Dropping Medicare

[otey2171]

Does anyone regret dropping their medicare? I'm 100% P&T and get all of my care from the VA. I'm only 38 years old and pay the $1200 a year medicare premiums. I haven't used medicare at all this year.

[sixthscents]

What!... I would NEVER reccomend dropping Medicare... never.

[Philip Rogers]

Personally I think you'd be nuts to drop Medicare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jmo

pr

[Pete53]

I think that he is talking about Part B Coverage of Medicare and saving the $ 95 co pay. I still would not drop it cause its the only way a Veteran can get a second opinion or things that VA will not do.

[Tower_Rat]

Yeah the part B is 95 bucks, I dropped mine until I can get through all this red tape of my claim. I still have part A for hospitals. If you get it back though you have to pay a percentage of how many months you had dropped it for and I think its 10 percent so about 9.50 a month. Also you have to do it in a certain quarter. Some people cant afford the 95 a month. The letter I received said that it could go up also. The problem I had in the town I live is that I couldn't find anyone that would take medicare other than the hospital. They give you a paper good for a visit to a regular doctor but, not all the things wrong would require an ER visit. I think that more doctors are getting to the point that they don't take medicaid. Where I live at they have a place called doctors park that almost no one takes it except on referral by the hospital. When I was on medicaid I didnt have that problem but, after you get SSD they switch ya to medicare and it all begins. I know it will probably be a hassle to restart it eventually but, one does what one can. I do think however it would be good for a second opinion if something did arise.

[Philip Rogers]

You can ask Medicare for a list of physicians that accept Medicare in your area. Physicians in my area require me to pay the co-ins at the time of the visit but I feel it's worth it rather than to have the VA care for me. jmo

pr

[john999]

For instance, via medicare I get an MRI of my shoulder in 4 days rather than 4 months. I wait a week to see a specialist instead of months at the VA. I would not drop medicare part A or B. I have private medical insurance for my old job and I would not drop that because an illness or injury can ruin your bank account for years. That is money well spent.