this whole string and make notes to move forward on this. Again, many thanks.

Elaine- I too am a state worker but worse...Illinois. my plan offered is also an advantage plan. It says in or out of state but retirees are telling me that it is very difficult to find a dr that will take medicare advantage out of the state issued and still difficult to find a dr who will take new Medicare patients period if you move...

Marsha, that is my fear. Of course, in VA, I have not yet had any trouble with NC insurance. Maybe I just cannot go that far. I wanted to retire to NC, but so far that is not happening.

I just began using A, B, and Humana Advantage PPO. Not wanting to change my primary care physician was the deciding factor due to Humana Advantage being the ONLY MEDICARE plan honored by his office. Hospitals also figured into my choices. Yes, the scenarios are confusing, but, feedback from friends, the Doctor's staff and a recommended agent, were great assets.

My employer insurance is $1400 family plan with BCBS with a co pay of 20% all around. This does not include ER physician charges. Now I am reading that $600-800 per person a month for medical expenses when I retire, higher than while working! This will be a major factor on relocation for us as we didn't plan it was so high priced. Thanks for the facts Arlo.

Thought this would help others:
1. Plan F offers a high-deductible plan. This plan requires you to pay a $2,180 deductible before it covers anything.
2. Plan K has an “Out-of-Pocket” yearly limit of $4,940 (in 2015). After you pay the out-of-pocket yearly limit and yearly Part B deductible, it pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
3. Plan L has an “Out-of-Pocket” yearly limit of $2,470 (in 2015). After you pay the out-of-pocket yearly limit and yearly Part B deductible, it pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
4. Plan N pays 100% of the Part B co-insurance, except for a co-payment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 co-payment for emergency room visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission.

Also this was informative for me.
Medigap plans are standardized in all but three states. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have different options.)

There are 10 standardized Medigap plan options currently available for purchase in most states. Each option is referred to by a different letter: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Every plan with the same letter has the same benefits, no matter which company you buy from. That means Plan A from one insurance company includes the exact same benefits as Plan A from a different insurance company. The only difference is price and who is providing the coverage.

DeyErmand,
Both my wife and I have a plan F through Mutual of Omaha. Total cost for both of us per month is $279.00. This plan does not have Part D so we pay an additional $136.00 for Silverscript. Lastly is the $210.00 that comes out of SS every month for Part B. Total cost per month for the two of us is $625.00 per month.

Actually the Plan F has very little deductable. I had a heart attack in March 2015 and spent 2 days in ICU. I did not have any out of pocket expenses but total billing to Medicare was over 50 thousand dollars. Follow up office visits to the Cardiologist had zero copays as well.

Ginger
I don't know what state you live in I am in NJ and have all the same Drs. At a great hospital Morristown they all take Medicare..
I don't have the Advantage Plan not a fan of HMO's...I keep hearing this some states I believe like Fl.
Joy

Got to talk with the MIL today. She says she pays out $104 each month from her check, then she has 20% co pay if she is admitted to the hospital. She goes to a Catholic hospital that will let her write off so much if not all of the 20% co pay by income. All the hospitals have this she says and base it on your income and set up payments. They do not pay for Ambulance and she has a $10 co pay for her family doctor. She has a $500 co pay for a new specialist first visit, then it is $45 every visit after that. She has AARP/United Health Care complete PPO and can use it out of state only at the ER. Her prescriptions cost her around $4 each. Generic, full price if not. She has even checked into assisted living/nursing home coverage. The minute she would move to one of these facility, she can change her medical insurance to cover it all. So she says there is no need to pay for what she doesn't yet need. She picked what would cover in home health care, and at home rehab, should something arise. She has a separate checking account and deposits $204 each month into it, and only uses it for medical bills/pharmacy.

Joanne sent in this question:
Have any of your readers mentioned having problems with Medicare coverage if they are living in two states (snowbirds)? I have been hearing stories that "NJ won't take Florida Medicare" etc. thank you!

Good question, because I had a relative go from Ohio to Tenn where his daughter lives, just this past summer, and they stabilized him in the ER but didn't admit him because of his Medicare and Medicaid insurance. He thinks it is because it is a HMO not a PPO policy.

