Return to Article: Part B Or Not Part B?
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83955
Bill, I'm not sure how or when you will get an answer to your question from the author, however, I offer my view in hopes to assist you.
For most retired feds, if they can only afford one health insurance plan, they would be better off with their fehb plan. Notice, for example, the article and discussion at this web site is whether it is best to have 2 plans, that is, to add Medicare to the fehb plan. If one insurance alone can be afforded and Medicare were better, that would be simple solution to the article discussion here, ie just have Medicare alone.
I say this because it seems that you are not on your spouse's fehb plan and you have Medicare alone. If so, I think you should take a serious look at joining with your spouse in a family fehb plan, especially one with a good RX benefit such as mail order at a low co-pay per fill. Looking at the premium and benefits carefully, you will probably see that family plan alone would be better than the current arrangement of you and your spouse.
Everyone has to make a decision on this considering their own particulars. For example, some low income retirees might get a Part D subsidy which would have to be taken in account when making a comparison. Still, I think generally, if only one plan is affordable to the retiree (and spouse), the better way to go is fehb (not one spouse have fehb and the other have Part B and D without fehb).
As far as waiting to enroll in Part B, there is a penalty of 10% added to the Part B premium for every year of delay (or per year dropped if someone goes in and out of Part B).
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79888
since i would be going into the donut hole by November this year would it be better to stick on my wife's policy? Also would i then not need to have Plan B. Is there any problem with delaying Part B and this would also include the supplement.
The cost for Plan B, Supplemental, and drug plan almost equals the premium that is on my wife's plan.
thank you and look forward to hearing from you.
Bill Carmody
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49615
I am a low-income retiree over 70 living in China. Medicines and health care are cheap there by U.S. standards, so my question is this; should I continue to carry both Part A and Part B of my Medicare?
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48949
I am retired and going to be 65 shortly. I have Federal BC/BS and have signed up for Medicare part A. I am very confused about the part B. It seems to me that if the BC/BS I have is going to become my secondary coverage to Medicare yet, I will be paying the same amount for premiums, shy should I have to pay an additional 100.00 to cover the part b mediare. I have spoken with many people both with BC and Medicare and none of them can tell me why I should or should not take the part B. Please help me as my income is small and the $100 is going to hurt.
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48453
I am really confused about part B also. I was admitted, by ambulance, to the hospital with potential heart problems and do not have B. After checking in my 2008 Medicare book it says on page 67, "The Federal Employee Heatlh Benefits offers coverage for employees and family members. Generally, plans under FEHBP help pay FOR THE SAME KIND OF EXPENSES AS MEDICARE. I can't afford the addiitional expense of Medicare B along with my insurance premium so I hope they mean they cover the same as Medicare B, or at least some of it.
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48214
I have been told that if I continue to keep FEB "blue basic" coverage I don't need to keep medicare part B. I am 67 in good health. Should my wife take medicare part B when she reaches 65, since she is also covered under the blue cross basic?
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47294
I have the same comment referenced above ie. Only its me turning 65 in April 08. I have BC/BS and will retain full coverage once I retire as I understand it becomes secondary to Medicare. I also carry a valid military ID card. Should I sign up for Part B if I get Tricare for Life. I already get refunded out of pocket for medications via Tricare.If you don't post responses HOW DO WE GAIN KNOWLEDGE? Thanks for any assistance
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44535
I am currently enrolled in va medical (group 7C) and will be eligable for medicare in April. I am considering not signing on to part B because in most cases the va costs are less. Am I missing something?
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43715
My wife will be turning 65 in April 08. She has BC/BS and will retain full coverage once she retires but we are not sure when. We really need to know if we should sign up for Medicare part B to qualify for TriCare for Life. Very confusing to us. I see a lot of questions here but I am unable to view the answers to the question. Thanks for any assistance.
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41444
My age is 65 DoB 7-25-1942, still working as a civilian. Widowed 09-8-2006. Was offered Widdow's Pension, I denied, if I wait for May 1st I will be able to receive Widdow's Pension with out pentalty & same goes for my own socoal security. I plan on keep Fed. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Standard Option after retirement in 3 yrs. Should I sign up for Medicare Part B? I have no children & no other health insurance? I am in good health.
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40859
My mother is a widow of a former government employee and is turning 65. She has BCBS coverage and if she declines Medicare PartB will her insurance make her pay what part B would have covered?
