topic Re: Medicare in Wellness

Medicare

Nightowlz — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:41:34 GMT

I don't know where to post this so if it needs to be moved go ahead & move it.

DH will be turning 65 soon so now we get lots of phone calls every day so much I turned the ringer off. LOL!!! Now I have to go thru caller id to see if anyone I know actually called. We also get garbage in the mail almost every day.

Are all these calls scams plus the mail too or do we need to look at the mail? DH just throws it in the trash? I'm not answering the phone since I doubt they would be calling.

He knows he has a certain amount of time before & after he turns 65 to enroll I guess online.

Thanks for any replies. I will come back later to check. I need to clean house now.

Re: Medicare

jackthebear — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:47:15 GMT

I never got any calls or junk mail

go to Medicare.gov and it will help you

from what I remember you can sign up on line to "register " then you pick your plan

just don't forget to sign up in the allotted time

Re: Medicare

Mz iMac — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:50:33 GMT

Soon if not already, your DH will get a booklet called Medicare & YOU 2020. The booklet is customized to your State. It will have all the supplemental insurance companies that are allowed to do business in your State.

Your hubby is doing the right thing in trashing the junk mail. Some are legit & some are scams. Only deal w/the companies that are listed in the Medicare booklet.

Hope your hubby did not throw that away!

Re: Medicare

Estates — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:54:47 GMT

@Nightowlz My hubby just turned 65 in July.Everyday was an onslaught of mail and calls. I think a fellow even came to our house and left a sticky note that looked like something the post office would leave that required a trip to the post office.

I got him enrolled in Medicare via their website and signed him up for a supplemental policy as well. It is very easy and tons of good info on medicare.gov.

I was just telling my husband that it's ironic now that he's all signed up,all the mailings and calls have suddenly stop.Does all that come from one universal place????

Re: Medicare

Carmie — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:57:17 GMT

I have worked in healthcare insurance for over 25 years, so, I know my way around Medicare.

When you are within 6 months of turning 65, the calls and junk mail begins. It is relentless and nerve racking.

By law, no insurance companies are supposed to be contacting you by phone unless you have asked them to...by filling out a card for more info for instance.

No one should entertain these brokers who are breaking the law. I tried to block their phone numbers, but they just call on another line.

Brokers and companies who send info in the mail are working within the law. If you are not interested, just trash the mail.

Your husband will have to choose between enrolling in Traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. If he chooses Traditional Medicare, he might want to get a Medicare Supplement plan. He must choose a supplement plan within his open enrollment period, along with a separate RX plan.

If he chooses an Advantage plan, he will not need a supplement and it probably will include an RX plan.

I suggest you look at what is available and ask a ton of questions before he actually turns 65. The decisions he makes can be permanent and must not be chosen lightly.

Good luck with the phone calls and try to keep your sanity, they will drive you crazy.

Re: Medicare

Still Raining — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:58:41 GMT

I never got any calls, but I still get junk mail. Guess it is going to follow me to the grave. Picks up in the fall.

Re: Medicare

SilleeMee — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:00:03 GMT

I just turned 65 this year and was bombarded with phone calls but not much mail. Medicare does not call you unless you have made an appointment with them, which I did when I enrolled. The Medicare dot gov website is very helpful and it might help answer some question you might have. Good luck.

Re: Medicare

Carmie — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:01:56 GMT

@Estates The calls will probably happen every year again when there is an open enrollment period for people who want to change their Advantage Plans or RX insurance.

It seems you just can't avoid these annoying calls.

Re: Medicare

Estates — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:05:38 GMT

@Carmie Thank God for caller id!

Re: Medicare

gidgetgh — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:15:05 GMT

I start Medicare on October 1st. I got tons of phone calls and mailers. Tons.

On the calls, I either hung up or didn't answer and all mailers went directly in the trash. I signed up for my supplement and prescription plan through my husbands employer because that's where my benefits come from.

Re: Medicare

alicedee — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:35:57 GMT

I used HAP for my health insurance prior to turning 65, and i was happy with them. They sent me info on their Medicare Advantage Plans. I wanted a gym membership, and that was included through HAP. That's who I went with.

The Medicare website has a lot of info. You may want to talk to trusted friends or relatives and see what they do, and how satisfied they are.

I tossed all the mail, except from HAP and Medicare itself. I didn't get a lot of calls....perhaps because I just have a cell phone, no land line?