As far as I could find out all Medicare Advantage programs (part C) are only valid within the state you reside. Supplemental Part B programs are valid along with the rest of Medicare Part A & B in any state.
Another thing to keep in mind is Any Medicare is not valid outside the US. If you travel abroad or on cruises to the Caribbean, ALWAYS get travel insurance that has medical coverage.

I have an employer retirement advantage plan and the location is not a problmem so far. But finding a doc that accepts new Medicare patients can be a challenge in places like FL and I guess elsewhere

Kathleen sent in this comment: My older sister took care of our mother for 9 years (she had a Alzheimers). My sister was on a waiting list for respite care for years. 9 months before our mother passed, she was put on hospice and, ironically, that was the same time her turn came for respite care. I highly recommend you check out with the local organizations, and ask her doctor, since she can't leave the house, to put her on Hospice. My sister still took care of her in her home while she was on hospice until she fell and broke her hip. (At that time she couldn't lift her to care for her... then she went into a care facility.) But with hospice my sister did go on vacation. Where she is located in Northern Indiana, they have a full bed & care facility so that family can take time off, up to a week at a time. My sister had been basically locked in with Mom for 8 of those years... (the rest of us live out of state and across country from her). She desperately needed some time away. I don't know if you have support or not, but this is an option. Many people don't know that these things are available.
Each state is different, but you can be put on as a family member care giver and be paid... at least in California. Again, I highly recommend you contact local agencies - with Medicare she should have a case worker - she should know some avenues to pursue.

These recent comments were moved from a different Blog for further discussion:

This is for Kate. My mother cannot be left alone and she doesn’t qualify for Medicaid so I can’t really work you see. Even if I could find a job at my age I would have to pay for her receiving care and I wouldn’t be able to save any money for my retirement. She owns her own home so we are planning on selling it or doing a reverse mortgage. I am the only other family member and we don’t belong to any churches anymore. She is not able to leave the house so I can’t utilize Adult day care either. I am doing the best that I can and try to make her as comfortable during this time in her life. It just gets frustrating sometimes because my husband wants us to be able to have more time for ourselves. Thanks for responding back…

by MaryJane — February 23, 2016 | Edit This

MaryJane – I do suggest that you talk to your state and local elder care agencies, including any Alzheimers groups. They may be able to point you to resources to make things easier for you. If her condition is so advanced that she can’t leave the house, you have additional concerns about getting her medical care. She may qualify for hospice, which would be particularly helpful since that will help pay for her Depends and other care products. (It is a myth that patients have to be at end of life for hospice care. Yes, they have to be evaluated every few months to confirm that they are terminal, but advanced Alzheimers patients can qualify even if they aren’t expected to die within 6 months or so). I am assuming that you have a power of attorney to sell her home or do a reverse mortgage. I’d suggest spending a few hundred dollars on legal advice. Divesting your Mom’s assets at this point can be tricky, even if you are the only family member and assets are being used solely for her care. You may also be able to pay yourself as a caregiver, but there are rules about how to it. (I can’t provide legal advice online – have to add this disclaimer.) My heart goes out to you. Women who are caregivers of Alzheimers’ patients may each have a different story, but we’re all sisters of the heart..

by Kate — February 24, 2016 | Edit This

Mary Jane,
I agree with Kate. My older sister took care of our mother for 9 years (she had a Alzheimers). My sister was on a waiting list for respite care for years. 9 months before our mother passed, she was put on hospice and, ironically, that was the same time her turn came for respite care. I highly recommend you check out with the local organizations, and ask her doctor, since she can’t leave the house, to put her on Hospice. My sister still took care of her in her home while she was on hospice until she fell and broke her hip. (At that time she couldn’t lift her to care for her… then she went into a care facility.) But with hospice my sister did go on vacation. Where she is located in Northern Indiana, they have a full bed & care facility so that family can take time off, up to a week at a time. My sister had been basically locked in with Mom for 8 of those years… (the rest of us live out of state and across country from her). She desperately needed some time away. I don’t know if you have support or not, but this is an option. Many people don’t know that these things are available.

