Yesterday mama and I applied for Tricare Med insurance through the military. All was good and fine. We than went to the Social Security office for some questions. The days work began to fall apart.
Seems when 3 months prior to your 65th birthday (my wifes age) you need to sign up for Medicare Part B whether your still working or not and have private insurance.
For those who are under the age of 65 and can get tricare, we can get the "Prime" coverage. Once you hit the age of 65 however, you can no longer get or retain "Prime". You are enrolled into "Tricare For Life" which you HAVE to have Medicare Part B in place prior. If you do not have Part B in place at age 65 and your Tricare, you are dropped from tricare until you enroll for part B and there is only a certain enrollment period each year to enroll for B.
I'm sorry, but what a stinking crook. Just wanted you to be informed. Even while appling for Tricare, there was NO indication/red flags/warnings/nothing in regards to the requirement of Part B. This just set us back 6-8 weeks in getting my wife on tricare because we're past the enrollment dates for enrolling in Part B.
I'm posting this because I'm guessing many of us on here are around the same age range. Early to late 60's.
We did not get wifey enrolled in Mediscare in the three months before her birthday, and she was over 4 months with drastically reduced coverage from our PPO.
Isn't that the government way. Make everything as unclear and complicated as possible! That way they can hire more people at the tax payers expense to explain how they are screwing you.
I knew I would need the Part b however I was unaware that I had to enrol 3 months before my birthday thanks now if I can just remember that when it comes time!
Welcome to the United Socialist States Of America.
Tyrone,
I don't know much about Tricare, but I do know that if you are covered by employer provided medical insurance (I'm covered by the insurance provided by my wife's employer) that you can sign up for Part B later, when that private insurance is no longer in place. As long as you can document the fact that you were continuously covered, the higher Part B premiums (penalties) are waived. That's my current situation. When she retires I can (and will) enroll in Part B as though I had done it in the first place. Meanwhile, I don't need to pay the $104.90 per month premium since I would get little or nothing in return for it.
Interestingly, I had cancer surgery 2 years ago. Even with that my total out of pocket medical expenses were significantly less than the $1,258.80 in premiums I would have paid for Part B. Remember, all Part B would have paid was the remainder (out of pocket) expenses, so I'll take the coverage later when I need it.
Of course there are numerous variables so everyones' situation tends to be a little different. Folks just need to be sure they are making the best choices for their own circumstances.
I have Tri-Care For Life, and haven't had a problem with anything so far. My doctor visits have been covered too.
What we need is a flat tax and a flat insurance, all this jumping through hoop's is starting to make me wish, I would have been more interested in my future earlier.
GET OUT AND VOTE!
Charley
Vote for who????? There haven't been any good choices by either party for decades.
Easy, don't vote for "either party".
vote for liberty
I worked for Social Security (SSA) for 9 years. You actually have a 7 month window to enroll in Medicare Part B. Part A (hospital coverage) costs you nothing (if qualified).
3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and three months after your birth month. You do not want to wait past your birth month for several reasons. SSA disability rules are different where Medicare is concerned. A very complex system.
I will also be on Tricare for Life next month and I still carry health insurance from my Federal job at SSA which is good insurance and one I must keep to cover my spouse until she turns 65. Consequently I will have three insurance plans and NO option to drop any of them until my spouse turns 65.
Is this a great country or what...
Medicare has kept me alive and the VA saved my brother's life. Without doctors and hospitals, I would have left this earth long ago. "Socialized medicine" has been good for our family!
I had Tricare Std and went to Tricare for Live with Medicare and have no problems. Back when I had TS, I was sent a thick booklet with more than I wanted to know and when it came time to go to TFL got another stack of printed info. My wife and I are quite pleased with the coverage.
Yesterday wife went back to SS to find out what can be done about enrolling her for part b now that she is beyound the impossed 3 month prior birthday rule and yearly enrollment period. They told her that she can apply for part b anytime now that she is past her 65th birthday. Good news for sure, but OMG why didn't they tell us that during our first visit, when we were stressing out trying to get this all put together the first time? And we pay for this?
So once you pass the age of 65, the 3 month prior rule nor the mandatory annual enrollment rule doess not apply.
Yes Henry you are correct. My wife insures us through her work. And that she can apply for B later, but in our case with my military retirement insurance (tricare), anyone over the age of 65 has to have part B in place in order to qualify for tricare. Yes the monthly premium amount for part B is 104.90. Which is one more place it screws us in regards to our tricare. Tricare for sponser (me) and wife is 534.00 a year. Now instead of 534. per year for the both of us, its now 260.00+/- a year for me and 104 a month for her.
Oh well. such is life.
Tricare has a website that explains what it covered and how to qualify. It is quite simple and easy to read. http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/SeeWhatsCovered.aspx
No matter what health insurance people have it is up to the individual know how it works.