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Post by 405x5 on Nov 18, 2021 16:18:07 GMT -5
My situation backfired in the opposite direction (so to speak). Both of us applied as soon as we were allowed but refrained from collecting immediately (don’t recall exactly why) As a result, nearly 20K came our way that we were not expecting (no complaints!)
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 18, 2021 16:23:15 GMT -5
My situation backfired in the opposite direction (so to speak). Both of us applied as soon as we were allowed but refrained from collecting immediately (don’t recall exactly why) As a result, nearly 20K came our way that we were not expecting (no complaints!) Are you referring to Social Security or Medicare?
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Post by 405x5 on Nov 18, 2021 17:12:46 GMT -5
My situation backfired in the opposite direction (so to speak). Both of us applied as soon as we were allowed but refrained from collecting immediately (don’t recall exactly why) As a result, nearly 20K came our way that we were not expecting (no complaints!) Are you referring to Social Security or Medicare? Oh yes LOL….you’re right! Two lump sums, then our Medical premiums deducted from SS checks. So, those were “retroactive” SS checks
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Post by adaboy on Nov 18, 2021 23:04:27 GMT -5
I got straightened out - thanks to all of you who helped (and you DID help). Cordially - Glenn Glad you got it figured out "old fogey" 😂😂😂 I'll be asking in 25 years, for a friend 😊
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Post by Soup on Nov 19, 2021 2:21:34 GMT -5
Anything you learned can maybe help others, please post!
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Post by 405x5 on Nov 19, 2021 11:39:55 GMT -5
I got straightened out - thanks to all of you who helped (and you DID help). Cordially - Glenn Glad you got it figured out "old fogey" 😂😂😂 I'll be asking in 25 years, for a friend 😊 In 25 years…..that friend might be you! 🤪 ![](//storage.proboards.com/1381179/thumbnailer/EgrGumQmItFAQPxnmbJD.png)
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Post by bluemeanies on Nov 21, 2021 11:56:04 GMT -5
Stay away from ADVANTAGE PLANS..they sound to good to be true and they are..a terrific secondary insurance I would highly recommend is NEW ERA based in Texas.
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 21, 2021 12:38:59 GMT -5
Also be cautious of any Medicare supplemental plan that is local or regional. Should you relocate, you may have to replace the plan.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Nov 21, 2021 12:46:30 GMT -5
I'd love to be able to purchase Medicare. I'm 61, and the only reason I continue to work is for employer-supplied health insurance. I'd have to pay about $2500 per month to insure my wife and me, and that blows up my budget ($30K per year just for a mediocre health plan).
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Post by autiger on Nov 22, 2021 20:48:25 GMT -5
I'd love to be able to purchase Medicare. I'm 61, and the only reason I continue to work is for employer-supplied health insurance. I'd have to pay about $2500 per month to insure my wife and me, and that blows up my budget ($30K per year just for a mediocre health plan). I feel your pain. I'm in exactly the same boat.
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Post by bluemeanies on Dec 11, 2021 8:46:04 GMT -5
My sister in law has a few more years for Medicare and she is on OBAMA PLAN which by the way is NOT for the working middle class person. She pays over $600.00 a month and her deductible before the insurance kicks in is $7000.00. Absolutely crazy. When does the middle class worker..man and woman get a break. The middle class are the engine in this economy..it needs to be oiled from time to time.
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Dec 11, 2021 9:21:23 GMT -5
My sister in law has a few more years for Medicare and she is on OBAMA PLAN which by the way is NOT for the working middle class person. She pays over $600.00 a month and her deductible before the insurance kicks in is $7000.00. Absolutely crazy. When does the middle class worker..man and woman get a break. The middle class are the engine in this economy..it needs to be oiled from time to time. No such thing as "OBAMA PLAN". You might've meant the "Affordable Care Act".
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Post by davidl81 on Dec 11, 2021 11:42:02 GMT -5
My sister in law has a few more years for Medicare and she is on OBAMA PLAN which by the way is NOT for the working middle class person. She pays over $600.00 a month and her deductible before the insurance kicks in is $7000.00. Absolutely crazy. When does the middle class worker..man and woman get a break. The middle class are the engine in this economy..it needs to be oiled from time to time. The middle class won't have access to real affordable health care until the health care industry is not allowed to have lobbyist and put tons of money into politicians hands. I am not saying free health care for all etc, but we as a country cannot even pass prescription drug care laws that would have us at par pricing wise with other western countries (that has something like 80% public support) because politicians on both sides of the isle are getting taken care of by the medical industry.