Each state is different, but you can be put on as a family member care giver and be paid… at least in California. Again, I highly recommend you contact local agencies – with Medicare she should have a case worker – she should know some avenues to pursue.

by Kathleen Osborne — February 24, 2016 | Edit This

I just turned 65 live in Indiana. I took out a plan G with Aetna-Continental Life of Brentwood Tennessee for approx. $12 less than Mutual of Omaha. I just hope I made right decision. It's hard to know when you have no idea from year to year what your premiums will raise to. Does anyone have any good advice about either of these companies. Thanks.

F - I've had a Plan F from Mutual of Omaha for a couple of years. Had two heart attacks last year and had zero out of pocket expenses even with hospital costs exceeding $200M. My monthly cost for this plan is $158.00. The plan does not include Part D prescription drug coverage so have to pay an additional $68.00 per month for that.

After trying the umbrella PPO Medicare insurance for a few years with zero premium and all the aggravations that go with this type of plan (doctors and hospitals and drugs constantly being cancelled, changed, etc.) we went with Plan F through Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Jan. 2015. Have not had a single issue with the plan - zero out of pocket - and my husband has been through 2 operations during that time. Every doctor and hospital in our area (Fort Myers, FL) takes this plan. Not as pleased with having to deal with a separate drug plan but that is manageable at $70 a month. Monthly cost varies with $210 for my husband and $197 for myself for Plan F.

My husband is retiring in 4 years. When he leaves his job at age 70, we will both need to be insured. I am 13 years younger than my hubby and am in good health. He has type I diabetes, but keeps it under control. I am wondering if it would be better for me to secure my own plan until I turn 65. I am guessing that if I go under his SS benefits he will be charged double? I do like what is being shared about using Parts A & B and getting a Plan F and a prescription drug plan like Silverscripts. I assume you don't have to pay for Parts C & D in that scenario? I've just begun the research process and it is daunting. I appreciate all the info. being shared!

Not sure if someone mentioned this previously but I thought it was important to post here. When you apply for Medicare parts B and D, your monthly payment is based on your income of two years prior to your filing- my 2016 medicare application was based on my 2014 salary, I retired in 2015, so my income had been greatly reduced. Based on my 2014 income, I had to pay a supplemental IRMAA fee for both parts B and D.
There is a form you can fill out, SSA-44, and submit along with a copy of your Federal Income Tax return for the year you want Medicare to base your payment on, in my case, 2015.They based my payment on that. I received a check for previous over payment and my IRMAA was eliminated. I did the same for for my husband. Between my husband and myself, we're saving over $300.00 a month.
Hope this will help!!!

For MaryJane: I am in the same situation with my Husband. There is no guide books for end of life care, it seems. A sad and frightening place to be. So glad for this AARP Blog!

Can some of you discuss 'Observation status' and what Medicare and Medigap Plan F pay for your stay? I have read that if you are not admitted as an inpatient and under observation status, Medicare (Part A) will not pay anything. Part B will pay but the patient pays a lot of out pocket. My question is if you are under observation status and you have Part F, will you still have to pay extra bills or will Part F cover those expenses. Also read something about hospitals not covering your regular maintenance drugs such as high blood pressure medicine. You may be able to bring your own prescriptions to the hospital.

I was not clear in the above post, I mean to say if you need to go to the hospital and they do not admit you but put you in under Observation Status.

This is a terrible practice and they did this to my Mom when she was suffering from an unknown internal problem. They didn't want to admit her and she was on Observation status. She stayed about a day and a half, then they released her even though she was still sick and no one knew why. They scheduled an endoscopy for two days later after she was released from the hospital. The social workers tells you flat out the patient can't stay! I was furious I had to take my Mom home and she was as sick as she went in. We found out after the endoscopy that she had a radiation burn on her esophagus. She had Medicare and State of CT insurance. I don't think she had to pay any extra so I was wondering if a person went to the hospital under Observation satus, would Part F pay what Medicare doesn't. Also, when you are on Observation status and you are not admitted, if you need to go to a nursing home for rehab, you do not meet the criteria to go and have Medicare pay. You have to stay 3 consecutive midnights under Admitted status to get Medicare pay for rehab services if you need them.

