Head is spinning

[ladybug]

hello,

so, because of SSDI, i am now elligible to start receiving parts A, B, and D. however, because of tricare, i'm going to NOT enroll in part B or D. i also have BCBS which i pay out of pocket for. i will keep this policy as its just a private policy and is quite good about letting me go home from the hospital on IV meds within a day or two.

i spent over an hour on with medicare today and they said my order of insurances now that i am elligible for medicare will be as follows:

medicare
BCBS
tricare

they also said according to medicare part A, i am <b>required</b> to spend at least the first 3 days inpatient for any hospitalization before they'll allow me to go home.

i do not like this and am curious if there is any way to drop medicare A and whether anyone has done this (simply because their private health insurance is "better")?

also, what has been your experience with medicare part A for hospitalization and getting out on home IV meds? is it a pain or are they fairly efficient? i could maybe stomach staying in 3 full days if it means saving my 1 million dollar max on BCBS.

but, the representative said i cannot pick and choose which insurance to use as hospital insurance as it is likely once BCBS finds out i have medicare and they are secondary, they will deny any hospital claims where they're put first.

this is all REALLY confusing! i think i'd rather drop part A if i can, but if people like part A and they have been good about letting you go home on IVs and don't put a bunch of "red tape" with regard to nursing visits and let you use the eclipse balls, etc. for infusion, it may be ok.

urgh! i'm just so confused! its frustrating but i suppose i'm blessed to have more than just medicare (although i do pay huge premiums per month to have my "cushy" bcbs policy, but that is my choice).

thanks,

 

[ladybug]

hello,

so, because of SSDI, i am now elligible to start receiving parts A, B, and D. however, because of tricare, i'm going to NOT enroll in part B or D. i also have BCBS which i pay out of pocket for. i will keep this policy as its just a private policy and is quite good about letting me go home from the hospital on IV meds within a day or two.

i spent over an hour on with medicare today and they said my order of insurances now that i am elligible for medicare will be as follows:

medicare
BCBS
tricare

they also said according to medicare part A, i am <b>required</b> to spend at least the first 3 days inpatient for any hospitalization before they'll allow me to go home.

i do not like this and am curious if there is any way to drop medicare A and whether anyone has done this (simply because their private health insurance is "better")?

also, what has been your experience with medicare part A for hospitalization and getting out on home IV meds? is it a pain or are they fairly efficient? i could maybe stomach staying in 3 full days if it means saving my 1 million dollar max on BCBS.

but, the representative said i cannot pick and choose which insurance to use as hospital insurance as it is likely once BCBS finds out i have medicare and they are secondary, they will deny any hospital claims where they're put first.

this is all REALLY confusing! i think i'd rather drop part A if i can, but if people like part A and they have been good about letting you go home on IVs and don't put a bunch of "red tape" with regard to nursing visits and let you use the eclipse balls, etc. for infusion, it may be ok.

urgh! i'm just so confused! its frustrating but i suppose i'm blessed to have more than just medicare (although i do pay huge premiums per month to have my "cushy" bcbs policy, but that is my choice).

thanks,

 

[ladybug]

hello,

so, because of SSDI, i am now elligible to start receiving parts A, B, and D. however, because of tricare, i'm going to NOT enroll in part B or D. i also have BCBS which i pay out of pocket for. i will keep this policy as its just a private policy and is quite good about letting me go home from the hospital on IV meds within a day or two.

i spent over an hour on with medicare today and they said my order of insurances now that i am elligible for medicare will be as follows:

medicare
BCBS
tricare

they also said according to medicare part A, i am <b>required</b> to spend at least the first 3 days inpatient for any hospitalization before they'll allow me to go home.

i do not like this and am curious if there is any way to drop medicare A and whether anyone has done this (simply because their private health insurance is "better")?

also, what has been your experience with medicare part A for hospitalization and getting out on home IV meds? is it a pain or are they fairly efficient? i could maybe stomach staying in 3 full days if it means saving my 1 million dollar max on BCBS.

but, the representative said i cannot pick and choose which insurance to use as hospital insurance as it is likely once BCBS finds out i have medicare and they are secondary, they will deny any hospital claims where they're put first.

