topic Re: Insurance question in Community Chat

Insurance question

SeaMaiden — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:42:36 GMT

I just recently signed up for Medicare. I am also have Premera Blue Cross with my Husband's work insurance. How do you know which one is your primary? It all gets so confusing with two insurance plans.

Re: Insurance question

patbz — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:47:20 GMT

I think Medicare is always primary.

Re: Insurance question

ALRATIBA — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:47:31 GMT

Since you are a dependent on your husband's policy ... have him check with his Benefits dept.

In my case, Medicare became my primary.

Re: Insurance question

NicksmomESQ — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:48:32 GMT

From what I've been told private insurance is usually primary over Medicare.You should double check this with the Human Resources dept. of your husbands job. That is what was told to my husband by his H R dept.

Re: Insurance question

apl_pi14 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:51:31 GMT

Group is always primary; Medicare is secondary.

Re: Insurance question

I am still oxox — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:54:30 GMT

Given my limited knowledge from dealing with my Dads insurance that is what I was going to say.

@apl_pi14 wrote:
Group is always primary; Medicare is secondary.

Re: Insurance question

NicksmomESQ — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:55:01 GMT

To clarify.My husband works for a company with over 20 employees,therefore his company sponsored medical is primary.If you work for a company with less than 20 employees than Medicare is primary. That's what DH was told.

You should check it out with his H R dept.

Re: Insurance question

kitcat51 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:55:12 GMT

Call Medicare & explain the situation, they will give you a correct answer....well, they should. When I call I always write down the reason, the date & the name of who I talked to in a notebook, it helps if the information I got is wrong or I misunderstood. Hope all goes well.

Re: Insurance question

SeaMaiden — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:58:37 GMT

ThankYou everyone for your input.👍 I will have DH check with his insurance and also call Medicare.

Re: Insurance question

chrystaltree — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 20:55:11 GMT

Your private insurance is always your primrary insurer. Medicare would be your secondary.

Re: Insurance question

software — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:07:33 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I just recently signed up for Medicare. I am also have Premera Blue Cross with my Husband's work insurance. How do you know which one is your primary? It all gets so confusing with two insurance plans.

The employer will know.

My employer's policy is Medicare is primary.

And If Medicare denies a service/procedure, my employer insurance will deny also, even though if I didn't have Medicare, they would pay. Go figure

Re: Insurance question

Carmie — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:24:40 GMT

@NicksmomESQ wrote:
To clarify.My husband works for a company with over 20 employees,therefore his company sponsored medical is primary.If you work for a company with less than 20 employees than Medicare is primary. That's what DH was told.
You should check it out with his H R dept.

You are 100% correct. That is the law. The information can be found on the Medicare website in case anyone wants to look it up.

Re: Insurance question

Kachina624 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 22:58:06 GMT

In my case, Medicare is always the primary insurance. Some people have no supplement so coverage stops at the Medicare maximum. If you do have a supplement, then it kicks in and pays the rest to its maximum. It's an addition to Medicare; it supplements it.

The correct answer to @SeaMaiden question is "it depends". Always best to go to the source for Medicare questions.

https://www.medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/how-medicare-works-with-other-insurance/who-pays

Re: Insurance question

HiLo — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 13:03:09 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
Your private insurance is always your primrary insurer. Medicare would be your secondary.

In my own case, all claims are sent first to Medicare and they in turn send them to my Insurance Co. to pick up any remaining balance Don't understand the difference but I worked for the Federal Government.

Re: Insurance question

SeaMaiden — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:05:23 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
Your private insurance is always your primrary insurer. Medicare would be your secondary.

@chrystaltree I found out the answer.

IF MY HUSBAND WAS STILL WORKING his insurance( BLUE CROSS) would be my Primary.

But since he is retired, and I am on his insurance still, his insurance becomes the secondary and Medicare is my primary.

When my husband goes on Medicare ( when he starts to take Social security), then medicare will become HIS PRIMARY ALSO and the blue cross will become his secondary

Re: Insurance question

Daysdee — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:09:39 GMT

In our case Medicare is primary and our previous insurance (through employer) became secondary. Also, if Medicare rejects a claim our secondary insurance will not pay anything.

Re: Insurance question

SeaMaiden — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:41:18 GMT

@Daysdee wrote:
In our case Medicare is primary and our previous insurance (through employer) became secondary. Also, if Medicare rejects a claim our secondary insurance will not pay anything.

@Daysdee I find that strange as we are paying a pretty penny for the Premeria Blue Cross.. which is much better coverage than the Medicare.... I would think that they would pick up anything Medicare did not cover?? What insurance is your Secondary?

Re: Insurance question

PodyPo — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:45:23 GMT

@SeaMaiden

Yes it is complicated. Please check with both your husband's insurance company AND Medicare. I had BCBS through my job and also Aetna Medicare. I checked with my employers BCBS Advisor and was told Medicare would be primary. After a year and a half I started getting questioning phone calls from Aetna Medicare. One month later a slew of invoices started coming in. I had a biopsy and a week hospital stay along with many diagnostic tests during that time period. It turns out Aetna Medicare was not supposed to be primary and proceeded to revoke all of their payments going back 1.5 years to the start. I am still trying to wade through all the statements to determine what, if anything, I am responsible for paying. BCBS is now paying some charges but it may take a while to all get straightened out. Please double and triple check and then watch your EOBs as they come in. Good luck,

Re: Insurance question

PodyPo — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:47:00 GMT

@patbz

No, this is not accurate. Please check with both your insurance company and Medicare. Ask for the Coordinator of Benefits department.

Re: Insurance question

SeaMaiden — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 16:11:43 GMT

@NicksmomESQ wrote:
From what I've been told private insurance is usually primary over Medicare.You should double check this with the Human Resources dept. of your husbands job. That is what was told to my husband by his H R dept.

@NicksmomESQ From what I found out, it all depends on if husband is working or retired. Since my husband is retired, and I am on medicare, medicare becomes my primary, his insurance is my secondary.. If my husband was still working , then his work insurance would be my primary.