Louise
You are so right with the above post and something few know about. I heard of it during a Medicare forum with an advocate. People need to ask and make sure what their status is when being admitted to the hospital.

Staci, Even if people know the status (Admitted or Observation Status) you can't demand to have them change your status. I did read somewhere that you can call your doctor and he has to write orders to have you admitted. However, it seems there is a panel who decides who can be admitted. I am just reading hodge podge things so not sure if any of this is true. But this practice seems very inhumane. The Social worker was very blunt and to the point my mother had to leave the hospital. I was in total shock that they were practically tossing her in the street when she was still so sick and had not diagnosed what her problem was. Another time after that she was very sick again and they did admit her. She stayed about 4 days and needed rehab and went directly to the nursing home and Medicaid paid. However, the nursing home had to report her condition (improvements or not) to Medicare on a regular basis. My Mother was doing good then she stopped improving so the Medicare people basically told the nursing home they were not longer going to pay. UGH, it is such an ugly system. Here you have a sick Mother and you try to get her help and all you face is 'the system' trying its best to weasel out of paying. I understand that there has to be rules but it sure is frustrating living through it.

I think this is s conversation you need to have with your doctor if a hospital stay is being considered.

Staci, this is true if you have a planned procedure but it isn't always possible when an emergency occurs. My Mom was so sick she first went to the emergency room. They then transferred her to a bed in the hospital.

Staci, you have the right to refuse being admitted for observation. I always make a point of asking if my husband will be admitted as a patient and not being observed. I read about this a few years back. You really have to stand your ground which is not easy when a loved one needs medical care as this is a stressful situation. But the fact is it is really hard as you grow older to find any medical facility who thinks as you as a suffering person and not someone who has lived their life. I have seen that scenario played out too many times.

I was in hospital 4 days & received a letter from hospital that I had been under observation the entire stay although many test & heart cath. Today I get medicare notice of denial for $41,990.80 of hospital stay. I have medicare A & B plus BC/BS supplement under the plan F. I purchased this very plan so I would never have any worries for hospital bills but now I'm screwed. I have no funds to pay this & when Medicare denies a payment automatically BC/BS denies. I'm trying to find any recourse I may have beyond appeals. I'm just sick & scared about what will happen next. You try to do the right thing getting the best coverage & this happens

That was very nice for sharing such an important message.

It seems to me that a couple of years ago I learned something about that if you are going to go into the hospital, you need to make sure that you are being admitted and not just for observation. Anyone else heard about that? Maybe they can go back and correct the code that was originally used to make this right. Doctors can do that and resubmit it.

Medicare will pay for observation stays. Have you talked to the hospital financial department about this? I am sure that the hospital originally billed it as an inpatient stay but now they need to rebill it as an observation stay. Please let us all know how this turns out.

I have a friend that is 66 and still employed and has health insurance thru her employer. She is thinking about working part time and working less hours will no longer allow her to be insured. She has Medicare A but now will need to buy Part B. Does anyone know how long it takes for Part B to go into effect? Since she has been employed with insurance there will be no penalty. I have looked all over and cannot find the time frame once you sign up to when it kicks in so you can use it. When I signed up, it kicked in on my birthday month when I turned 65. I was already on SS. She is on SS too and Medicare A but she has to apply now to get Part B going.

Louise, when I began Medicare five years ago, it became effective on the first of the month of my 65th birthday month. I believe if one is born on the first of the month, then it will begin on the first of the month before you turn 65.

I am now waiting for a release from the hospital as I write this. YES, it must be an admission status for Medicare Part A to cover the bill. I made sure that the doctor's understood this and they did. I came down with AFib after a viral upper respiratory infection started. I had symptoms of pneumonia, but it also caused other problems. I was in ICU this week for four nights and last night on a telemetry unit. I spoke with the case worker who assured me this was an admission. Medicare does not always pay for Observation Status, and it can be time consuming to get it re coded properly. I made sure this was understood. I will report back if any problems occur. I just want to get home now.

