So my Medicare D plan dropped my coverage because they say Medicare told them I’m no longer enrolled in Medicare A and B so am not eligible for D. Medicare says I am still enrolled in A & B (good thing as I am paid up through end September because their billing system is weird - I got billed in June for May (my 1st month) through September). Supplemental plan still has me enrolled. Med D now say they have me back as enrolled again. But it makes me nervous (& I guess it’s lucky I am a bit inconsistent about taking my meds regularly so have enough left for the 3 week international trip I’m about to leave on).
Anyone else have a similar problem? I was wondering if it was to do with the new Medicare cards (I just got mine). The med D provider does not think so. They are insistent that Medicare did tell them I was no longer in A or B. Medicare is equally insistent they did not.
SS and Medicare can be quirky. We never did figure out why they failed/refused to process H’s application for Medicare B. We went in person to ask about it why he never got an updated card and were told his paperwork was wrong. They gave us the paperwork back with no good explanation as to what was wrong. H returned the next day with the SAME exact paperwork and was instantly processed and enrolled in Medicare B.
It makes me nervous as well. The person who refused to process and was holding H’s paperwork for months the 1st time told us a bunch of things that were wrong from everything I had read but didn’t argue with him. I guess between the humans and computer system, there are a few “snags.”
We don’t have Medicare D because we have H’s medical insurance as a family plan that is better than D. His former employer continues to pay a portion of the premium and we pay a portion.
My husband has been doing the calling for me as I’m busy with work. He’s found the Medicare people a little, um, dim. The med D and supplement people have been more helpful. I’m still nervous I’ll get sick and find I’m not covered. I’m enrolled in MyMedicare (my password includes a rude anachronism because I got so frustrated trying to set it up!) And it still shows me as not having D.
I never could find anywhere on the mymedicare site that showed an invoice or that I’m paid up for med B.
I already had a problem when I signed up where they signed me up for early social security (I did not apply) then sent me a letter saying I was signed up but would not receive it cause my earned income is too high but my SS was permanently reduced by 5% because I’m getting it early. I think that is sorted. And then Medicare kept insisting they would take my premiums out of my SS check even though we kept telling them I wasn’t getting SS yet. Sigh. They are not easy to deal with.
Just started Medicare. Signed up for A and B online- some duplications in the process on my part because I wasn’t sure info went through. When it came time for part D went through the hoops and clicked on the plan I wanted with the government website. Nothing ever happened with attempts so I went to the plan’s site and easily accomplished the sign up. It is frustrating to go through multiple steps then can’t finish the job. At least the government website has good information for decision making- especially once you click on info sites for drug costs.
At one point I wanted to ask a real person on the phone but discovered such limited hours- and no one picking up close to closing time. I also wanted to sign up with a password or get info once I had my (new version) Medicare card but the system would not let me. You may get the card ahead of time but couldn’t use your number for narrowing your search, sigh. Will need to get signup password for part D now that I’m legit.
Our finances are such we’re not doing any supplemental policies. Medicare has been good with cost disclosures for parts B and D- that extra based on recent income. Having only investment income means variable costs depending on how the year before last was…
So glad I can afford things now. Went without much health and dental care as a kid because of costs. Became a physician. Thank goodness for “Obamacare”- would not have been insurable otherwise after my Cobra from H’s work ran out.
The problem with not having a supplemental or gap policy for Medicare is there is NO cap on out of pocket expenses without the additional policy. Also, if you sign up for supplemental or gap policy when you get Medicare, you have to be accepted. After that, you MAY be rejected if they don’t want to add you as policyholder (eg they think you may be expensive).