this is all REALLY confusing! i think i'd rather drop part A if i can, but if people like part A and they have been good about letting you go home on IVs and don't put a bunch of "red tape" with regard to nursing visits and let you use the eclipse balls, etc. for infusion, it may be ok.

urgh! i'm just so confused! its frustrating but i suppose i'm blessed to have more than just medicare (although i do pay huge premiums per month to have my "cushy" bcbs policy, but that is my choice).

thanks,

 

[ladybug]

hello,

so, because of SSDI, i am now elligible to start receiving parts A, B, and D. however, because of tricare, i'm going to NOT enroll in part B or D. i also have BCBS which i pay out of pocket for. i will keep this policy as its just a private policy and is quite good about letting me go home from the hospital on IV meds within a day or two.

i spent over an hour on with medicare today and they said my order of insurances now that i am elligible for medicare will be as follows:

medicare
BCBS
tricare

they also said according to medicare part A, i am <b>required</b> to spend at least the first 3 days inpatient for any hospitalization before they'll allow me to go home.

i do not like this and am curious if there is any way to drop medicare A and whether anyone has done this (simply because their private health insurance is "better")?

also, what has been your experience with medicare part A for hospitalization and getting out on home IV meds? is it a pain or are they fairly efficient? i could maybe stomach staying in 3 full days if it means saving my 1 million dollar max on BCBS.

but, the representative said i cannot pick and choose which insurance to use as hospital insurance as it is likely once BCBS finds out i have medicare and they are secondary, they will deny any hospital claims where they're put first.

this is all REALLY confusing! i think i'd rather drop part A if i can, but if people like part A and they have been good about letting you go home on IVs and don't put a bunch of "red tape" with regard to nursing visits and let you use the eclipse balls, etc. for infusion, it may be ok.

urgh! i'm just so confused! its frustrating but i suppose i'm blessed to have more than just medicare (although i do pay huge premiums per month to have my "cushy" bcbs policy, but that is my choice).

thanks,

 

[ladybug]

hello,
<br />
<br />so, because of SSDI, i am now elligible to start receiving parts A, B, and D. however, because of tricare, i'm going to NOT enroll in part B or D. i also have BCBS which i pay out of pocket for. i will keep this policy as its just a private policy and is quite good about letting me go home from the hospital on IV meds within a day or two.
<br />
<br />i spent over an hour on with medicare today and they said my order of insurances now that i am elligible for medicare will be as follows:
<br />
<br />medicare
<br />BCBS
<br />tricare
<br />
<br />they also said according to medicare part A, i am <b>required</b> to spend at least the first 3 days inpatient for any hospitalization before they'll allow me to go home.
<br />
<br />i do not like this and am curious if there is any way to drop medicare A and whether anyone has done this (simply because their private health insurance is "better")?
<br />
<br />also, what has been your experience with medicare part A for hospitalization and getting out on home IV meds? is it a pain or are they fairly efficient? i could maybe stomach staying in 3 full days if it means saving my 1 million dollar max on BCBS.
<br />
<br />but, the representative said i cannot pick and choose which insurance to use as hospital insurance as it is likely once BCBS finds out i have medicare and they are secondary, they will deny any hospital claims where they're put first.
<br />
<br />this is all REALLY confusing! i think i'd rather drop part A if i can, but if people like part A and they have been good about letting you go home on IVs and don't put a bunch of "red tape" with regard to nursing visits and let you use the eclipse balls, etc. for infusion, it may be ok.
<br />
<br />urgh! i'm just so confused! its frustrating but i suppose i'm blessed to have more than just medicare (although i do pay huge premiums per month to have my "cushy" bcbs policy, but that is my choice).
<br />
<br />thanks,

 

[JazzysMom]

I would suggest talking to Julie. Although I am not sure Mark actually got his Medicare.....

I know with group health insurance like my husband has that as long as he is actively employed his insurance is primary over Medicare.

From what that Rep is saying....it must have to do with the Military. Medicare Part A is automatic. I dont know if you can NOT get it. Even if you do....it will only cover the hospital portion of any admissions. It will be awfully complicated billing overall....

Wish things were easier!