Editor's note: Hope you feel better soon and that this is resolved satisfactorily. We are all rooting for you here!

I have heard that they can move you in an out of admission status when you have already been admitted. They are supposed to let you know what status you are in. To me it is BS! If you are in a bed in the hospital you should be covered! Why else would you be there? It isn't exactly like being at a resort or on vacation!

Hi Louise:

Before checkout yesterday, I met with a caseworker at the hospital. She assured me this was a true admission. Now, all the rooms are private rooms at the hospital where I was admitted and Part A only pays for a semi-private room...so I will report back also how the billing went for that. They do not pay for your TV either--yet it was on in my room when I got to the ICU. I am thinking that the last thing a person needs is to be bothered with admission status when one may be fighting for one's life. I was able to stay on top of this and the personnel at the hospital knew me since I used to work with them via my surgery work at the same hospital, but times have changed and I am concerned with what may be covered...or not.

REGARDING THE DRUGS PRESCRIBED: I did ask for a free coupon for one months supply of Eliquis for the A-Fib as I would have had to pay $444.00 copy for one 30 day supply! Doctors have NO IDEA what the pharmacy will charge you for your drugs so speak up if you find they may be too expensive. Eliquis is new and has no generics yet so they are charging huge prices. I checked my meds before I left the hospital and called the Part D Wellcare insurance I had purchased. They gave me the co-pays. I was being prescribed four medications and two had NO co-pay. Thank God for that coupon for the Eliquis. I intend to call the company tomorrow to protest the price and to see if I qualify for a discount in the future. I am at home resting now and thank God for it as I was near death from this viral upper respiratory infection and all the problems it brought.

Jennifer: Hope you feel better quickly! Your post was a timely reminder for me. I will be scheduling a surgery soon, which will probably require anywhere from 2-3 days in the hospital. It had not occurred to me that I might have to deal with "inpatient" vs. "observation" status, or having to meet a "two midnight" rule in order to have some costs paid by Medicare instead of my gap insurance. They sure don't make this easy! (Fortunately I don't expect to need nursing home care afterwards, so I don't have to worry about meeting the 3-day inpatient requirement to obtain reimbursement for nursing care.) I strongly agree with Louise!!

Hi, I was on Medicare A, B, D, F when I got my new job. They offered me health insurance, but I did not want to risk going off Medicare, so I declined it. They do not reimburse me for health insurance, so it is quite a loss of income. Now, with my new income I wonder whether Medicare will charge me more. I am also collecting SS. I am 68. Does anyone know what the threshold income is for Medicare A and B? I love working, but between higher taxes and possibly increased Medicare costs, I am starting to feel ripped off. I fought cancer for 2 years with heavy duty treatments, surgeries, chemo, radiation, and now immunotherapy. Others who had the same cancer treatments applied for disability and are now collecting. I, on the other hand, wanted to work. If I took company health insurance, I would not be paying taxes on it and would save a little over 5k in payments a year. Did I make a mistake. I was afraid if I went off plan F , I could risk losing it.

Maimi:

Since I turned 65 in September of this year, I too, can qualify for Part F insurance. I chose to not apply for it, because they are closing Part F to new applicants who turn 65 after Dec. 31, 2019. I did not want to be in a closed pool of sicker people with no new younger people allowed in. Part F premiums have been increasing and even Part G is also increasing now since they are the guaranteed issue. I am grateful that I chose Part N and that I had it in place before my current illness. (Who knew?? I never get sick!). I will report back about any and all billing problems if and when they occur, from my recent hospitalization.

I, too, want to work and my current employer does not offer me any benefits. If you make over $85,000-$107,000 as an individual then you may have to pay a surcharge for Medicare, I read that in the manual. If I am incorrect, someone here will know for sure and chime in. I know that it all seems a bit unfair to you and I wish you the best. I am going back to work this morning. I feel better in my office in my routine, if I get tired, then I will come home early.

Thanks to all for their good wishes. This past week really threw me for a loop!