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Post by Percussionista on Dec 11, 2021 13:33:18 GMT -5
I do need some advice ... "if you're approaching 65, here's what you need to do." But I missed that window because my wife wanted us to wait, and now it looks like (unless Medicare considers our Blue Cross policy to be "employer provided" - I'm self employed), we may end up with outrageous penalties. Given the answers so far, and just for "full disclosure" I am on both Medicare and Social Security, you may be able to convince the Medicare folks that you really thought you were handling things properly given your existing insurance you have had for a long time, not to mention the COVID issues of things closing down and unable to get good advice. If they are willing to make exceptions due to the COVID situation (shutdowns and such) they may be willing to make the exception for you now. Don't wait!!
Other than the issue of finding doctors/plans that accept Medicare, I'm finding Medicare great, and quite affordable. All I pay is the gov't's monthly fee, no monthly fee to the program, the occasional co-pay for a specialist visit, dental IS included for cleanings/exams/fillings at no cost, and also eye checkups covered. I'm with UHC (United Health Care) in central TX, have a AARP approved plan. I only started Medicare when my wife quite work, but you have to sign up for it at 65, just not use it (put it on hold) when using that other insurance. It's more complicated than that, but that's an example.
For Social Security, it's up to you when you want to start it. Since my wife was still working, I stayed off until age 70. We actually managed without it for almost a year, and without my wife's income (she quit as we prepared to move etc.) It may take up to two months for the SS to kick in, depending on when you apply. BTW, a little known fact is that the SS monthly amount you would start to get goes up every month you wait to join, not just every year. Most folks think it only goes up (8%) every year you wait!
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Post by macromicroman on Dec 11, 2021 14:04:14 GMT -5
Well at least the Medicare Deadline for Advantage Plans ended a couple of days ago. These ads and the ones for politicians running for office are some of the worst tortures that we have to go through every year.
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Post by bluemeanies on Dec 18, 2021 13:44:17 GMT -5
My sister in law has a few more years for Medicare and she is on OBAMA PLAN which by the way is NOT for the working middle class person. She pays over $600.00 a month and her deductible before the insurance kicks in is $7000.00. Absolutely crazy. When does the middle class worker..man and woman get a break. The middle class are the engine in this economy..it needs to be oiled from time to time. No such thing as "OBAMA PLAN". You might've meant the "Affordable Care Act". It was not meant to be literal..OBAMA “PLAN”
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Post by jbrunwa on Dec 18, 2021 15:56:05 GMT -5
My sister in law has a few more years for Medicare and she is on OBAMA PLAN which by the way is NOT for the working middle class person. She pays over $600.00 a month and her deductible before the insurance kicks in is $7000.00. Absolutely crazy. When does the middle class worker..man and woman get a break. The middle class are the engine in this economy..it needs to be oiled from time to time. That’s actually the fault of our private for profit insurance system. I worked in the industry finding and eliminating waste. Its a shame that Medicare isn't available to younger people. Prescription drug insurance and private Medicare Advantage policies can also be a ripoff too if you are not careful. One of my prescriptions that costs me a $100 copay through Part D insurance costs $10 cash with no insurance.
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Post by cawgijoe on Dec 18, 2021 16:25:54 GMT -5
My sister in law has a few more years for Medicare and she is on OBAMA PLAN which by the way is NOT for the working middle class person. She pays over $600.00 a month and her deductible before the insurance kicks in is $7000.00. Absolutely crazy. When does the middle class worker..man and woman get a break. The middle class are the engine in this economy..it needs to be oiled from time to time. No such thing as "OBAMA PLAN". You might've meant the "Affordable Care Act". It’s certainly not Affordable. My daughter has it and is paying a pretty penny for emergency insurance. I guess it’s better than nothing, but it really sucks.
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Post by Boomzilla on Dec 18, 2021 16:55:12 GMT -5
There never has been, is not now, nor ever will be anything such as "affordable medical insurance." Or to paraphrase that statement "There's no free lunch." Doctors aren't cheap (nor should they be). Nurses are underpaid (and they shouldn't be). Medicines are sold to Americans at usurious prices (and will continue to be unless those in Congress are prohibited from accepting contributions from those they should be regulating).
So the bottom line is - Suck it up and pay your medical bills. Some are unavoidable (genetics, etc.). But some are avoidable with a healthy lifestyle. I got hammered with the reality of this only this past Thursday. I had to do a field audit for a client, and spent the day climbing storage tanks & spheres, climbing ladders up and down reactors, and walking miles and miles (in steel-toed boots, no less). Last night, my leg and calf muscles were so sore I had trouble falling asleep!
So my (early) New Year's Resolution is to exercise more! Fat-boy wake-up call...
As to medical insurance, I pay Blue Cross $1,400 / month for coverage for wife & myself. And at that price, we EACH have an annual $5,000 deductible before BC pays a penny. I don't want to hear ANYTHING about how abused anyone is at $600/month for ACA coverage.
Boom
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Post by Soup on Dec 18, 2021 17:42:32 GMT -5
Having health insurance with your local Blue plan is a great idea in my experience. Combined, I have over 14 years of service with my 2 local Blues. Best 2 companies I have ever worked for. Been in this industry for 30 years.
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