topic Re: Medicare Card in Wellness

Medicare Card

itsmagic — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:22:18 GMT

I'm new to Medicare this month and I decided on a supplement and prescription plan which is all set. What concerns me is having to show my Medicare card (in addition to my supplement card) with my social security number on it at any doctors, hospitals. etc. I've always taken great care not to give out my social security number. Does this bother anyone else?

Re: Medicare Card

violann — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:32:10 GMT

@itsmagic wrote:
I'm new to Medicare this month and I decided on a supplement and prescription plan which is all set. What concerns me is having to show my Medicare card (in addition to my supplement card) with my social security number on it at any doctors, hospitals. etc. I've always taken great care not to give out my social security number. Does this bother anyone else?

Actually, it DOES bother me too, @itsmagic, but since it only happens in medical facilities and financial institutions, I try to convince myself that it's always in a setting of medical/professional confidentiality.

Hope I'm right!

Re: Medicare Card

millieshops — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:32:12 GMT

It is bothersome, but in the 10 years I've been doing just that I've never heard a solution. Every once in a while we hear something about a change, but I suspect almost any change would be very traceable by thieves, too.

Re: Medicare Card

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:33:03 GMT

I've always been exactly like you. I am 70 this year. I had to get used to everyone on this planet having access to my social security number. There is no way around it.

You will find yourself giving out (and handing out that number) every time you turn around!

But get this! I recently applied for social security. I waited until I was 70 so I got the full amount. I have to get my late husband's social security because I'm a widow and when I worked the government did not take out social security (how about that).

Well, I got my new card and now I had out his social security number (no longer mine), but I have to make sure they also have mine, just don't submit any payment request under mine, do it under his......(that is going to get mixed up....you wait). I think it already happened, I have to call Medicare this week for lack of payment!

I'm so sorry because I totally understand how you feel. I've never gotten over it. I was one of the first people to take my social security number off of everything when we could (remember it used to be printed on checks). Now it's plastered everywhere.

I've made every call I could and there is nothing that can be done about it.

I never wanted or needed Medicare in the first place. My late husband was self-employed, I had no say in Medicare. I could afford to live without it. That, my dear is where your tax money goes to. I think if you can afford to pay for regular insurance AND you want to have your own, you should be able to get your own insurance. There are Drs who won't take Medicare if that's all you have. What about those people? It's sad really.

Re: Medicare Card

Trix — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:37:40 GMT

Medicare cards being used in institutions and facilities which try to have higher than usual safeguards. Of course anything can be compromised these days, but I feel more confident of security related to my Medicare card than I do swiping my credit/debit card at any retailer or gas station.

Re: Medicare Card

NickNack — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:54:17 GMT

I'm just starting Medicare this month, too, and am not happy about carrying around my social security number in my purse. I'm still trying to figure out Medi-Gap and Part D. I take five prescriptions. They're all generic, but it says my part will be something like $4,500 a year for prescriptions. That doesn't make sense to me. Also, the first six months of prescriptions are outrageously expensive, and the last six months are more than reasonable. I'm very confused. I've tried to figure this out on Medicare's website and also One Exchange. I'm going to have to call someone for help with this.

Re: Medicare Card

2cockers1cat — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:03:33 GMT

In April, 2015, Congress authorized HHS to remove our SSN's from Medicare accounts. However---- it affects new enrollees first. So, by 2019 (!!), new accounts will have a different ID system. For the rest of us, 2023-ish is the change date. (Of course, many of the current users will be gone by then.)

Re: Medicare Card

shaggygirl — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:07:52 GMT

I'm not understanding, I never carry my medicare card with me. I only have to carry and show the one from my secondary or supplementary.....or whatever you call it. I've had quite a bit of "stuff" done in the past year....cat scan, ultrasound, blood work, angiogram done at the various places I've had go to get them done. No one has ever asked me anywhere for my medicare card, just the other one. It does say on it ConnectiCare Medicare Plans. I remember when I first got the card it specifically said this is the only one I need to use. It does not have a SS number on it.

Re: Medicare Card

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:07:40 GMT

@NickNack I just received a HUGE book from Medicare supposedly explaining things.

I wish they'd save the money they spent on printing that thing (it's huge) and spend it on making Medicare services better for those who have only Medicare. It must have cost a fortune to print this thing and it's is difficult to understand in the first place!

This country is all about youth. Once you reach retirement age, instead of things getting easier they become more complicated and difficult to maneuver around.

