Wellness

[alicedee]

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?

[Dinaki]

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).

[hckynut]

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 🏒

[Carmie]

@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.

[Dinaki]

@Carmie WOW

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

[SilleeMee]

@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.

[Carmie]

@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...

[SilleeMee]

---

@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

[Meowingkitty]

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. 

[Carmie]

---

@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.