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38432
There should not be a extra cost for delaying taking Medicare at all, and it is totally wrong for the plans to only cover what Medicare covers and only pay what they pay. This is not what I signed up for at age 20. We all better write our congressman.
Plus, fewer and fewer doctors are accepting medicare, and I just hear that medicare is cutting what they pay by 10 percent, and that doctors are already terminating patients.
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38316
There should not be a extra cost for delaying taking Medicare at all, and it is totally wrong for the plans to only cover what Medicare covers and only pay what they pay. This is not what I signed up for at age 20. We all better write our congressman.
Plus, fewer and fewer doctors are accepting medicare, and I just hear that medicare is cutting what they pay by 10 percent, and that doctors are already terminating patients.
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37638
I am 66 currently on Medicare. Contemplating Medicaid Part B and a supplemental insurance or staying on my wife's Harvard Pilgrim health insurance where she works, which would cost an additional $220/mo. What would be most beneficial?
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37248
I agree with AR who posted on 10/22/07 that BCBS BASIC + Part A is the answer. I have always felt I was missing something by doing this? What are the riskd or shortcomings of BCBS BASIC + Part A, and no Part B?
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36671
Taking part B in addition to keeping FEHBs BCBS Basic plan would make a lot of sense both coverage and expense wise if OPM would contract for lower rates with BCBS when one has both plans. BCBS is hiding behind Medicare's skirts and really will be paying very little while continuing to accept costly premiums from retirees. You will be paying more than double in premiums and benefiting once at best. I'm sure BCBS could come up with a new FEHB plan that supplements Part B vs duplicating it and at at a fairer and more realistic cost. In a related matter, OPM should have fought harder to keep the surcharge for taking part B later on to only a one time extra percentage increase vs the 10% yearly cumulative amount. Talk about getting fleeced by your government after a lifetime of dedicated service!
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36518
I elected Part B on retirement and regret it but was told that I had to sign up because this was OPM's agreement with BC/BS. That is, that medicare would pay first and then BC/BS. No one told me that if I had Medicare Part B that some of my freedom of health care would also be taken. While traveling, I needed to see a doctor and was turned away because the doctor was not taking any new medicare patients and I offered to pay from my own pocket but was told "No." The office staff continued that for anyone with Medicare the rule was they had to accept it and could accept no other payment. If they did so, they would be breaking the agreement and be in trouble. Additionally, I am still working and so my medicare premium will go up to close to the limit or $169.00 a month for next year. I found out as long as you work, do not sign up for medicare but get the company benefit and retain base BC/BS. As long as you are working with equivalent insurance, understand that Medicare is available when you stopped working at no penalty.
I also found out the hard way that if you sign up for Medicare Part B and are seeing a physician not taking Medicare or filling out the form, their is no forum for the patient to ask for reimbursement. I have just had to pay a bill and tried to get an address to see the form to for reimbursement and was told I couldn't do this even if the doctor won't send the form in for me.
I have asked to withdraw from Medicare but they are dragging their heels on sending me the form. It took me several months to find out I could withdraw and never had to enroll when I did. The Medicare reps keep promising to send me the form but they do not. This is a frustrating bureaucracy.
If anyone has different information on the topics I mentioned, please share with me.
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35635
I've looked at the figures very carefully. In my opinion, it's a no-brainer: Blue Cross / Blue Shield (BASIC) only and NO Medicare Part B. As long as you stay within the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Medicare Part B offers very little savings versus very high additional cost. I'm surprised that no one (expert) has ever pointed this out.
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34667
Let me see if I have this straight.
This column recommends 'bottom line' that I enroll in Medicare Part B and pay a premium of about $100 per month or so, then I will not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses of perhaps $50 per month into the indefinite future. The column says that it is possible that I could have out-of-pocket expenses of more than the $100 per month premium over my lifetime but gives no statistics or other justification supporting this possibility. Such possibility seems pretty remote and others have argued such possibility is indeed very remote, yet the column assures me that the FEHB insurance carriers would also like me to do this.
The column also suggests some retirees are beginning to question whether this is such a good idea.
Only some?
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34244
I worked for a health insurance company for many years and it always came as a big shock to those who decided to not take Medicare B "assuming" that there private insurance would cover the part B expenses. READ the fine print of your policy before dropping part B. Better yet call the plan you are on now and ask them what would happen if you did not take part B (get the name, time and date of who you talked to!)
