Medicare day!

[iris lilies]

Yay, today I am biggly on the gubmnt teat! Medicare is now my health provider. Yay for Entitlement programs!

All of the parts ABCXYZ are more expensive by a long shot than the other, lesser, gubmnt teat program we were on, an ACA policy. But that is fine, we can afford it and I purposely chose an expensive Part for the time being, having to do with us living in 2 places. It is fine, it is a first World problem.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Congrats, IL. I'm sure it's a huge relief to be on Medicare. Now you don't have to worry about your distance from Mexico and cold bloodedly factor such into all your health care decisions - not that I believe you do such but you sure better believe I would be if I lived in the Midwest as you do. At any rate....I'd be grateful. Being on Medicare insulates you from capitalism to some degree - a very very very wonderful thing. Rob

[pinkytoe]

I get on the train this fall. Aside from the Original A & B coverage, it must be a very lucrative thing for insurance companies as the amount of solicitations I receive is ridiculous.

[catherine]

I have no complaints. So far so good. I've been on Medicare for 2 years (have yet to even use it yet, to be honest.) But DH, who has only been on it for 6 months is going to crash the system if he keeps it up. THEN will where you be, IL? :)

[iris lilies]

In the usual gubmnt bureaucratic snafu laden world, DH is jumping thru ridiculous hoops to keep his ACA policy for the few months until he too turns 65. Hoops that make me crazy. I “cold bloodedly” have determined that Nanny G is not really my friend.

DH has 0 traditional income which of course throws him into the Medicaid world, so now he has to complete forms which show he does in fact have income just not work or pension income.

[ApatheticNoMore]

congratulations

[iris lilies]

I have no complaints. So far so good. I've been on Medicare for 2 years (have yet to even use it yet, to be honest.) But DH, who has only been on it for 6 months is going to crash the system if he keeps it up. THEN will where you be, IL? :)

Not to seem uncaring, but death panels solve that problem.

:~)

[oldhat]

Congrats. My M-Day is June 9, 2020, or 405 days from now.

Not that I'm counting. Or at least not counting the minutes.;)

[catherine]

Not to seem uncaring, but death panels solve that problem.

:~)

Oh, you're so bad!

[Teacher Terry]

I go on Medicare A and B only because I have to keep my state insurance for 5 years until my husband is 65. Part B is free for me as the state insurance will reimburse me every month forever.

[Yppej]

Did you never pay Medicare taxes IL? It is a contributory program.

[iris lilies]

Did you never pay Medicare taxes IL? It is a contributory program.

Oh you mean, I paid in and now I’m getting mine? Well OK.

[dado potato]

Reimbursement rates by Medicare may be a matter of some interest. Hospitals and physicians who accept Medicare assignment "cannot charge you more than the Medicare Approved Amount".

The long-term economic viability of providers who accept Medicare assignment can be questioned if the level of reimbursement is lower than "cost".

I am acquainted with a 70-ish woman who had a total knee replacement in March of 2019. The L*** Medical Center charged $12,252 for this procedure, which involved staying one night in the hospital, plus preparation for surgery, anesthesia, an artificial knee joint, the surgery, plus a day of recovery in a private room. Medicare approved $175.50 ... Seriously?

I do not know how Medicare determined the approved amount. But the Sheraton Hotel in Duluth on a MONDAY night charges $183 (with no surgery going on!).

[jp1]

Reimbursement rates by Medicare may be a matter of some interest. Hospitals and physicians who accept Medicare assignment "cannot charge you more than the Medicare Approved Amount".

The long-term economic viability of providers who accept Medicare assignment can be questioned if the level of reimbursement is lower than "cost".

I am acquainted with a 70-ish woman who had a total knee replacement in March of 2019. The L*** Medical Center charged $12,252 for this procedure, which involved staying one night in the hospital, plus preparation for surgery, anesthesia, an artificial knee joint, the surgery, plus a day of recovery in a private room. Medicare approved $175.50 ... Seriously?

I do not know how Medicare determined the approved amount. But the Sheraton Hotel in Duluth on a MONDAY night charges $183 (with no surgery going on!).

That obviously seems absurdly low. The $12k price sounded reasonable. A friend of mine had both knees replaced last year at a cost of around $40k apiece at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. I don't know what the billed amount was, although I assume it was more, but reduced to $40k under my friend's insurance carrier's negotiated rates. Both times she had a nice room with a view of the East River.

[Gardnr]

Reimbursement rates by Medicare may be a matter of some interest. Hospitals and physicians who accept Medicare assignment "cannot charge you more than the Medicare Approved Amount".

The long-term economic viability of providers who accept Medicare assignment can be questioned if the level of reimbursement is lower than "cost".

I am acquainted with a 70-ish woman who had a total knee replacement in March of 2019. The L*** Medical Center charged $12,252 for this procedure, which involved staying one night in the hospital, plus preparation for surgery, anesthesia, an artificial knee joint, the surgery, plus a day of recovery in a private room. Medicare approved $175.50 ... Seriously?

I do not know how Medicare determined the approved amount. But the Sheraton Hotel in Duluth on a MONDAY night charges $183 (with no surgery going on!).

I question the EOB on this. Medicare has a flat rate reimbursement by DRG code for the procedure. Back when I was on that side (2001) the reimbursement was nearly $8k. Something is very wrong either with facility coding or her interpretation of the EOB.

[catherine]

I question the EOB on this. Medicare has a flat rate reimbursement by DRG code for the procedure. Back when I was on that side (2001) the reimbursement was nearly $8k. Something is very wrong either with facility coding or her interpretation of the EOB.

I agree. The $175.50 was probably what SHE had to pay (and even that sounds low unless she has a supplemental plan also). Medicare would have reimbursed the hospital whatever their standard charges were.

[Teacher Terry]

Back in 2007 my MIL spent a month in intensive care after surgery and her supplement was so good that she didn’t pay anything. She was only 67 and was really sick after the surgery.

[Gardnr]

Back in 2007 my MIL spent a month in intensive care after surgery and her supplement was so good that she didn’t pay anything. She was only 67 and was really sick after the surgery.

Mom had what was called Blue Cross Medigap. She had a monthly premium and never an OOP expense (out of pocket). It gave her peace of mind as she lived on a fixed income even though the premium was $168 (in 2007).

I think these days they are called advantage plans. The advantage being you know exactly what your healthcare cost will be each month.

Of course, Part D and meds are an additional expense.