Re: Medicare

Dinaki — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:22:50 GMT

Can I ask you a question lovely people?

What is Medicare and will I get also one?

From what I read here, I must be 60 years older, I am 62, does that qualified me?

I am not an American citizen but I do have a Green Card (if that make any sense).

Re: Medicare

hckynut — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:29:11 GMT

Mine was many years ago but I remember my wife getting hers a few years ago. She got the booklet pictured and went from there. Can't imagine anyone close to that age throwing it away as it is not a few page booklet, but! I guess shucks happens!

Lots of good info from others here.

hckynut 🏒

Re: Medicare

Carmie — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:34:56 GMT

@Dinaki Medicare is a health insurance program for people over 65 and also qualifying disabled people.

If you are not an American citizen, you might quality for Medicare Part A, which is hospital insurance for inpatient care at no cost to you. Part B of Medicare would have to be purchased by you.

You could be eligible if you receive social security benefits, Railroad retirements or Social Security disability benefits.

If you are married to an American citizen, you may be eligible for social security through him.

You can call your Social Security office in the state where you live and ask them. It is worth looking into.

Re: Medicare

Dinaki — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:39:25 GMT

@Carmie WOW

you surely did go with very good explanations for me, I thank you kindly!

Re: Medicare

SilleeMee — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:45:53 GMT

@Carmie

How can a person qualify for Part A if they have not worked and contributed Medicare tax? In other words if a person does not have enough working quarters, or none, then how can they qualify for Part A without having to pay an actual premium for that?

In my case I did not have enough quarters to have Part A paid for and I have to pay a premium to get coverage.

Re: Medicare

Carmie — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:01:00 GMT

@SilleeMee I am just going by what Medicare has published. There are many people who have never worked and they are getting both Medicare Part A and Part B.

Many people are eligible for SS and Medicare because their spouses worked and they have been married for at least 10 years.

In addition, many non US citizens have enough quarters ( 10 years) paid in on their own to collect.

There are also many people who have worked for many, many years that have never paid a cent into Medicare or SS, so they are not eligible..most are government employees.

I don't make the rules...

Re: Medicare

SilleeMee — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:40:02 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@SilleeMee I am just going by what Medicare has published. There are many people who have never worked and they are getting both Medicare Part A and Part B.

Many people are eligible for SS and Medicare because their spouses worked and they have been married for at least 10 years.

In addition, many non US citizens have enough quarters ( 10 years) paid in on their own to collect.

There are also many people who have worked for many, many years that have never paid a cent into Medicare or SS, so they are not eligible..most are government employees.

I don't make the rules...

@Carmie

Wow that sounds great....getting free health insurance without having to qualify for it. Medicare coverage is costing me hundreds, almost like a mortgage payment each month. boowhoo

Re: Medicare

Meowingkitty — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:39:02 GMT

I turn 65 in October and already enrolled. Never got any phone calls unless they are the anonymous ones I don't answer but the mail is ridiculous. Every day I get something. I have yet to look at any of it and just rip it up and walk it straight to the recycle bin. I'm still insured under my husband plan so I don't need a supplemental plan until he retires and I already know what I'm going to choose. I'm perfectly capable of enrolling and figuring it out all by myself.

Re: Medicare

Carmie — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 20:10:21 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Carmie wrote:
@SilleeMee I am just going by what Medicare has published. There are many people who have never worked and they are getting both Medicare Part A and Part B.

Many people are eligible for SS and Medicare because their spouses worked and they have been married for at least 10 years.

In addition, many non US citizens have enough quarters ( 10 years) paid in on their own to collect.

There are also many people who have worked for many, many years that have never paid a cent into Medicare or SS, so they are not eligible..most are government employees.

I don't make the rules...

@Carmie
Wow that sounds great....getting free health insurance without having to qualify for it. Medicare coverage is costing me hundreds, almost like a mortgage payment each month. boowhoo

No one gets free Medicare health insurance. Part B costs money..

anywhere from $144.60 to $491.60 a month based on your yearly income.

Medicare Supplements are expensive too. They add an additional $180 to $300 a month To your Medicare preminum and you still pay more for RX coverage and have deductibles and copays out of pocket expenses.

I wish it was more affordable for everyone, but I don't see health insurance getting any less expensive. If it ever becomes free health insurance for all, our taxes will sky rocket and our quality of care will go down.

I do understand your frustration and don't blame you one bit for not being thrilled with the rules.