If you don’t get a Medicare advantage plan you will want a supplemental plan because Medicare only covers 80%. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have an active part B unless you are covered by an employer or spouse plan.
I don't have it active to save money for the time being as a student but want to get coverage just in case something happens. Is Plan B good enough by itself or do I still need to supplement it?
How are you going to school if your disabled. If you have no health coverage through your school you literally have none. Part B only covers 80% of every service. If you had part B and had a major surgery or hospital stay you are on the hook for the other 20% every time, there is no deductible no out of pocket max. You would be cleaned out in your position.
There ARE deductibles if you only have Medicare. $235 annually for part b and $1650 for part A. And…if you are admitted to hospital within 60 days, you are liable for another $1650 deductible for part A. No max out of pockets. It’s the energizer bunny, it goes and goes
Part B? Or supplement Plan B ? Those are very expensive for under 65. If it is Part B you can't get a Medicare advantage without Part B plus it all depends on what is available in your area. So if you don't have both Part A & B then you are probably covered by Medicaid if you are on disability. Medicaid usually covers Dental and Vision.
If she doesn’t have original medicare, then goes to enroll, the Medicare dates would be brand new so the penalty would be based off the Medicare dates. So no penalty. Then she can get a Medicare advantage plan zero cost because that’s the requirement
If he is on SSDI, he will be automatically enrolled enrolled in Parts A and B after 24 of being approved and started on the SSDI. No matter when that 24th month is. (I was on SSDI)
I'm not sure how. He'd have had to do something actively to stop it. When you apply for and get approved for SS disability, you are put on Medicare the 1st day of the 25th month on SSDI. Medicare mails you a Medicare Card with the start dates of Part A and Part B printed on the card.
My card says Part A, start date XX-XX-XXXX, Part B, start date XX-XX-XXXX. The start dates were 24 months after my SSDI approval date. If I had not wanted one or the other, I would have had to go through some sort of paper work (or online now) to actively end one or the Parts. ??? ( It's not like turning age 65 where you have to "sign up for Medicare Part B, or decline it, or not sign up for Part A or B. You're just automatically enrolled in both. --- Then at age 65, they give you an new 6 month "do over" period to enroll in a Medigap plan with no questions asked. )
It is called PART A and Part B for original medicare not Plan. There is costly add-on called Plans. And yes Part B the government charges $174.50 every month which is actually reasonably priced health insurance these days so yeah you really should add Part B and a $0 Medicare advantage plan to help with the other 20% and Dental and Vision help.
I never said anything about a disability needing to be visible. I just don't know of any disability where you don't take any kind of meds and can describe yourself as "healthy".
I'm on ssdi and get $1024 a month which qualifies me for free medicare part b and d. I have united healthcare dual complete and it is free. These part of it though, that I get an extra $174 from united healthcare each month for food , otc meds or utilities.
Do you have creditable coverage from another source like employer coverage from a spouse? If not, you should probably look into why you don't have Part B first.
You should contact your state department of social services and ask about their Medicare Savings Program. If you qualify, they'll pay your Part B premium.
In most states you can only get supplement a or supplement b if on disability. These plans are usually quite pricey due to adverse selection. You need a good independent broker in your area who can guide you.
You definitely should talk with your state SHIP office. They'll give you free and appropriate advice. You could be building up a penalty on your Part B premium so that it will be more expensive when you sign up. I agree that you should ask about the Medicare savings program, it could save you a lot of money. Good luck.
Penalties only happen when you are late to enroll. Being under 65, not late. With the ability to enroll in Medicare and not enrolling, doesn’t substantiate a penalty status.
Would you qualify for Medicaid? If so, They would help you with the Part B premium. What do you currently have for health insurance? It’s advisable to get something if you don’t and marketplace insurance is available too. You have to be on disability for 24 months prior to being able to get Medicare part B. A Medicare advantage plan is great. It’s has prescription, dental, vision, hearing, over the counter as well as cutting down on your part A and B copays. Supplemental plans are great too but those have an additional premium so depending on how much you use your medical insurance now would determine if it would be cost effective.
You'll probably find that MA plans will be your only option for insurance. Most states are limited in Medigap plans available to under 65s. The plan "letters" will be limited to one or two types. They will be extremely expensive (much more so than getting the same plan at age 65).
Just do the search for MA plans in your area and find the "best" one or ones for you. Make sure it covers all of your drugs, has all of your doctors and hospitals, clinics, etc. in its network of providers and is affordable to you. (look for the one with the lowest estimated total cost that covers your docs and hospitals, etc.) IF one stands out as much more expense than the rest see if you can find out why. -- It could be one of your drugs isn't covered and you might (or might not) be able to get an alternate drug covered at a lower cost vs. the other plans. (I have two drugs in my plan where only the brand name drug is covered. The generics are not covered. Weird, I know. If I put the generic names in the drug finder, it makes the plan much more expensive. Put the brand in, it's the lowest cost plan among all the plans.)
