I am going to be eligible for Medicare the last of August. I have until then to decide to take it or refuse Part B.
I have a personal policy from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas. It has a high deductible but, after that, it's very good. So I'm kind of reluctant to give it up (the devil I know ...). I had read somewhere that some of the insurances will cancel you when they find out you are Medicare eligible.
Has anybody had this happen to them or know where you can find the terms that they go by from state to state?
Any and all input is appreciated.
Marvin
Forums
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
I believe that if you refuse Part A Medicare, you will not receive social security payments. However, you can refuse Part B without penalty.
Also note that if you do have Medicare, you can't get an additional policy through the ACA health exchange (I personally hate this rule). You would instead need to get (or continue) a second policy outside of the exchange, which is what it sounds like you are planning on doing.
I know this doesn't answer your question about an insurance company potentially dropping you if you are also on Medicare, but I thought you should also consider these issues.
I would suggest simply calling Blue Cross of Arkansas and asking them about their policy when somebody is on Medicare. I would also suggest contacting them via writing on their patient portal and making sure that the two answers agree with one another.
I have found that most of the insurance companies are pretty uncertain about their own policies in the wake of all the recent changes under the ACA. Hence, my suggestion to ask the question twice and in two different ways.
Also note that if you do have Medicare, you can't get an additional policy through the ACA health exchange (I personally hate this rule). You would instead need to get (or continue) a second policy outside of the exchange, which is what it sounds like you are planning on doing.
I know this doesn't answer your question about an insurance company potentially dropping you if you are also on Medicare, but I thought you should also consider these issues.
I would suggest simply calling Blue Cross of Arkansas and asking them about their policy when somebody is on Medicare. I would also suggest contacting them via writing on their patient portal and making sure that the two answers agree with one another.
I have found that most of the insurance companies are pretty uncertain about their own policies in the wake of all the recent changes under the ACA. Hence, my suggestion to ask the question twice and in two different ways.
Last edited by Multibilly on Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
We have Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Maine, from my husband's teaching retirement. As I understand it, when we each turn in 65 in two years, we will automatically be put on Medicare Part B, and then will purchase the Anthem BC/BS Medicare Supplement. Hopefully the coverage will be at least as good as we have now, but we really don't have much choice. We can't afford the $1,300.00 per month premium too much longer for the regular Anthem policy.
I got my information from talking with the administrator of my husband's retirement benefits and with the Social Security Office.
I'm sure every state is different. Best of luck with your search for info!
I got my information from talking with the administrator of my husband's retirement benefits and with the Social Security Office.
I'm sure every state is different. Best of luck with your search for info!
-
janner - Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2000
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
I suggest that you contact Medicare to find out the details of refusing Medicare Part B when you are eligible. From my understanding, if you refuse it when you become eligible and do not have coverage under a work-related insurance policy, you will pay a monthly penalty if you should sign up for Part B in the future.
I remained on my work-related policy until I retired with no penalty when I signed up for part B. Between my Part A and B and my supplemental insurance, my coverage really is better than my work coverage was, and that was very good. I chose a supplemental plan that covers all of my doctor appointments, lab work and procedures 100%. This makes it so that I can budget better without having to worry about co-pays and co-insurances. My monthly insurance cost isn't low, but it isn't astronomical and is manageable for me.
I would suggest that you look at all of the options available where you live and then decide on whether to remain with your current insurance or move to Medicare when you become eligible. There are pros and cons to each approach. Talk with the social worker or financial office at the cancer center where you are treated and ask them about what kinds of coverage they have the best experience with. They won't necessarily tell you which company to choose, or which plan to choose, but they may be able to give you some guidelines as to what to look for.
I went to a seminar on insurance coverage for people approaching 65 that was given by one of the social workers at my treatment center. It was really helpful in giving me questions to ask and things to look for when I spoke with various insurance companies about their plans.
The best advice as with everything that we do as people with myeloma is to do your homework.