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34101
Please correct your article before confusing the American public with even more misleading and inaccurate information about Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is NOT strictly an HMO product. You do NOT have to see a network of doctors in most cases. There are Medicare Advantage PFFS or private-fee-for-service plans in which you can go to any doctor that accepts payment by the plan provider. There are also HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage plans.
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34042
This was an excellent column, one that I have been hoping you'd write for a long time.
I am still working but in the next five years will face a very complicated situation regarding CSRS and Reserve military retirement and attendant health insurance. I'm going to have to consider FEHPB, Tricare, and Medicare in the context of a wife and an adult handicapped daughter with Medicare and Medicaid who will live at home for the indefinite future. Yes, we do have significant medical expenses each year.
Can you point me at an e-mail address where I can lay out the situation and my options as I see them and benefit from your insights, without boring all your other readers to tears?
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34022
For retired military, you can NOT keep your TRICARE if you don't take Part B. Part B is required by law to maintain TRICARE coverage. For the reservist: you are eligible for TRICARE Standard or Prime from 60-65, just like any other retired service member. TRICARE for Life coverage will be automatic once you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part A and B.
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34020
The big assumption in your discussion is that you can find a doctor who will accept medicare. In Oregon, there are large parts of the state where doctors will not accept new medicare patients but your FEHB insurance is good so look before you leap.
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34019
I am both a Government employee and a drilling member of the Army National Guard. When I retire from the Guard at age 60, I will become eligible for Tricare for Life. I understand the explanation of TFL and medicare coverage provides nearly equals, and in the case of prescription medicines, exceeds my FEHB coverage. My question has to do with the years between 60 and 65. I plan to work till 62 (I am FERS, and the extra 6% will make a big difference). I can keep my FEHB, but the price tag seems pretty steep. I would welcome some guidance on the TFL coverage as stand-alone without the medicare component.
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34017
I plan to switch from BC/BS standard to basic when I retire. Therefore, my husband and I will be covered by Medicare and BC/BS basic. My husband is retired military and a disabled veteran,therefore, he has VA medical benefits. Right now I use Tricare as my secondary insurance. Can I enroll in regular Medicare only, and will I be eligible for Tricare for Life if I do not enroll in Medicare Part B and continue with BC/BS instead?
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34009
Before deciding to pass on Medicare Part B, read the fine print in your current FEHBP policy. You may find that you will responsible for paying for whatever Medicare Part B would have covered. In other words, your FEHBP policy may assume that when you turn 65 you will be covered by Medicare Part B and pays accordingly.
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33997
I certainly plan to keep my FEHBP (Blue Cross) when I retire, and feel that the cost for adding Medicare Part B when I turn 65 will not be cost effective. Currently, my wife and I rarely put out more than a few hundred dollars per year out - of-pocket (if that), so it would seem that the $1000+ annual medicare premium (for each of us) would not be a wise decision. And even if one of us had a catastrophic illness at some point down the road, the max out-of-pocket would only be around $3000 I believe. Sure it would be nice to have both and almost never have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses, but over the long haul, it appears to be a no-brainer to pass on Medicare Part B.
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33993
Please add the number of the Federal form that a Federal employee can have personnel office fill in - to take to SSA to sign up for Medicare B after age 65 - that proves one was insured between age 65 and when theperson retires, so there is no question about coverage during that period, and so the retired federal employee will not have to pay higher rates for Medicare B.
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33991
I will continue to work after 65 in my federal job. Everyone says sign up for Medicare when you become eligible. So - will my federal employer deduct Medicare coverage costs from my federal paycheck? I will be retaining my FEHBP insurance. Will there be two deductions on my federal paycheck - one for Medicare A/B and FEHBP premiums?
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33990
It would be helpful to expand the Medicare Part B discussion to include pointing out the pros and cons in deciding what FEHB coverage best meshes with Part B. For example, what factors should someone consider who has high option coverage under a FEHB plan - such as the Blue Cross/Blue Shield's Standard option - consider switching to the BC/BS Basic option as a better (and cheaper) match-up with Part B coverage or stik with Standard. Also, when would - if ever -subcribing to a Medicare Advantage plan be a better way to supplement Part B coverage than by relying on continuing FEHB plan coverage? Thanks.
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33983
I am contemplating delaying taking Medicare Part B for myself and spouse after I retire. I was told that I could chose a later date at any time. Is this statement correct? I am still working and over 65. I have Blue Cross Blue Shields.
This will be a very important decision for me to make Part B or Not Part B especially if you are retired.
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