Will I Be Forced Into Medicare?

[MULTIZ321]

Will I be Forced Into Medicare? - Filed in Q&A by John Grobe/ Blogs/ FedSmith.com

"Q: I have been retired for four years from the post office. I want to keep my current care first health plan. Am I forced into Medicare? Can I just keep my current plan? I will be 65 in February. Will there ever be penalties if I am forced into Medicare at a later date?

A: FEHB cannot require you to enroll in Medicare at age 65. You are allowed to keep your current FEHB plan. Most federal retirees are going to elect Medicare Part A, as it is free. Regarding Medicare Part B, which has a monthly premium, some age 65 retirees elect it and some do not..."


Richard

 

[Jennie]

Check with your employer Benefits adviser.

I worked in a New York City government position for 35 years. When I retired and became Medicare eligible at age 65, I was advised by my Union to also sign up for Part B which basically covers drugs. The monthly cost (around $120.) is deducted from my Medicare check.

HOWEVER, once every year in August, New York City re-imburses the $120. per month I paid by sending a check for the entire amount.

I'm not sure if your state or agency has the same policy but it is certainly worth asking. Good luck!

 

[Luanne]

My former employer (I'm retired) is dropping my medical coverage (including dental, vision and prescriptions) the beginning of the month of my 65th birthday. Since I am already taking Social Security benefits I am automatically enrolled in Medicare. And if I want a Medicare supplement, I'll have to pay for it. So in my case, yes, I was "forced" into Medicare.

 

[tschwa2]

While you can't be forced into Medicare, employers can restrict plans to retires including restrictions based on age. They can not restrict plans based on age to active employees.

So if you are willing to self pay for non medicare insurance as a retiree or unemployed person over the age of 65 or an employed person not offered or taking insurance through an employer than you can do whatever you want.

 

[vacationhopeful]

1 year 8 months ... til Medicare coverage. It better be a BIG TAD lower than my current coverage in costs.

 

[Passepartout]

After I was pushed out of employment at 62 and (before ACA) had to buy minimal catastrophic care insurance, just making it to 65 and Medicare was a godsend!

Jim

 

[vacationhopeful]

After I was pushed out of employment at 62 and (before ACA) had to buy minimal catastrophic care insurance, just making it to 65 and Medicare was a godsend!

Jim

Try my independent insurance plan was "KILLED off" .... at my age 62. My plan was not cheap before but it almost DOUBLE in costs.

 

[bogey21]

I don't recall the rules but there are penalties for late enrollment in Medicare Parts B and D. i think they may be waived if you have certification from your ex-employer that their plan that you kept equaled or exceeded Medicare. Probably something that should be checked out.

George

 

[Passepartout]

Try my independent insurance plan was "Obama KILLED off" .... at my age 62. My plan was not cheap before but it almost DOUBLE in costs.

Nobody killed anything. What I bought to carry me over until Medicare age couldn't be called 'insurance' by the furthest stretch of imagination. $5000 deductible, then it paid 50%, no 'script coverage, no preventive coverage. Hard to remember what minimal non-insurance was available before ACA. Even harder to think that some folks wanted it!

 

[vacationhopeful]

Nobody killed anything. .....

My Health Insurance sent me a letter clearly telling me, that as of April 15, 2014 my then current Health Insurance plan (via Amerihealth) was cancelled as it did NOT meet the Affordable Care Act level of required insurance. Failure to obtain new health insurance would subject me to surcharges for not being insured. That was received during Dec 2013.

And that was all I ever got from Amerihealth Insurance Company .... other than bills for the next several months of premiums. Then I got a bill for the April 1-30, 2014 dates....

I have no favorable personal opinion of that company ... never another follow up letter or advisement or offer of coverage for a plan meeting the ACA .... nothing.

Yes, I am self-employed and a single subscriber ... treated like DIRT in the age of the internet and mass mailings. My prior medical insurance company still in business and offering single payer policies (and under the ACA)... and I am sure for around the 160%+ monthly increase of a plan worse than my coverage before the ACA.

I had major surgery for cancer the Spring before the ACA ... the policy you had might not have been a good choice for me.

 

[Ron98GT]

My former employer (I'm retired) is dropping my medical coverage (including dental, vision and prescriptions) the beginning of the month of my 65th birthday. Since I am already taking Social Security benefits I am automatically enrolled in Medicare. And if I want a Medicare supplement, I'll have to pay for it. So in my case, yes, I was "forced" into Medicare.