Nancy in Phila
I remained on my work-related policy until I retired with no penalty when I signed up for part B. Between my Part A and B and my supplemental insurance, my coverage really is better than my work coverage was, and that was very good. I chose a supplemental plan that covers all of my doctor appointments, lab work and procedures 100%. This makes it so that I can budget better without having to worry about co-pays and co-insurances. My monthly insurance cost isn't low, but it isn't astronomical and is manageable for me.
I would suggest that you look at all of the options available where you live and then decide on whether to remain with your current insurance or move to Medicare when you become eligible. There are pros and cons to each approach. Talk with the social worker or financial office at the cancer center where you are treated and ask them about what kinds of coverage they have the best experience with. They won't necessarily tell you which company to choose, or which plan to choose, but they may be able to give you some guidelines as to what to look for.
I went to a seminar on insurance coverage for people approaching 65 that was given by one of the social workers at my treatment center. It was really helpful in giving me questions to ask and things to look for when I spoke with various insurance companies about their plans.
The best advice as with everything that we do as people with myeloma is to do your homework.
Nancy in Phila
-
NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
Unless it has changed, if you defer part B because you are covered by another policy you freeze the part B cost at that point. If you simply refuse it and come back later you will be charged the present cost.
Part B increases for all, but it increases more for future enrollees.
That is my understanding of it. I had insurance for the first 3 years of retirement and I had to report my status complete with policy number to get the waiver.
Part B increases for all, but it increases more for future enrollees.
That is my understanding of it. I had insurance for the first 3 years of retirement and I had to report my status complete with policy number to get the waiver.
-
Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
I appreciate the information from everyone. I will have to probably contact both Blue Cross and Medicare to make sure I make the best choice I can.
From some of the articles and the threads that I have read here that medicare did not cover the high priced drugs like Revlimid. Is this still the policy of medicare?
Marvin
From some of the articles and the threads that I have read here that medicare did not cover the high priced drugs like Revlimid. Is this still the policy of medicare?
Marvin
-
Marvin
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
Marvin-
My part D prescription plan covers Revlimid, but it is a tier 5 drug so I am billed 5% of its cost per month, about $450, after the first filling which is $2000+. This first filling puts me in and out of the donut hole so that all of my drugs are around $2.50 per month after that except for the Revlimid.
Nancy in Phila
My part D prescription plan covers Revlimid, but it is a tier 5 drug so I am billed 5% of its cost per month, about $450, after the first filling which is $2000+. This first filling puts me in and out of the donut hole so that all of my drugs are around $2.50 per month after that except for the Revlimid.
Nancy in Phila
-
NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
Hi Nancy,
I appreciate you taking the time to answer questions that I have. If you have any knowledge on how Velcade is handled by Medicare, I would surely like to hear (read) them.
And I am most appreciative of any information that comes my way.
Marvin
I appreciate you taking the time to answer questions that I have. If you have any knowledge on how Velcade is handled by Medicare, I would surely like to hear (read) them.
And I am most appreciative of any information that comes my way.
Marvin
-
Marvin
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
Hi Nancy,
I seen in another post you did you stated you are in Canada. Do you know if your medicare is similar to the U.S. Medicare? Anyway I would be curious to know.
Marvin
I seen in another post you did you stated you are in Canada. Do you know if your medicare is similar to the U.S. Medicare? Anyway I would be curious to know.
Marvin
-
Marvin
Re: Keeping private insurance after Medicare eligible
Hi Marvin,
You may be confusing NStewart, who has been posting answers to your questions in this forum thread, and Nancy Shamanna, who also posts in the forum regularly (and is a Beacon columnist).
NStewart, as she mentions in her postings, is from Philadelphia. Nancy Shamanna is from Calgary in Canada.
So the advice you've been getting from NStewart definitely is relevant to the U.S. Medicare system!
Best of luck to you.
You may be confusing NStewart, who has been posting answers to your questions in this forum thread, and Nancy Shamanna, who also posts in the forum regularly (and is a Beacon columnist).
NStewart, as she mentions in her postings, is from Philadelphia. Nancy Shamanna is from Calgary in Canada.
So the advice you've been getting from NStewart definitely is relevant to the U.S. Medicare system!
Best of luck to you.
17 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Return to Insurance & Patient Assistance Programs