Medicare Help

So, as I've mentioned before, I've been stewing about going on Medicare.

Will it really pay all my medical bills? Are there loopholes that I don't know about, besides the infamous doughnut hole in the prescription drug coverage? Am I better off staying with WSHIP (the devil I know) despite the high cost (almost $800/month in premiums, plus $2,000/year out of pocket)?

I really can't afford those premiums when my income from Disability is $1,100/month, plus some extra for Younger Son until he turns 18, which is next summer. And now that my life expectancy is looking a bit better, I don't want to run through all my assets in the next two years ... which I will do if I stay with WSHIP.

On the other hand, how much time can I afford to put into figuring out Medicare? Everyone I talk to (and I've been talking to EVERYONE) agrees that it takes a lot of hours to sort out. But everyone gives me a piece of info to add to the total, and I keep moving on, slowly.

I now know, for example, that my Tykerb should be paid for through Part B, although I don't know what Part B will cost me, and I know that I should get supplemental insurance as well as Medicare--but will that end up costing me as much as I'm paying now?

The answer seems to be, probably not.

So I'e discussed this with both of my therapists in the past few days, hoping that they would know someone I could consult with, even if it cost me money, who could tell me what to apply for and what it would cost and what to expect--because someone like me can't even go a week without health insurance coverage.

And I certainly can't allow my coverage to lapse, for any reason.

The suggestions I got were: Try a social worker at one of my two cancer centers (already e-mailed one); and, Try the AARP.

I'm not a member (yet), but if someone in that office (we're talking the association of retired folks here) can help me, I'll gladly join, even though I've been resisting ever since that first invitation landed in my mailbox on my 50th birthday.

Oh, yes, the AARP knows how old you are--just wait. They'll come for you, before you're ready.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[debutaunt]

I got a card from Medicare in the mail just the other day that says I would be eligible in April 2008. I'm headed to MD Anderson for a few checkups this month and was going to meet with my social worker. I have no idea what to do. I sure hope they can give me advice.

I was discussing this with a friend the other day and mentioned that dealing with all of this should come with a healthcare doula - like a midwife you have when giving birth. Who can manage all this paperwork when you are still going through treatment/ recovery?

I switched my daughter to independent insurance through Blue Cross and now my premium is about $650 a month instead of nearly $1,100. They were charging me over $400 a month for a healthy 7 year old. BCBS will only charge me $89 a month.

But medicare. No clue there for me.

[jeanne]

Debs--a health care doula is exactly what we all need. Baring that, a good social worker (and they are rare) should be able to help. Baring that, I'm fresh from the trenches and I can help. Do you want me to walk you through it? It will be somewhat different because you are in a different state, but not all that different.

I had to put my kids on separate insurance for the same reason. It would have been rediculous to have them on my WSHIP policy. The younger one is now on his father's excellent policy (he's a state employee in California) and the older one has an individual catastrophic policy (any one illness has to hit $500 before it kicks in) paid for by me. The premiums are $60/month and I pay for his rare doctor visits out of pocket. We come out way ahead that way.

If you want help with Medicare, let's switch over to e-mail ....

Jeanne