Any Under-65 Medicare Part B Enrollees Here?

[JoLin]

What with the gov't shutdown I can't contact anyone at Medicare right now. I will later, but wondered if anybody here has firsthand experience.

I'm 60 years old and receive full SSI Disability benefits. I must decide by December 1 whether or not to refuse enrollment in Medicare Part B. Part A (hospitalization) is automatic and I can't refuse it, but won't me cost anything out of pocket.

I receive medical benefits through my wife's work plan, and they've confirmed that they will continue to be the 'primary' payer. They do not require me to enroll in Part B.

In a typical year I have a couple grand in out of pocket medical expenses (my annual deductible plus co-pays for office visits, tests and procedures), and I'm trying to figure out if Medicare will pick up a percentage (I believe they pay 80%) of my unreimbursed expenses.

If they do that, it might be worth my while to buy in now. Even if it's a wash financially it might make sense to get myself inserted in the the system and 'learn the ropes' now, rather than scrambling to do so at some future date. And, I'd have that additional layer of protection in place if next year is a bad one for me physically.

If they don't pay anything over and above what my primary insurer pays, then I'll pass. I don't need the new monthly expense.

Anybody else here in a similar circumstance?

 

[JoLin]

Re: Any Under-65 Medicare Part B Enrollees Here?

WELL, I got an answer directly from Medicare, in case anybody else would like to know. I didn't expect a rep. to answer the phone, but he did...

Medicare Part B does not pay anything toward deductibles and/or co-pays. So, there ya have it. It doesn't make any sense for me to enroll unless and until Medicare becomes my primary (only) insurer. The monthly premium would just be money down the drain right now.