Did you check to see if you can keep your former employers insurance as your supplement? That's what I can and will do when I retire in about 2-1/2 years, so I won't lose any benefits, although it will cost me.

 

[Luanne]

Did you check to see if you can keep your former employers insurance as your supplement? That's what I can and will do when I retire in about 2-1/2 years, so I won't lose any benefits, although it will cost me.

I do have options available through my former employer for a supplemental plan. However, it is more expensive than what I can get elsewhere.

I can also get dental and vision care, but they are both with different companies than I have now, and considerably more expensive.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

As the "resident Medicare expert", Medicare is not forced. If you have worked 40 quarters (10 years), and then at 65 you take Social Security, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part-A (hospitalization). Part-B is basically optional, but for $105/month (as of 2015), it's not bad. A few months ago, Congress, in having a "Doc Fix", also said premiums will now go up, since they wanted seniors to pay MORE for their insurance. In terms of late penalties, yes, you must pay them if (1) you do not have PPACA-level insurance for Part-B (outpatient treatment) and/or Part-D (drugs).

If you want any more help, go up to the SEARCH and type Medicare Basics which is my post about everything Medicare.

TS

 

[geekette]

As the "resident Medicare expert", Medicare is not forced. If you have worked 40 quarters (10 years), and then at 65 you take Social Security, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part-A (hospitalization). Part-B is basically optional, but for $105/month (as of 2015), it's not bad. A few months ago, Congress, in having a "Doc Fix", also said premiums will now go up, since they wanted seniors to pay MORE for their insurance. In terms of late penalties, yes, you must pay them if (1) you do not have PPACA-level insurance for Part-B (outpatient treatment) and/or Part-D (drugs).

If you want any more help, go up to the SEARCH and type Medicare Basics which is my post about everything Medicare.

TS

I have a disabled friend under age 65 that says he was forced into Medicare on the basis of being disabled. Would that be related to the employer-he-disabled-from and their insurance that he remains on? I guess, can your insurance plan force you into Medicare?

Murky stuff.

 

[tschwa2]

If your friend is retired be it through a service or disability retirement, the former employee can say we will not pay or contribute for any plan or any non medicare plan if you are eligible for medicare.

In all likelihood the economics is going to force him into medicare. If he wants to self pay for a non medicare plan and not enroll in medicare then he probably has that option. For most self paying for a plan when medicare is an option is not something they are willing or able to do.

 

[Fern Modena]

He had to "qualify" for Medicare if he was under 65. To do so, he had to be a US citizen or have a resident visa, and have been collecting SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) for 24 months, or Have End Stage Renal Disease and be on dialysis or have a kidney transplant and collecting SSDI, Railroad Disability Annuity, or be fully insured under Social Security rules, Or have ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), and qualify for SSDI (no waiting period).

Now his employer doesn't have to insist that he get Medicare coverage. In fact, I don't think the employer "can force him to get Medicare." BUT, since he is eligible, the employer CAN decide to only supplement those who do take Medicare. It is good business sense for the employer to do so.

Fern

I have a disabled friend under age 65 that says he was forced into Medicare on the basis of being disabled. Would that be related to the employer-he-disabled-from and their insurance that he remains on? I guess, can your insurance plan force you into Medicare?

Murky stuff.

 

[geekette]

He had to "qualify" for Medicare if he was under 65. To do so, he had to be a US citizen or have a resident visa, and have been collecting SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) for 24 months, or Have End Stage Renal Disease and be on dialysis or have a kidney transplant and collecting SSDI, Railroad Disability Annuity, or be fully insured under Social Security rules, Or have ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), and qualify for SSDI (no waiting period).

Now his employer doesn't have to insist that he get Medicare coverage. In fact, I don't think the employer "can force him to get Medicare." BUT, since he is eligible, the employer CAN decide to only supplement those who do take Medicare. It is good business sense for the employer to do so.

Fern

Fern, this sounds like his situation, old employer sending him down that route. He is SSDI 5+ yrs I think. I was curious on the "force" part but couldn't get good explanation from him. Force IF you want to keep ex-employer plan.

Thank you, this stuff gets complicated!