Medicare question

[Brian41]

My SS disability date is June 2014 and I'm 61 years old. I understand I'm eligible for Medicare at two years beyond my disability date so that'll be this June. Is that an automatic or something I need to apply for somewhere? I've left a message with my SS contact but haven't heard back yet which is a normal for them I've found. I'll give it a couple days and try again if need be.
I currently am under my wife's health insurance plan but she may be retiring or changing jobs real soon and will leave me without insurance except for what we purchase under Cobra for the interim.
My health is pretty good at the present but scares the heck out of me to not be insured either. Hopefully I can transition to Medicare without too many problems by June but know nothing of the procedure.
Since so many here know so much I thought I'd ask here and thanks in advance.

[snubbyfan]

My disability started on November of 2012 and I'm eligible for medicare this November. I contacted our local SS office and they assured me that it's automatic. I'll be watching this thread to see what others say.

[Hodgin]

I'm no expert but as I understand it your enrollment in medicare will be automatic after the waiting period. I thought it was 18 months but it may be 2 years from the date of your disability.

If your insurance coverage is with your wife's employment and she is retiring, I think you can still qualify for a Cobra under her policy. You'll have to pay something but it is generally less than independent insurance for the same coverage. Check with your wife's insurance people about this. You definitely do not want to go any period without insurance and certainly not 2 years.

The Affordable Care Act may have some effect on this. Not sure.

[Brian41]

Thanks for the input guys. Snubby, why the long wait as my SS book says two years after first receiving payments?
I haven't heard back from SS and will be surprised if I do hear back in a timely manner as they've been slow before.
Oops sorry as I had a typo on my first post and should be June, 2012 not 2014. I'm banking on this June being two years and would be eligible then.
I know I'll need supplemental insurance then too and will deal with that then. I wonder too if Cobra would cover that sort of insurance too. Any good hints on where to seek that sort of thing? Money has tightened up now that I'm not working and wife only works weekends.

[traderdell]

Enrollment in Medicare Part A is automatic, you will be offered Part B at around $105 per month. You can decline Part B but it will cost more if you want to pick it up at a later time. I work for Medicaid but don't take anything anyone tells you as gospel, go to your nearest Social Security Administration office and get signed up now if your twenty-four months is up in June. As an aside it's twenty-four months after you're dreamed disabled not from when you get your first payment. An example would be: you received a payment in June for six months of SSD payments but we're dreamed disabled in January. Twenty-four months is up in January not in June.

[Hodgin]

After you start medicare you'll want to get a supplement. You'll have alot of choices and everyone will try to sell you one. I think these companies know when someone goes on medicare. You may be able to just keep the company with your Cobra as the supplement. Ask them, but you might want to shop around a bit.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by Brian41

Thanks for the input guys. Snubby, why the long wait as my SS book says two years after first receiving payments?
I haven't heard back from SS and will be surprised if I do hear back in a timely manner as they've been slow before.
Oops sorry as I had a typo on my first post and should be June, 2012 not 2014. I'm banking on this June being two years and would be eligible then.
I know I'll need supplemental insurance then too and will deal with that then. I wonder too if Cobra would cover that sort of insurance too. Any good hints on where to seek that sort of thing? Money has tightened up now that I'm not working and wife only works weekends.

November's my 2 year mark for my type of neuropathy.

Originally Posted by Hodgin

After you start medicare you'll want to get a supplement. You'll have alot of choices and everyone will try to sell you one. I think these companies know when someone goes on medicare. You may be able to just keep the company with your Cobra as the supplement. Ask them, but you might want to shop around a bit.

My wife worked for a short time selling supplemental insurance. They go by your birthday. When you start getting close to retirement age the vultures start circling.

[S&W357]

Traderdell got it right.

[Rpg]

You will find that you get lots of offers for supplemental coverage. AARP, for example, seems to do nothing but sell insurance and they've probably been sending you stuff for years, even if you never 'join'.

If you go with COBRA coverage, that insurer will probably offer a policy.

Very important to sign up for Medicare about now since you'll be eligible in June.

[Arney]

How do you afford anything offered under COBRA?
Even if supplemental that must cost a pretty penny......

[Brian41]

Thanks for that valuable information and I have a better idea now on what to do next. I'll wait on my contact at SS to call and go from there as to applying for Medicare.
We currently have health care from my wife's job but she'll soon be taking on a new job which likely won't have it but at much higher pay. She was quoted $1400/month to maintain current health care ourselves. I'm paying $54.00/month now for dental and eye under Cobra for us both from my former job. I'll certainly be shopping around for supplemental insurance.

[Bullet Bob]

Too bad you don't have the internet, you could have looked it up on the SSA website:

A word about Medicare
After you receive disability benefits for 24 months, you will be eligible for Medicare. You will get information about Medicare several months before your coverage starts. If you have permanent kidney failure requiring regular dialysis or a transplant or you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), you may qualify for Medicare almost immediately.

And no, you don't have to do a thing, it will be automatic.

[Brian41]

Thanks Bob for pointing out the obvious. That statement is also in the booklet they sent me which I read before calling my contact at SS and posing my question here. It being the government and the fact it's several months before and I haven't heard is why I'm questioning. I'm not wanting a delay especially if we're paying high premiums for health care. With my medical situation I can't afford to be without it.
I've had two back surgeries and can now walk without my cane which I'm thankful for but couldn't work my physical job anymore. I hate the fact I had to go on disability but didn't want to wind up in a wheelchair either. I guess that's why I and my employers paid into SS since I was 14 years old.

[H Richard]

I am surprised yo have not received information from SSA yet. Usually they do send out notices about 90 days in advance. traderdell tells you correctly, go to your nearest SSA office and "Verify" you are signed up, and make sure you do sign up for the Part B, and also the Part D for prescription Drug. There is a website at Medicare.gov that can assist you in finding supplemental insurance and Part D for Prescription drug. Be aware there can be a huge difference supplemental coverage prices, but based on the "plan" (recommend plan F) they must all pay the same benefits. I switched companies this year when my premium (6 mo) went up to just over $1400 and I was able to replace it for $1028. Saved me nearly $800 a year. If you can find an insurance person that specializes in Medicare and Long Term Care as they know which plans cost how much.