Maddog 521
Member
Another----"Medicare don't call"
Why does the gummament want me to sign up for Medicare
- Thread starter P&R Fan
- Start date
^^^ the above is my thought as well.
There are many legit "Medicare Advantage Plans" which take money from the government that would have gone to Medicare and provide coverage to you as a private insurer. Many of these have favorable terms and some cost you nothing. However, the ones that cost you nothing will likely have high deductibles.
My suggestion is to find a trusted Medicare advisor who will review your circumstances and advise you to go with Medicare or suggest a particular Medicare Advantage plan. Either way, be careful not to miss the Medicare signup deadline.
If your wife is already collecting Social Security she may be (or will be) automatically enrolled in Medicare
Part A is free and you should go ahead when eligible. Part B (Medical) is the part with a fee. You can defer part B without a penalty IF you are covered under a medical plan ( like an employee plan) I took Part A when I was 65 but take Part B until after both my Wife and I retired several years later. When you do apply You'll need to get a form signed by your employer stating you and spouse were covered under an Employer plan between X dated and there won't be a late penalty.
Mister Coffee
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Good point. Medicare goes out of its way to educate seniors about fraud and security. The scam culture that has been born out of the good, old Internet should be on everyone's daily concern list. It's gotten to the point where I won't give my own mother my real name.
In my experience, the people at medicare.gov are very professional, courteous and helpful. But have haven't had direct contact with them over the last 8 months, so I cannot vouch for the current state of affairs.
For most folks Part B is critical.
Medicare Part B is considered critical for most people because it covers a wide range of medical services and supplies that nearly everyone will need at some point, and going without it can create major health and financial risks. Here's a breakdown:
1. What Part B Covers
Part B pays for the day-to-day, non-hospital health care that most people rely on:
2. Financial Protection
In short: Medicare Part B is critical because it provides access to the doctors, preventive care, and treatments most people depend on, protects against crushing out-of-pocket costs, and avoids lifelong late penalties.
Medicare Part B is considered critical for most people because it covers a wide range of medical services and supplies that nearly everyone will need at some point, and going without it can create major health and financial risks. Here's a breakdown:
1. What Part B Covers
Part B pays for the day-to-day, non-hospital health care that most people rely on:
- Doctor visits (primary care, specialists)
- Outpatient care (including same-day surgeries)
- Preventive services (screenings, vaccines, annual wellness visits)
- Durable medical equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, home oxygen, etc.)
- Ambulance services
- Certain drugs administered in a clinic (e.g., chemotherapy, injections)
2. Financial Protection
- 80% coverage: After a small deductible, Medicare Part B pays about 80% of covered services, leaving you responsible for 20%.
- Medigap/Medicare Advantage: Most people pair Part B with either a Medigap plan or Medicare Advantage plan to reduce out-of-pocket costs further.
- Without it: Even routine care or specialist visits could become unaffordable, and major treatments (like cancer care) could be financially devastating.
- If you delay signing up for Part B when you're first eligible (unless you have qualifying employer coverage), you may pay a late enrollment penalty of 10% for each year you should have had it — and that penalty is permanent.
- Skipping Part B to "save money" often backfires: you not only risk huge medical bills but also lock yourself into higher premiums for life if you later change your mind.
- Many doctors and outpatient facilities expect patients to have Medicare Part B coverage.
- Without it, you may struggle to find providers who will see you, or you'll face higher, uninsured rates.
- Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and some home health care.
- But most people's medical needs are outside the hospital — that's where Part B is indispensable.
In short: Medicare Part B is critical because it provides access to the doctors, preventive care, and treatments most people depend on, protects against crushing out-of-pocket costs, and avoids lifelong late penalties.Huskerguy
Member
The office of Medicare, i.e the government is NOT calling you. The only time they will call you is when you sign up for Medicare on-line and someone will call you a few days later to confirm your choice.
What you are probably receiving and I get them all the time are scammers saying they are from Medicare and want to set you up with a new card or else a great Advantage plan. Welcome to being 60, it gets worse when you hit the magic number.
What you are probably receiving and I get them all the time are scammers saying they are from Medicare and want to set you up with a new card or else a great Advantage plan. Welcome to being 60, it gets worse when you hit the magic number.
Doug M.
Member
There are two conditions that qualify you for medicare before 65, enacted during the Nixon administration. One is Black lung, IIRC; the other is ESRD (end stage renal disease) at the time you start dialysis. I got on medicare when I was 62 as a result. It has been fantastic in general. I would not bother with an "Advantage" plan; the ones I have looked into were utter crud.
-BTM-
Member
AudieMurphy
Member
That is not correct. Most medical facilities will take Medicare, but they are not required to. If they accept Medicare they must also accept your supplement.
Texas and Florida lead the list with the most medical facilities that will not accept medicare.
Texas and Florida lead the list with the most medical facilities that will not accept medicare.
I've never encountered anyone here in S. FL who doesn't accept basic Medicare. I've used it from regular PCP appointments to a week in ICU. Yet I hear those with the Medicare Advantage complaining about can't see this doctor or can't see that doctor because no in network.
When we were preparing our move to Texas I called our secondary insurance company to see what I might have to do to keep my coverage. Before I qualified for Medicare, I knew that i'd have to pick a BC/BS plan if I moved out of state after retiring. When I was talking to the nice young lady at the insurance company she told me that I could keep my existing secondary because Medicare required them to accept any supplement IF they accepted Medicare. She also told me that Texas and Florida were the states that lead the list of providers that didn't accept Medicare.
For some reason my retired school teacher sister told me that wasn't true. She's on Medicare and lives in FL half the year. I think she's misinformed, but didn't say anything because she has an enourmous brain and knows everything!
What our secondary actually does is sub out of state retirees out to United Health Care. They just administer the insurance for the actual provider and when I call the provider whoever I talk to can answer my questions and never mentioned UHC.
Most providers down here in TX seem to accept Medicare, but some there are a few that don't accept any insurance at all.
For some reason my retired school teacher sister told me that wasn't true. She's on Medicare and lives in FL half the year. I think she's misinformed, but didn't say anything because she has an enourmous brain and knows everything!
What our secondary actually does is sub out of state retirees out to United Health Care. They just administer the insurance for the actual provider and when I call the provider whoever I talk to can answer my questions and never mentioned UHC.
Most providers down here in TX seem to accept Medicare, but some there are a few that don't accept any insurance at all.
Don't procrastinate like I did! I hadn't gotten around to it and stroked at 65 and two months.Spent a night in the hospital and it was quite a bill!! Somebody in billing figured out how to make it all work out. I got lucky
I tried to keep "A&B" with a UHC supplement. $250/mo premium and another $120/mo for BP meds. Co-pays for everything. Went to "part c" with Humana 2 1/2 years ago. Don't pay for anything except $30 twice year for cardiologist. Yes, hospital co pay is $5k max/yr but I banked that after the 1st year. I'll let youse know how it works in practice should anything serious happen. Healthcare is a joke. Joe
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Advantage plans work for some people, however you have to know what you are looking at and what is and isn't covered. There are so many ads on TV for advantage plans that I'm highly suspicious of them.
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