 

[JazzysMom]

I would suggest talking to Julie. Although I am not sure Mark actually got his Medicare.....

I know with group health insurance like my husband has that as long as he is actively employed his insurance is primary over Medicare.

From what that Rep is saying....it must have to do with the Military. Medicare Part A is automatic. I dont know if you can NOT get it. Even if you do....it will only cover the hospital portion of any admissions. It will be awfully complicated billing overall....

Wish things were easier!

 

[JazzysMom]

I would suggest talking to Julie. Although I am not sure Mark actually got his Medicare.....

I know with group health insurance like my husband has that as long as he is actively employed his insurance is primary over Medicare.

From what that Rep is saying....it must have to do with the Military. Medicare Part A is automatic. I dont know if you can NOT get it. Even if you do....it will only cover the hospital portion of any admissions. It will be awfully complicated billing overall....

Wish things were easier!

 

[JazzysMom]

I would suggest talking to Julie. Although I am not sure Mark actually got his Medicare.....

I know with group health insurance like my husband has that as long as he is actively employed his insurance is primary over Medicare.

From what that Rep is saying....it must have to do with the Military. Medicare Part A is automatic. I dont know if you can NOT get it. Even if you do....it will only cover the hospital portion of any admissions. It will be awfully complicated billing overall....

Wish things were easier!

 

[JazzysMom]

I would suggest talking to Julie. Although I am not sure Mark actually got his Medicare.....
<br />
<br />I know with group health insurance like my husband has that as long as he is actively employed his insurance is primary over Medicare.
<br />
<br />From what that Rep is saying....it must have to do with the Military. Medicare Part A is automatic. I dont know if you can NOT get it. Even if you do....it will only cover the hospital portion of any admissions. It will be awfully complicated billing overall....
<br />
<br />Wish things were easier!

 

[Skye]

aaaah the maze that is the Medicare system. I too spent hours on the phone trying to figure out the best options for Medicare. Not sure there is anyone who really understands. Medicare is secondary for me.....so I can't help you there. I was just trying to figure out if there was ANY benefit to me having B and as far as I can tell so far that would be a big NO. I don't know about dropping A; but, I think that is a very good question. Who wants to be forced to use Medicare if they don't have to. I hope you get some answers. I am GLAD you finally qualified for SSDI<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> BTW, Julie told me that they carried Part A and B for a while but finally ended up dropping part B when it was apparent that it was of no use to them and was costing them money.

 

[Skye]

aaaah the maze that is the Medicare system. I too spent hours on the phone trying to figure out the best options for Medicare. Not sure there is anyone who really understands. Medicare is secondary for me.....so I can't help you there. I was just trying to figure out if there was ANY benefit to me having B and as far as I can tell so far that would be a big NO. I don't know about dropping A; but, I think that is a very good question. Who wants to be forced to use Medicare if they don't have to. I hope you get some answers. I am GLAD you finally qualified for SSDI<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> BTW, Julie told me that they carried Part A and B for a while but finally ended up dropping part B when it was apparent that it was of no use to them and was costing them money.

 

[Skye]

aaaah the maze that is the Medicare system. I too spent hours on the phone trying to figure out the best options for Medicare. Not sure there is anyone who really understands. Medicare is secondary for me.....so I can't help you there. I was just trying to figure out if there was ANY benefit to me having B and as far as I can tell so far that would be a big NO. I don't know about dropping A; but, I think that is a very good question. Who wants to be forced to use Medicare if they don't have to. I hope you get some answers. I am GLAD you finally qualified for SSDI<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> BTW, Julie told me that they carried Part A and B for a while but finally ended up dropping part B when it was apparent that it was of no use to them and was costing them money.

 

[Skye]

aaaah the maze that is the Medicare system. I too spent hours on the phone trying to figure out the best options for Medicare. Not sure there is anyone who really understands. Medicare is secondary for me.....so I can't help you there. I was just trying to figure out if there was ANY benefit to me having B and as far as I can tell so far that would be a big NO. I don't know about dropping A; but, I think that is a very good question. Who wants to be forced to use Medicare if they don't have to. I hope you get some answers. I am GLAD you finally qualified for SSDI<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> BTW, Julie told me that they carried Part A and B for a while but finally ended up dropping part B when it was apparent that it was of no use to them and was costing them money.

