Oh, You Shouldn’t Have

Oh, You Shouldn’t Have

 

Phew!  I’m late with this post of My Odd Sock because of the hoopla!

The pomp & circumstance!

The festival-like atmosphere surrounding my recent celebration makes Cinco de Mayo seem like a funeral.

Why didn’t you tell me this would be so grand?

What on Earth am I talking about?  Like you don’t know!  Keeping the fun to yourself, you are!

 

My Odd Sock's Medicare!
My Odd Sock's Medicare!

 

It’s My Odd Sock’s invitation to join the Medicare family!

 

Yes, come this August will be my second anniversary of receiving Social Security Disability.  And little did I know, my gift for our two-year commitment is Medicare Health coverage!  (Gee, I thought the traditional gift for a 2nd anniversary was tin!)

 

And I was welcomed with a huge shindig!

A ticker-tape parade down Main Street showered me with confetti as I served as Grand Marshal.

 

marching band

 

 

Marching bands strutted their stuff.

 

 

 

The Pres was there
The Pres was there

 

Dignitaries, including President Obama, were on hand to wish me well on my journey.

 

 

 

 

 

parade float 1

 

Parade floats celebrated my introduction to Medicare.  This float, from the Department of Highway Safety, won the Govenor’s Trophy for the “Most Creative Theme.”

 

 

It's S & M Elmo
It's S & M Elmo

 

My welcoming parade also had those big balloons.  (I LOVE big parade balloons.)  Pictured here is Elmo being tortured it seems.  In fact I’ve seen carnival workers with fewer face piercings!

 

 

 

John Boehner crying

 

Oh, how touching!  It’s House Speaker John Boehner crying tears of joy for me I’m sure!

 

Honestly, I don’t know what to say.  I am flattered.  If everyone is welcomed to Medicare with such ceremony–it is no wonder the U.S. national debt is so astronomical.

 

 

All joking aside, I know little of the whole Medicare system.  I feel as though I am tip-toeing my way into a chilly swimming pool!

That is why I turn to you for insight.

How has Medicare been good for you?

Since I have medical insurance through my spouse, need I enroll with Medicare?

Please fill me in as I finish waving to the crowd along the parade route.  (Had I known, I would have brought some stale candy to toss to the kiddies!)

sock

 

8 Replies to “Oh, You Shouldn’t Have”

  1. Check your wife’s coverage and see if they require you to take it or not. Our plan required it and for Medicare to become primary…and they still fight on who pays what. They both pay different amounts for lovely MRIs, testing, appointments, etc. Just more insurance B.S. to deal with. Sometimes it seems dealing with the medical and insurance makes things a full time job in and of itself.

    Just keep hanging in there and by all means…SMILE! 😉

  2. You can always go online to ask your questions, and they do send a big booklet to you. If I were you? I’d stay with the private insurance as long as possible. Just my opinion…
    BTW, is your parade televised? I’ll DVR it!!
    Peace,
    Muff

  3. Medicare has mostly been excellent for me as my employer pays what Medicare doesn’t pay including the 20% and also my medications, even those expensive ones. Medicare now covers annual physicals and has always covered neurologist appointments. Since you are covered by your wife’s insurance that is just fine. There are rules about when you need to file if you ever lost your wife’s coverage in order to not pay a higher amount.

    http://questions.medicare.gov/app/answers/list

    Good luck Mr. Phelps.

  4. My 2 years of receiving Social Security Disability makes me eligible for Medicare June 1st. I have health insurance as a retiree from my job. I’ve read thru that packet Medicare sent us, and even before reading it, I had decided to keep my private insurance (BC/BS), and sign up for the traditional Medicare. My private insurance is excellent and if I drop it, I can’t re-enroll. By keeping my private insurance, I know if Medicare doesn’t cover something, I know my private insurance will. I too will be interested in other readers comments.

  5. Mrs. Odd Sock spoke with the insurance person at her work. This person said I should keep their insurance as my primary and use Medicare as my secondary.

    This doesn’t seem right as I would assume it would be the other way around.

    But, you know what they say “when something is the other way around” er, I mean “when you assume.”

    So confusing!

  6. Well, personally I believe her person at work may be wrong. Insurance is a business, and private will pay less when possible. They will make Medicare primary as the providers must accept the lower amount that Medicare says they’ll pay…then her insurance most likely would pay any deductible, etc, per the 2nd insurance plans rules. That’s where it is very confusing… But, the 2nd insurance being private has to cover anything Medicare will not…but they still make Medicare pay as much as possible…and make the providers stick to the Medicare rules of not charging more than Medicare would allow. Big Business.

  7. I have retiree health insurance, and when my Medicare kicks in June of this year, Medicare becomes primary. I thought Medicare was always primary. There may be exceptions. I do agree you should keep Mrs. Odd Socks insurance and get a second opinion on the primary/secondary info. The first time you go to the doctor with both, their insurance will know who to bill first, unless they “assume” wrong.

  8. I just became eligible for Medicare and declined the Part B coverage, keeping Part A for hospitalization. My husband’s insurance would have remained my primary coverage had I chosen Medicare. But the monthly Medicare Part B premium would be over $100 a month and come right out of my SSDI, whereas our BCBS premium is a relative pittance and comes out of his paycheck. I simply couldn’t afford it.

    You can opt out of Medicare now and choose it in the future, possibly without having to wait for the enrollment period. As long as you have private insurance without a lapse in coverage, I believe you can go on Medicare Part B at any time–but check your pamphlet about that.