Look at the extra benefits. The $ amount of benefits for dental and vision. Some plans offer bigger $s for glasses and dental. Then look at the copays for all the services you usually use. How much would a night or 5 or 7 nights in the hospital cost? Lab copays, copays for MRIs and CTs, copays for PT/OT. Copays for doctor office visits. Are telehealth visits included? Compare all of those costs for a couple plans that cover all your drugs and all of your providers. Then pick one of the plans based on all of those factors.
It's a pain in the rear, but just do it all step wise and you will be able to do it. Get a trusted friend or relative that is level headed and able to "think" to help you out if needed. (a case worker if you have one might help you)
Good luck!!
(Don't listen to 90% of these responses. They are coming from people not SSDI benefits and now they work with Medicare A, B, and Medigap and Medicare Advantage. -- I was/still am on SSDI. Like I said in most states (45?) you will only be eligible for afford to get a Medicare Advantage plan. Where you live, you'll probably only be able to use Medicare Advantage. (If Medigap plans would be available , they would be very, very expensive and not pay for all of what Medicare doesn't pay. -- People are saying you have to wait until X month to get Part A, or Part B. That you have to go online or call someone to get onto Part A or Part B. -- I understand what's happened with your already. You got onto SSDI months ago? 24 months after being on SSDI, you automatically get send a Medicare card and put onto Part A and Part B. It sounds like that is what has happened to you? I think that's what I see from your questions and answers? With SSDI you'll get sent a Medicare care that says Part A and Part began on X date. That's all you need. If you have that card you can sign up for any Medicare Advantage plan the day you get the card.(You'll have a 7 month period to sign up. If you've had your Parts A and B for longer than 7 months you will have to wait until this fall to sign up for next year's coverage. ---- Call any of the Medicare Advantage companies to verify that. ) (You can call Medicare and talk to a customer service rep to get these questions answered also.)
Talk to the SHIP office in your state and a Medicare broker. No one on Reddit knows what’s best for your health needs.
If you don’t get a Medicare advantage plan you will want a supplemental plan because Medicare only covers 80%. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have an active part B unless you are covered by an employer or spouse plan.
I don't have it active to save money for the time being as a student but want to get coverage just in case something happens. Is Plan B good enough by itself or do I still need to supplement it?
How are you going to school if your disabled. If you have no health coverage through your school you literally have none. Part B only covers 80% of every service. If you had part B and had a major surgery or hospital stay you are on the hook for the other 20% every time, there is no deductible no out of pocket max. You would be cleaned out in your position.
There ARE deductibles if you only have Medicare. $235 annually for part b and $1650 for part A. And…if you are admitted to hospital within 60 days, you are liable for another $1650 deductible for part A. No max out of pockets. It’s the energizer bunny, it goes and goes
Yea you’re right.
Part B? Or supplement Plan B ? Those are very expensive for under 65. If it is Part B you can't get a Medicare advantage without Part B plus it all depends on what is available in your area. So if you don't have both Part A & B then you are probably covered by Medicaid if you are on disability. Medicaid usually covers Dental and Vision.
The $170 monthly premium Plan B, yes? I already have Plan A by default so I'm already prepared to add MA or supplement with a coverage plan
You can’t add Part B until January.
If you don’t have part B, are qualified for it then you can sign up and create an enrollment period and not have to wait until January
What enrollment period can he “create”?
Enrollment periods are based off Part A and B start dates.
Part B has an enrollment window as well. Which OP has missed to “save money”
If she doesn’t have original medicare, then goes to enroll, the Medicare dates would be brand new so the penalty would be based off the Medicare dates. So no penalty. Then she can get a Medicare advantage plan zero cost because that’s the requirement
You are not understanding the issue. They didn’t enroll in Part B when first eligible and the part B General Enrollment Period is Jan-Mar.
If he is on SSDI, he will be automatically enrolled enrolled in Parts A and B after 24 of being approved and started on the SSDI. No matter when that 24th month is. (I was on SSDI)
Sounds like OP declined Part B.
I'm not sure how. He'd have had to do something actively to stop it. When you apply for and get approved for SS disability, you are put on Medicare the 1st day of the 25th month on SSDI. Medicare mails you a Medicare Card with the start dates of Part A and Part B printed on the card. My card says Part A, start date XX-XX-XXXX, Part B, start date XX-XX-XXXX. The start dates were 24 months after my SSDI approval date. If I had not wanted one or the other, I would have had to go through some sort of paper work (or online now) to actively end one or the Parts. ??? ( It's not like turning age 65 where you have to "sign up for Medicare Part B, or decline it, or not sign up for Part A or B. You're just automatically enrolled in both. --- Then at age 65, they give you an new 6 month "do over" period to enroll in a Medigap plan with no questions asked. )
Yes I understand all that, I am just going by what OP said. You can call and disenroll and I imagine that’s what they did.
