MedicareHello:
My Medicare Blog
July, 2023
In year five over $40,000 in payments by Medicare for services. Most for hospital care. I worked until age 70 and only started Part B after I ended my employment and retired (with some contracting).

2017 in first year no payments yet from Medicare. I started social security ( age 66) so I have option to deduct Part B from monthly check. I will not sign up for Part B as long as I have employer-paid insurance.

I'm telling my story of how
I did my research on Medicare
I signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B
I used my benefit
What was clear and what was not.
How you can benefit from my mistakes!

Medicare:

It's a government program, change is slow even to fix mistakes or odd rules.

It's on your paycheck every month; that is taken out of your paycheck.

Part A is for Hospital Care and it is largely paid for in advance from your taxes. There is no monthly premium for part A.
Part B (and C is a variation of B) pays for non-hospital care-annual appropriations pay for 75% of Part B so it is largely not paid for in advance with Medicare tax. There is a premium for part B (newly enrolled, $121 per month, most pay $104.90).
Part C is managed care, Medicare Advantage and if you have it you do not have part B, typically you also don't have or need part D as it is covered in mgd care.
Part D is for drugs if not covered in a Part C plan)
When to enroll is often confusing, it is only automatic for those over 65 who have decided to start their social security retirement benefits.
Annual enrollment is October to December with slightly varying dates (October 15 to December 7, 2016 dates).

Did you know? Medicare starts at age 65.

Compare that to age 66 and up for Social Security's full benefit age.

Did you know that Medicaid can pay for Medicare's premiums and even copays and deductibles .

Did you know? Some medical conditions qualify you for Medicare (e.g.,end stage renal, Lou Gehrig's).

Did you know? If you are born on August 1 Medicare coverage begins on July 1st, but if born August 2 and later it goes back only to August 1.

American Indians Alaska Natives and Medicare

I am not AIAN, but my career was in Indian Health and I am an expert on coverage for American Indians; Private, Medicare and Medicaid (insurance) and Indian Health Service-funded payment using Purchased and Referred Care (and other funds).

Nearly all (90%) of AIANs who are eligible ARE enrolled in Part A (through their taxes or their spouses taxes based on minimum of 10 years Medicare taxes paid). An unknown smaller percentage (80% +) are enrolled in Part B (if eligible for A you ARE eligible for B,C, D).

Tribes can assist their patients and tribal members in several ways:

Assist with enrollment and information about the benefit.
Pay directly for the premiums for Part D.
Reimburse for Medicare Part B or Part C (Medicare Advantage or Part B + Medicare Supplemental Plans).
Medicare Advantage is typically not available in rural areas.

August 2017 update

I've had Medicare since August 1 2017 and didn't have any expenses paid by Medicare Part A in 2016---so nothing to report. That's good news-I have not been hospitalized. That's the funny thing about insurance-you buy something you don't want to use.

Medicare the website.

Social Security the website.

Social Security

If age 66 (like me) in 2017 you can get Social Security's full benefit.

You can work without losing any of your benefit.

You do pay taxes on 85% of benefit.

Did you know? If you are born on August 29 your first check (or direct deposit) is about September 27, 2017.

All the pictures on this site are from August 2016 or later-my birthday month.

MyMedicare

This is your personal (but official) webpage where (after you enroll) you can:

Confirm coverage for each Parat
Review claims (bills)
Update profile
Get explanations of coverage and other info.
You CANNOT cancel Part B on this website
Emails stay in queue for easy review
- Example of email is the list of preventive services I can receive such as annual exam, psa test, colonoscopy and more.

Medicare the website.

This is the official website where you can:

Learn options
Enroll and change enrollment
Update profile

My 1st year Medicare experience

AARP

This is a public interest group on steroids

Your advocate (if an elder)
Best information on healthy living for elders
Best Medicare information, but note they profit from their Advantage Plan arrangement with United Health, auto insurance with the Hartford and many other highly profitable partnerships.
Best information on elder 'scams'

Research, difficult on Medicare website and many articles confuse.
Enroll at 65 or wait for social security retirement's automatic enrollment at time of enrolling in social security-Enroll in Part A-no premiums, Part B, C or D and there are premiums.
I enrolled in May (3 months early) even though my birthday is in August -alllowed- effective date is August 1, birthday is August 29.
I have employer provided health insurance with generous benefits and low cost sharing. You can enroll 3 months after as well; and if yu have employer insurance you likely should not enroll.
Does your employer offer generous health insurance?
I decided to enroll in Part A and Part B even with this insurance.
My Part B premium is $121 per month if you enrolled in 2016 or later
I changed my mind about Part B and tried to cancelled Part B one month prior to start, but a complicated process resulted in an inability to cancel online. Instead I had to call to get a form to mail to cancel. CMS says they do this on purpose so they can counsel you on the gravity of this decision (to B or not to B), but no such counseling was given to Ed Fox-just sent me the form. On August 18, I received a letter confirming that Part B was cancelled and I do not have to pay the bill I received for 3 months premium.
- I do not recommend enrolling in Part B if you have employer paid coverage.