I'm lucky because I have my oldest daughter, especially, who is very smart (we educated her well....Ha!). She and my sons-in-law and other daughters help me figure these things out. If I didn't have them to help me, I'd be going crazy. I am a widow, so it's just me.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. Believe me, I really do understand. It doesn't make sense. I'm sorry to say, I believe it is going to get worse before it gets better.

My daughter said her generation absolutely knows that they will never get the medicare benefits they pay in to. She said she doesn't mind because at least I am getting those benefits too. I'd really be out of luck had my husband not worked.

I think I get a pretty good amount because my husband was successful and paid a lot of money into it. I do know that if I had to live on just that I don't think I could do it. I know there are people who have to TRY to just live on Medicare. I don't know how they do it.

Re: Medicare Card

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:10:03 GMT

EVERY Dr asks "What is your primary insurance". You are supposed to say Medicare and bla bla is your SECONDARY insurance.

The way it works is they submit to Medicare and they pay and the secondary picks up some of whatever Medicare doesn't pay.

Re: Medicare Card

Trix — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:10:36 GMT

That doesn't seem right to me. I take on average 7 RXs per month and some months there are extra scripts and I'm not paying anywhere near $4500 out-of-pocket. The insurance company you purchased your Part D plan from can fully explain. They will be able to tell you exactly what they pay for each RX med you take and can estimate your annual out of pocket. Policies vary (even within the same insurance company), so it's best to speak to someone with whom you can share the confidential details with.

Re: Medicare Card

2cockers1cat — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:16:56 GMT

I'm often asked for my ID's.at medical facilities. They want to see my photo ID and my 2 medical cards. They are scanned into the computer system to catch any changes, like a new DL number and photo or new effective date for medical coverage that might have generated a new account number or change in payment destination.

Re: Medicare Card

Gram W — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:18:10 GMT

I am 71 and also have Medicare Advantage. This card is the only card I am asked to show. I have lupus so I am checked by my autoimmune specialist every 4-6 months. They have to monitor my meds. My meds can make me go blind therefore I have to see my eye doctor every 6 months. Occasionally tests are done at the hospital. I have never been asked to show my Medicare card. I only show my Advantage card. In fact I was told to put it in a safe place as I would not be asked for it. It would only be asked for if I had a major medical need costing many thousands. I would ask someone at an office for the aging. Also we have a very active senior center that have trained people who give free guidance in Medicare and insurance needs to all seniors who request it. Good luck. When in doubt it pays to talk to people trained concerning the needs of seniors. Usually this information and guidance is free. You might get answers to questions you had not thought of yet. Getting the right answers will put your mind at ease. I am enjoying life (great grandbaby just arrived) and making memories one day at a time. In 20 or 30 years I will have them to think about when I am sitting in my rocking chair. :-)

Re: Medicare Card

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:29:33 GMT

@2cockers1cat That is exactly like it is for me. I don't have a lot wrong with me (mainly arthritis) and a bad back where I have to see a Dr 1X's a month.

Even when I was in a car accident when I settled up (not my fault) I had to make sure the lawyer paid back Medicare for what they paid. All of the bills went to the lawyer and he paid them.

I don't understand why it would be different for some. I know that the way I do it is right. If I told my Drs that AARP was my first insurance, I'd have to pay them back eventually because they are not considered my first insurance.

I have the money, I could afford any kind of insurance and as a secondary get what is supposed to be the best.

You want the best? Ha! If you retire and worked for the government you will have THE BEST secondary. Believe me, I know. I have friends who have Medicare and government insurance from when they worked for the government. It is Grade A.

I'm lucky Iive never been turned down because I have that secondary insurance. I have to get infusions 1X's a month because I don't have a good immune system.

My Dr said Medicare is one of the few that actually pays for the infusion as it costs as much as $3,000 to get them. I just got a bill for what insurance won't pay and he wasn't exaggerating!

It is crazy the cost of medicine. I was talking to my investment adviser who handles things for me. He said my stock on the companies that make medicine is giving amazing returns. That's wonderful, but........(I know the other side of it too).

It's not just one thing that causes these high costs, it's more than one thing. It's not quite that simple. Like life, itself!