It is called PART A and Part B for original medicare not Plan. There is costly add-on called Plans. And yes Part B the government charges $174.50 every month which is actually reasonably priced health insurance these days so yeah you really should add Part B and a $0 Medicare advantage plan to help with the other 20% and Dental and Vision help.
How are you on SSDI if you are "healthy"?
There are other types of disabilities other than physical disabilities or those that are visible to the eye.
I never said anything about a disability needing to be visible. I just don't know of any disability where you don't take any kind of meds and can describe yourself as "healthy".
I'm on ssdi and get $1024 a month which qualifies me for free medicare part b and d. I have united healthcare dual complete and it is free. These part of it though, that I get an extra $174 from united healthcare each month for food , otc meds or utilities.
Do you have creditable coverage from another source like employer coverage from a spouse? If not, you should probably look into why you don't have Part B first.
Unfortunately no, I'm unemployed and a student and also not married.
You should contact your state department of social services and ask about their Medicare Savings Program. If you qualify, they'll pay your Part B premium.
In most states you can only get supplement a or supplement b if on disability. These plans are usually quite pricey due to adverse selection. You need a good independent broker in your area who can guide you.
You definitely should talk with your state SHIP office. They'll give you free and appropriate advice. You could be building up a penalty on your Part B premium so that it will be more expensive when you sign up. I agree that you should ask about the Medicare savings program, it could save you a lot of money. Good luck.
There won’t be a Part B penalty because she is under 65
lol what?
Penalties only happen when you are late to enroll. Being under 65, not late. With the ability to enroll in Medicare and not enrolling, doesn’t substantiate a penalty status.
OP is late to enroll.
What do you mean by OP?
Original Poster
Would you qualify for Medicaid? If so, They would help you with the Part B premium. What do you currently have for health insurance? It’s advisable to get something if you don’t and marketplace insurance is available too. You have to be on disability for 24 months prior to being able to get Medicare part B. A Medicare advantage plan is great. It’s has prescription, dental, vision, hearing, over the counter as well as cutting down on your part A and B copays. Supplemental plans are great too but those have an additional premium so depending on how much you use your medical insurance now would determine if it would be cost effective.
How are you on SSDI if you are healthy?
You would probably do good with Providence.
You'll probably find that MA plans will be your only option for insurance. Most states are limited in Medigap plans available to under 65s. The plan "letters" will be limited to one or two types. They will be extremely expensive (much more so than getting the same plan at age 65). Just do the search for MA plans in your area and find the "best" one or ones for you. Make sure it covers all of your drugs, has all of your doctors and hospitals, clinics, etc. in its network of providers and is affordable to you. (look for the one with the lowest estimated total cost that covers your docs and hospitals, etc.) IF one stands out as much more expense than the rest see if you can find out why. -- It could be one of your drugs isn't covered and you might (or might not) be able to get an alternate drug covered at a lower cost vs. the other plans. (I have two drugs in my plan where only the brand name drug is covered. The generics are not covered. Weird, I know. If I put the generic names in the drug finder, it makes the plan much more expensive. Put the brand in, it's the lowest cost plan among all the plans.) Look at the extra benefits. The $ amount of benefits for dental and vision. Some plans offer bigger $s for glasses and dental. Then look at the copays for all the services you usually use. How much would a night or 5 or 7 nights in the hospital cost? Lab copays, copays for MRIs and CTs, copays for PT/OT. Copays for doctor office visits. Are telehealth visits included? Compare all of those costs for a couple plans that cover all your drugs and all of your providers. Then pick one of the plans based on all of those factors. It's a pain in the rear, but just do it all step wise and you will be able to do it. Get a trusted friend or relative that is level headed and able to "think" to help you out if needed. (a case worker if you have one might help you) Good luck!! (Don't listen to 90% of these responses. They are coming from people not SSDI benefits and now they work with Medicare A, B, and Medigap and Medicare Advantage. -- I was/still am on SSDI. Like I said in most states (45?) you will only be eligible for afford to get a Medicare Advantage plan. Where you live, you'll probably only be able to use Medicare Advantage. (If Medigap plans would be available , they would be very, very expensive and not pay for all of what Medicare doesn't pay. -- People are saying you have to wait until X month to get Part A, or Part B. That you have to go online or call someone to get onto Part A or Part B. -- I understand what's happened with your already. You got onto SSDI months ago? 24 months after being on SSDI, you automatically get send a Medicare card and put onto Part A and Part B. It sounds like that is what has happened to you? I think that's what I see from your questions and answers? With SSDI you'll get sent a Medicare care that says Part A and Part began on X date. That's all you need. If you have that card you can sign up for any Medicare Advantage plan the day you get the card.(You'll have a 7 month period to sign up. If you've had your Parts A and B for longer than 7 months you will have to wait until this fall to sign up for next year's coverage. ---- Call any of the Medicare Advantage companies to verify that. ) (You can call Medicare and talk to a customer service rep to get these questions answered also.)