By the way, I did not know my first bill would be for 3 months on the first billing; meaning you are paying 3 months in advance.

I will not have to pay the 10% penalty for not having Part B since I am covered by employer insurance.

A very very very small number of AIANs are eligible for an equitable relief exemption from the penalty for certain dates (WA and OR have different dates). See TTAG Equitable Relief committee minutes. from 2008-2009.

I'm telling my story of how

I did my research on Medicare

I signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B

I used my benefit

What was clear and what was not.

How you can benefit from my mistakes!

American Indians Alaska Natives and Medicare

August 2017 update

I've had Medicare since August 1 2017 and didn't have any expenses paid by Medicare Part A in 2016---so nothing to report. That's good news-I have not been hospitalized. That's the funny thing about insurance-you buy something you don't want to use.

Medicare the website.

Social Security the website.

MyMedicare

Medicare the website.

My 1st year Medicare experience

AARP

Research, difficult on Medicare website and many articles confuse.

Enroll at 65 or wait for social security retirement's automatic enrollment at time of enrolling in social security-Enroll in Part A-no premiums, Part B, C or D and there are premiums.

I enrolled in May (3 months early) even though my birthday is in August -alllowed- effective date is August 1, birthday is August 29.

I have employer provided health insurance with generous benefits and low cost sharing. You can enroll 3 months after as well; and if yu have employer insurance you likely should not enroll.

Does your employer offer generous health insurance?

I decided to enroll in Part A and Part B even with this insurance.

My Part B premium is $121 per month if you enrolled in 2016 or later

By the way, I did not know my first bill would be for 3 months on the first billing; meaning you are paying 3 months in advance.

I will not have to pay the 10% penalty for not having Part B since I am covered by employer insurance.

A very very very small number of AIANs are eligible for an equitable relief exemption from the penalty for certain dates (WA and OR have different dates). See TTAG Equitable Relief committee minutes. from 2008-2009.

I also can enroll in Part B anytime if I lose my employer coverage.

THE NEXT BIG THING

I'm telling my story of how

I did my research on Medicare

I signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B

I used my benefit

What was clear and what was not.

How you can benefit from my mistakes!

American Indians Alaska Natives and Medicare

​

​

August 2017 update I've had Medicare since August 1 2017 and didn't have any expenses paid by Medicare Part A in 2016---so nothing to report. That's good news-I have not been hospitalized. That's the funny thing about insurance-you buy something you don't want to use.

Medicare the website.

Social Security the website.

MyMedicare

Medicare the website.

My 1st year Medicare experience

AARP

Research, difficult on Medicare website and many articles confuse.

Enroll at 65 or wait for social security retirement's automatic enrollment at time of enrolling in social security-Enroll in Part A-no premiums, Part B, C or D and there are premiums.

​

I enrolled in May (3 months early) even though my birthday is in August -alllowed- effective date is August 1, birthday is August 29.

I have employer provided health insurance with generous benefits and low cost sharing. You can enroll 3 months after as well; and if yu have employer insurance you likely should not enroll.

​

Does your employer offer generous health insurance?

​

I decided to enroll in Part A and Part B even with this insurance.

My Part B premium is $121 per month if you enrolled in 2016 or later

​

By the way, I did not know my first bill would be for 3 months on the first billing; meaning you are paying 3 months in advance.

​

I will not have to pay the 10% penalty for not having Part B since I am covered by employer insurance.

A very very very small number of AIANs are eligible for an equitable relief exemption from the penalty for certain dates (WA and OR have different dates). See TTAG Equitable Relief committee minutes. from 2008-2009.

​

I also can enroll in Part B anytime if I lose my employer coverage.

THE NEXT BIG THING

August 2017 update

I've had Medicare since August 1 2017 and didn't have any expenses paid by Medicare Part A in 2016---so nothing to report. That's good news-I have not been hospitalized. That's the funny thing about insurance-you buy something you don't want to use.