Re: Medicare Card

NickNack — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:38:24 GMT

@Trix wrote:
That doesn't seem right to me. I take on average 7 RXs per month and some months there are extra scripts and I'm not paying anywhere near $4500 out-of-pocket. The insurance company you purchased your Part D plan from can fully explain. They will be able to tell you exactly what they pay for each RX med you take and can estimate your annual out of pocket. Policies vary (even within the same insurance company), so it's best to speak to someone with whom you can share the confidential details with.

@Trix I've talked with a friend who takes more prescriptions than I do, and her out-of-pocket isn't nearly that amount either. I don't see what I could be doing wrong though. I'm just entering my meds like they ask and then looking at the plans that cover those drugs. I'm definitely going to call someone and discuss this.

Re: Medicare Card

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:51:21 GMT

@Gram W wrote:
I am 71 and also have Medicare Advantage. This card is the only card I am asked to show. I have lupus so I am checked by my autoimmune specialist every 4-6 months. They have to monitor my meds. My meds can make me go blind therefore I have to see my eye doctor every 6 months. Occasionally tests are done at the hospital. I have never been asked to show my Medicare card. I only show my Advantage card. In fact I was told to put it in a safe place as I would not be asked for it. It would only be asked for if I had a major medical need costing many thousands. I would ask someone at an office for the aging. Also we have a very active senior center that have trained people who give free guidance in Medicare and insurance needs to all seniors who request it. Good luck. When in doubt it pays to talk to people trained concerning the needs of seniors. Usually this information and guidance is free. You might get answers to questions you had not thought of yet. Getting the right answers will put your mind at ease. I am enjoying life (great grandbaby just arrived) and making memories one day at a time. In 20 or 30 years I will have them to think about when I am sitting in my rocking chair. :-)

I also have an advantage plan. When you take that instead of supplement plan, you opt out of Medicare , that's why you only need to show your advantage card. I have United Healthcare. The only charge is the money taken out of your SS payment every month.

Re: Medicare Card

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:51:44 GMT

I read somewhere years ago about the complaint of carrying around your Medicare card with the full social security number.

This is what the suggestion:

Make a color copy of your Medicare card and with a black marker, neatly black out XXX-XX-0234. (Leave the last 4 numbers visible). (Cut it out).

The first time you visit a new doctor or hospital, show the original card and then leave at home, not in your wallet.

If you are asked subsequent times for the Medicare card, show them the blacked out copy. You can at anytime show them the original at a later date if requested.

I did this for my mom and she NEVER had any problems.

Re: Medicare Card

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:56:10 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 My husband and I read the Medicare book so we would know what Medicare was all about. It was very helpful. People need something so they can make decisions that need to be made.

Re: Medicare Card

meem120 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:01:36 GMT

I think they mean you can get $4500 in prescriptions and then you go into the donut hole. YOU donot pay that 4500..you pay just your generic price for the drug.. For instance if XX drug is $75.00 and your cost is $3.00, that full price of $75.00 go toward that $4500...if you only take low cost generics your prescriptions would cost nothing near that 4500 for the year. As compared to another person who may take very expensive prescriptions, with no generics availabe for a long term serious illness they would hit theyre 4500 in very short time

Re: Medicare Card

Nuttmeg — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:10:27 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
@NickNack I just received a HUGE book from Medicare supposedly explaining things.

I wish they'd save the money they spent on printing that thing (it's huge) and spend it on making Medicare services better for those who have only Medicare. It must have cost a fortune to print this thing and it's is difficult to understand in the first place!

This country is all about youth. Once you reach retirement age, instead of things getting easier they become more complicated and difficult to maneuver around.

I'm lucky because I have my oldest daughter, especially, who is very smart (we educated her well....Ha!). She and my sons-in-law and other daughters help me figure these things out. If I didn't have them to help me, I'd be going crazy. I am a widow, so it's just me.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. Believe me, I really do understand. It doesn't make sense. I'm sorry to say, I believe it is going to get worse before it gets better.

My daughter said her generation absolutely knows that they will never get the medicare benefits they pay in to. She said she doesn't mind because at least I am getting those benefits too. I'd really be out of luck had my husband not worked.

I think I get a pretty good amount because my husband was successful and paid a lot of money into it. I do know that if I had to live on just that I don't think I could do it. I know there are people who have to TRY to just live on Medicare. I don't know how they do it.

The current Medicare book is online at Medicare.gov, but not all seniors have access to the web.

This is a link to a booklet that explains the cost structure of Medicare Part B https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10536.pdf Medicare Part D can also have a higher premium.