Speaking of turning 65 - Page 3

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@hckynut wrote:
@Lsk wrote:

Yes , I know I have the same situation , live in CA. She just need to apply Medicare part A (hospital) , this is free for her and that it , no any penalty, she can keep her insurance.
i just did this 6 month ago.When she will stop working she need to make a call to SSA office and they will make a change per her request . But she need to apply part A because they check all info , fix what need to fix if need it and everything will be ready for her when her situation will change. I hope it's help at list this is my experience .

@Mlsg

The biggest part of my many health issues are the hospital, not doctors and others. You say "Medicare Part A (hospital is free)? Seems strange that I am paying $110 amonth and most of it is hospital.

I would love to think that is possible, but something doesn't seem right about that to me. Not an expert, but my wife is, and I will see what she knows about that one. Free?

hckynut(john)

John - no one pays anything for part A coverage. The money taken from your SS check is for part B - and depending on your choices for part D & supplement you could have additional taken out for them.

Ann52 · ‎05-02-2011

@chrystaltree wrote:
Perhaps someone here knows the answer to this, I don't. I chatted with a friend at church the other night, she's turning 66 in February. She still works full time and has health insurance through her employer, she has no plans to retire any time soon. She was asking about Medicare. I know all about health insurance but nothing about Medicare. She will collect her SSA beneft at 66 but she does not want Part B of Medicare now. She doesn't want to pay the $$ premium for coverage she'll never use. She said there is penalty for not signing up now but she doesn't know how much that penalty will be. Anyone know anything about this? I did suggest that she call SSA but she has me wondering,

Since your friend has insurance through her employer, she only needs Medicare Part A. Upon retirement, she can sign up for Part B. She doesn't need Part B as long as she's working and her employer offers health care. There's no penalty for not taking Part B as long as she's working and her employer offers health care. I'm in the same boat. Hope this helps.

Kookielady · ‎03-10-2010

I turned 65 in July and I am still carried by my husband who is 11 years younger than me. I also was told by Social Security that I am NOT eligible for Medicare at all. I cannot collect Social Security until my husband retires. This is not fair-I worked all my life and for my state for a little while.

Cannot collect on my ex husband as I am remarried and so is he. This s+++s !

ccassaday · ‎10-21-2010

@Kookielady wrote:
I turned 65 in July and I am still carried by my husband who is 11 years younger than me. I also was told by Social Security that I am NOT eligible for Medicare at all. I cannot collect Social Security until my husband retires. This is not fair-I worked all my life and for my state for a little while.

Cannot collect on my ex husband as I am remarried and so is he. This s+++s !

I don't think that is true. As long as you have paid enough into the system by working you should be able to get your SS. The only way that is true is if you didn't work enough to get SS.

Day1128 · ‎06-27-2010

I hope your friend contacts someone in a Medicare office. I worked in human resources for years and I've seen what happens when someone doesn't do their own homework and trusts what others tell them. Some of the info in this blog is correct, and some of it is NOT. Please check with the experts on this topic.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Kookielady wrote:
I turned 65 in July and I am still carried by my husband who is 11 years younger than me. I also was told by Social Security that I am NOT eligible for Medicare at all. I cannot collect Social Security until my husband retires. This is not fair-I worked all my life and for my state for a little while.

Cannot collect on my ex husband as I am remarried and so is he. This s+++s !

In order to collect medicare you have to have paid into it. Apparently, you didn't. Many times people who work for the government or the railroad don't pay into medicare but instead have a private insurance for life.

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

@151949 wrote:
@Kookielady wrote:
I turned 65 in July and I am still carried by my husband who is 11 years younger than me. I also was told by Social Security that I am NOT eligible for Medicare at all. I cannot collect Social Security until my husband retires. This is not fair-I worked all my life and for my state for a little while.

Cannot collect on my ex husband as I am remarried and so is he. This s+++s !

In order to collect medicare you have to have paid into it. Apparently, you didn't. Many times people who work for the government or the railroad don't pay into medicare but instead have a private insurance for life.

@151949

I retired from the Federal Government. I never paid into Social Security. I already applied for Medicare Parts A & B and was approved. My coverage will start in February when I turn 65. The premium for Part B will be paid out of my federal annuity since I will not receive Social Security payments.

I have decided to continue subscribing to my health plan with the Federal Employees Health Benefit program even after Part B starts. It will serve as my supplement plan and I still pay a monthly premium for it.

Once a retired federal employee discontinues their government sponsored insurance in most situations they cannot resubscribe. That is why the majority of us continue our insurance into retirement and even after becoming eligible for Medicare.

@Kookielady Your situation is complicated. If you did not work in jobs that paid into Social Security, you are not eligible for payments under your own work record.

That does not necessarily mean you aren't eligible for Medicare. You will just have to pay your own premiums. But since you have insurance coverage under your DH's policy why would you. However, you probably should contact Medicare and ask them if you should still apply and defer coverage while you have private insurance.

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

@Day1128

Very sound advice. I'll share a situation I know of. I have a family member, a former Postal employee who didn't sign up for Medicare Part B. Said he was advised upon retirement that his government insurance was so good that he wouldn't really need Medicare Part B. (Knowing his frugalness, I question whether he was even given this advice.)

Fast forward 20 years, health situations change, insurance coverage changes. He spouse is being treated for lung cancer and has been in and out of the hospital, in addition to very expensive testing, treatments, etc. I am sure he is bleeding money. What he thought he was saving in not subscribing to Medicare Part B over the years is actually costing him more.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@Kookielady wrote:
I turned 65 in July and I am still carried by my husband who is 11 years younger than me. I also was told by Social Security that I am NOT eligible for Medicare at all. I cannot collect Social Security until my husband retires. This is not fair-I worked all my life and for my state for a little while.

Cannot collect on my ex husband as I am remarried and so is he. This s+++s !

Did you pay into Social Security?

If you worked all your life, surely you would have met the minimum requirement of 40 quarters.

If you didn't meet the requirement, what's not fair about it?