 

[Skye]

aaaah the maze that is the Medicare system. I too spent hours on the phone trying to figure out the best options for Medicare. Not sure there is anyone who really understands. Medicare is secondary for me.....so I can't help you there. I was just trying to figure out if there was ANY benefit to me having B and as far as I can tell so far that would be a big NO. I don't know about dropping A; but, I think that is a very good question. Who wants to be forced to use Medicare if they don't have to. I hope you get some answers. I am GLAD you finally qualified for SSDI<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> BTW, Julie told me that they carried Part A and B for a while but finally ended up dropping part B when it was apparent that it was of no use to them and was costing them money.

 

[ladybug]

thanks for the responses.

yes, i'm <u>NOT</u> taking part B as it costs money AND is not necessary with already having tricare for active duty. i can add part B when DH retires. tricare is the exception to this "enrollment rule" since they are both federal insurance programs (i.e. socialized medicine).

the reps said medicare always trumps tricare because they're both federal programs versus medicare being secondary. i'm not entirely sure however, why medicare comes primary to BCBS as i would assume the federal govt would WANT people who are willing to use their other insurance first to do so.. duh. another reason the whole idea of socializing medicine seems good on paper, but when it gets down to the "nitty gritty" it may not be quite so good if you're "forced" to have it and it limits your options to care. jmo though. but i digress....

what does everyone who has part A as their primary payor think of it and its hospital-to-home health care? i thought this was an issue before with some who were told they had to stay inpatient because they have medicare, when tricare would have allowed home health at pretty much any point.

i think its silly... coverage is coverage. if i'm PAYING for bcbs and want to follow their programs/doctors/protocols/etc., now i'm essentially going to be paying for it, but not able to go to any doc/do anything like i had before. all because i'm disabled? and i'm absolutely not dropping my BCBS in the event that we'd ever seperate from the military and be without insurance (and personally i don't want to rely only on medicare ever.)

the rep also said if my primary insurance is a "medicare advantage" plan (which its not), that would be the ONLY way a private insurance would cover prior to medicare because they've then agreed to cover the medicare expenses.

... what a mess!!!

 

[ladybug]

thanks for the responses.

yes, i'm <u>NOT</u> taking part B as it costs money AND is not necessary with already having tricare for active duty. i can add part B when DH retires. tricare is the exception to this "enrollment rule" since they are both federal insurance programs (i.e. socialized medicine).

the reps said medicare always trumps tricare because they're both federal programs versus medicare being secondary. i'm not entirely sure however, why medicare comes primary to BCBS as i would assume the federal govt would WANT people who are willing to use their other insurance first to do so.. duh. another reason the whole idea of socializing medicine seems good on paper, but when it gets down to the "nitty gritty" it may not be quite so good if you're "forced" to have it and it limits your options to care. jmo though. but i digress....

what does everyone who has part A as their primary payor think of it and its hospital-to-home health care? i thought this was an issue before with some who were told they had to stay inpatient because they have medicare, when tricare would have allowed home health at pretty much any point.

i think its silly... coverage is coverage. if i'm PAYING for bcbs and want to follow their programs/doctors/protocols/etc., now i'm essentially going to be paying for it, but not able to go to any doc/do anything like i had before. all because i'm disabled? and i'm absolutely not dropping my BCBS in the event that we'd ever seperate from the military and be without insurance (and personally i don't want to rely only on medicare ever.)

the rep also said if my primary insurance is a "medicare advantage" plan (which its not), that would be the ONLY way a private insurance would cover prior to medicare because they've then agreed to cover the medicare expenses.

... what a mess!!!

