It's Time For Medicare (whether I want it or not)

[LouNY]

You will need to enroll in Medicare part A, which only covers hospitalization.
You can hold of on any part B or supplements till you are about to have no insurance.
As long as you keep your employers health insurance and it is an approved plan (most are)
there is no penalty or anything.
Your healthcare will stay the same as it has been with the sole exception that if you are actually admitted to a hospital
your part A becomes primary and your employee health becomes secondary.
I have gotten to the point when a doctors office asks for my Medicare card I tell them NO, here is my insurance card.
They may not like it but they will get over it. To many times the billing idiots will try and bill Medicare when it should have gone to your insurance then when Medicare rejects the claim it has to go to your insurance and it just confuses people.

 

[KennyG]

If you are still working and staying with an employer plan, check to see if the plan is compliant with Medicare. If not you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty when you switch to Medicare. This is especially common with Part D (prescription drugs) because some employer plans may not cover enough to meet Medicare standards. Then you might want to add Part D immediately on eligibility.

 

[Cougsfan]

As I read these threads I am amazed at the confusion. I was scared stiff of going on Medicare when I retired. "another government bureaucracy to deal with" I thought. Now 10 years later, I find that with Medicare an AARP supplement, my overall cost for health care is far less, easier to use and less of a hassle, and far less confusing than when I had my company provided insurance.

As far as dental insurance goes; the coaching that I got from my dental hygienist several years before retirement: "Get all your dental work on your company insurance before you retire. replace all old fillings and do everything needed. After you retire, don't buy insurance, it usually cost far more than it is worth. But do get your teeth cleaned twice a year and pay for it out of pocket. Don't skimp on cleaning! Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Pick a good dentist that doesn't look for frequent unnecessary precautionary services to pad their income." It was very good advice.

 

[sree251]

I'm turning 65 in a few weeks and trying to understand what to do about the Medicare enrollment, I'm still working and plan to for another year or so.

Unless your employer's insurance cover you even after retirement till you die, you had better enroll in Medicare when eligible to do so (i.e. 65). Part B enrollment is mandatory at 65; otherwise, you get slapped with a penalty added onto your premium.

 

[LouNY]

Unless your employer's insurance cover you even after retirement till you die, you had better enroll in Medicare when eligible to do so (i.e. 65). Part B enrollment is mandatory at 65; otherwise, you get slapped with a penalty added onto your premium.

No, Part A is mandatory.
Part B if you have a decent employee health plan is not required.

 

[sree251]

No, Part A is mandatory.
Part B if you have a decent employee health plan is not required.

Does employee health plans cover employees, after retirement, for life?

 

[LouNY]

Does employee health plans cover employees, after retirement, for life?

I seriously doubt it but while you are working after becoming Medicare eligeble it is usually less expensive
and may cover more.

 

[ovrszd]

Does employee health plans cover employees, after retirement, for life?

None in the civilian sector that I've ever heard of. I retired from the Army after 40 years. My wife and I are still covered by Tri-Care medical insurance. Questionably the best benefit of the retirement package.

 

[Doofy]

Medicare is Primary and my retiree health plan is Secondary. Very minuscule amount of money is ever asked of me. I've been afraid to throw the VA in to the mix because I'm afraid that would just confuse everyone.

 

[ovrszd]

Medicare is Primary and my retiree health plan is Secondary. Very minuscule amount of money is ever asked of me. I've been afraid to throw the VA in to the mix because I'm afraid that would just confuse everyone.

Yep, Medicare first, Tri-Care second. We're very Blessed to not have serious medical issues to test the efficiency of payment on both. Monthly fees, our costs went up when we both got on Medicare. Paying 7 times as much now as before Medicare.