As I understand it, Medicare costs are based on your income from two years prior. This is from a couple of years ago and is for 2018. Go to the Medicare web site for current information - but this gives you an idea. My notes don't indicate, but I'm guessing this is Adjusted Gross Income

If yearly income in 2016 was: You Pay
$85,000 or less $134.00
$85,001-$107,000 $187.50
$107,001-$133,500 $267.90
$133,500-$160,000 $348.30
$160,000 & over $428.60

Sorry everything is run together. When it posted it pushed everything together.

Tess and Jennifer, thank you. It seems like I should not have gone back to work because ia now will pay higher taxes and higher Medicare. Not exactly a good incentive for those of us who push ourselves to contribute to the country. Some people with the same treatments I had are now on disability and take from the system. It makes no sense.

And the cost is going up in 2020. I believe the baseline cost will be $144.60.

Newly retired people whose prior income shouldn't be factored into the cost for Medicare, can file a SSA-44 form with Social Security to prove that they've retired. (My employer signed a retirement statement for me as proof of retirement.)) Keep a copy or two & be prepared to have to bring it back into a Social Security office. Somehow they've lost my SSA-44 form a few times over the last 1-1/2 years. I get notices that my Medicare cost is being "corrected" and retroactively increased, so they'll deduct the back-premiums from my Social Security I take a copy of the SSA-44 form into a local Social Security office, and they straighten it out...until the next notice arrives.

As a recently retired Federal employee, how does this affect us? Should we take Medicare (Parts A & B)? We have great health insurance. Why would we need Medicare part A and part B?

Big Dog:
You should elect Part A (hospital) for sure. Assuming you have paid the Medicare tax for at least 10 years while working, Part A will have no cost to you. Your Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan will most likely waive any deductible, copay, and coinsurance for hospital stays if you have Part A.

You won't need Part D (prescriptions) in most cases unless you have very high meds or your FEHB plan doesn't cover a particular med.

Whether to enroll in Medicare Part B will be an individual choice after considering your specific health factors, your income and whether your doctors will accept Part B reimbursement. As stated above, if your income is high in retirement, you will pay a higher monthly premium for Part B. You will have to determine if you would receive sufficient benefit from Part B to justify the the additional expense. However, most FEHB plans will waive the deductible, coinsurance and copays on doctor's expenses if you enroll in Part B. Some plans will also offer a return of some of your FEHB premium to help pay for the Part B premium. You could enroll in a lower cost FEHB plan and Medicare Part B and see how it works out for you. If it doesn''t provide sufficient benefit for you, you can always drop Part B and switch to a more comprehensive FEHB plan during the next Open Season.

Here’s the scoop on paying more for Medicare Part B if you’re on Medicare and working after 65. You will not pay any more than $135.50 (slightly higher next year) unless you are an individual who makes more than $85,000 a year. If you file as a married couple, you can make up to $170,000 a year before paying more than the regular Part B premium. In my opinion if you’re making that much, you can afford to pay a little more. As to people on disability “taking” from society, these folks went through a long and arduous process to prove they are truly disabled. Almost all attempts to go on disability are initially denied by Social Security. Then the applicant must get an attorney and prove with strong testimony and written evidence to an administrative law judge that the person is truly disabled under the terms of the applicable laws. I have known practically no one on SS disability who has a happy financial life. The disability payments to recipients are a small sum to many of us and I don’t begrudge applicants (who legitimately qualify) their right to barely subsist if they can’t work. Of course, there are always some applicants who fake it, and there are some unethical attorneys and even a few shady judges. But for the vast majority of recipients, even the small disability payments are a lifesaver. I don’t mind sharing a bit through my federal taxes and FICA payments. I learned thatnprinciple of helping others as a kid in Baptist Sunday School, and it’s always stuck with me.

Re. Part D, remember there is a penalty for every month you do not have Part D coverage after you become eligible for Medicare.
https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/part-d-late-enrollment-penalty
A friend of mine in his 70's never had it, and is now on a $900/mo. drug (Xarelto) and is playing catch up with his Part D premiums.