 

[ladybug]

thanks for the responses.

yes, i'm <u>NOT</u> taking part B as it costs money AND is not necessary with already having tricare for active duty. i can add part B when DH retires. tricare is the exception to this "enrollment rule" since they are both federal insurance programs (i.e. socialized medicine).

the reps said medicare always trumps tricare because they're both federal programs versus medicare being secondary. i'm not entirely sure however, why medicare comes primary to BCBS as i would assume the federal govt would WANT people who are willing to use their other insurance first to do so.. duh. another reason the whole idea of socializing medicine seems good on paper, but when it gets down to the "nitty gritty" it may not be quite so good if you're "forced" to have it and it limits your options to care. jmo though. but i digress....

what does everyone who has part A as their primary payor think of it and its hospital-to-home health care? i thought this was an issue before with some who were told they had to stay inpatient because they have medicare, when tricare would have allowed home health at pretty much any point.

i think its silly... coverage is coverage. if i'm PAYING for bcbs and want to follow their programs/doctors/protocols/etc., now i'm essentially going to be paying for it, but not able to go to any doc/do anything like i had before. all because i'm disabled? and i'm absolutely not dropping my BCBS in the event that we'd ever seperate from the military and be without insurance (and personally i don't want to rely only on medicare ever.)

the rep also said if my primary insurance is a "medicare advantage" plan (which its not), that would be the ONLY way a private insurance would cover prior to medicare because they've then agreed to cover the medicare expenses.

... what a mess!!!

 

[ladybug]

thanks for the responses.

yes, i'm <u>NOT</u> taking part B as it costs money AND is not necessary with already having tricare for active duty. i can add part B when DH retires. tricare is the exception to this "enrollment rule" since they are both federal insurance programs (i.e. socialized medicine).

the reps said medicare always trumps tricare because they're both federal programs versus medicare being secondary. i'm not entirely sure however, why medicare comes primary to BCBS as i would assume the federal govt would WANT people who are willing to use their other insurance first to do so.. duh. another reason the whole idea of socializing medicine seems good on paper, but when it gets down to the "nitty gritty" it may not be quite so good if you're "forced" to have it and it limits your options to care. jmo though. but i digress....

what does everyone who has part A as their primary payor think of it and its hospital-to-home health care? i thought this was an issue before with some who were told they had to stay inpatient because they have medicare, when tricare would have allowed home health at pretty much any point.

i think its silly... coverage is coverage. if i'm PAYING for bcbs and want to follow their programs/doctors/protocols/etc., now i'm essentially going to be paying for it, but not able to go to any doc/do anything like i had before. all because i'm disabled? and i'm absolutely not dropping my BCBS in the event that we'd ever seperate from the military and be without insurance (and personally i don't want to rely only on medicare ever.)

the rep also said if my primary insurance is a "medicare advantage" plan (which its not), that would be the ONLY way a private insurance would cover prior to medicare because they've then agreed to cover the medicare expenses.

... what a mess!!!

 

[ladybug]

thanks for the responses.
<br />
<br />yes, i'm <u>NOT</u> taking part B as it costs money AND is not necessary with already having tricare for active duty. i can add part B when DH retires. tricare is the exception to this "enrollment rule" since they are both federal insurance programs (i.e. socialized medicine).
<br />
<br />the reps said medicare always trumps tricare because they're both federal programs versus medicare being secondary. i'm not entirely sure however, why medicare comes primary to BCBS as i would assume the federal govt would WANT people who are willing to use their other insurance first to do so.. duh. another reason the whole idea of socializing medicine seems good on paper, but when it gets down to the "nitty gritty" it may not be quite so good if you're "forced" to have it and it limits your options to care. jmo though. but i digress....
<br />
<br />what does everyone who has part A as their primary payor think of it and its hospital-to-home health care? i thought this was an issue before with some who were told they had to stay inpatient because they have medicare, when tricare would have allowed home health at pretty much any point.
<br />
<br />i think its silly... coverage is coverage. if i'm PAYING for bcbs and want to follow their programs/doctors/protocols/etc., now i'm essentially going to be paying for it, but not able to go to any doc/do anything like i had before. all because i'm disabled? and i'm absolutely not dropping my BCBS in the event that we'd ever seperate from the military and be without insurance (and personally i don't want to rely only on medicare ever.)
<br />
<br />the rep also said if my primary insurance is a "medicare advantage" plan (which its not), that would be the ONLY way a private insurance would cover prior to medicare because they've then agreed to cover the medicare expenses.
<br />
<br />... what a mess!!!