Champva, Medicare And Federal Retirement Health Insurance

[Papa]

My wife has decided that she does not want nor need Part B of Medicare. This is a requirement for enrolling in Champva. She does not want to pay the $104.00 premium for the Part B. She feels that it will not benefit her since we have Humana Health Insurance. She feels that although we can get retro through Champva, that since we will have to pay the $104.00 per month, it will be more like a loan. How far off base is she?

I will be 65 soon, and I have started getting things in the mail regarding Medicare. Since, I'm new to this, and 65 caught up to me before I was ready, is it mandatory for me to sign up for Medicare? I have very good health insurance (Humana) and VA if I really must. I don't want to pay for something that I do not feel I need.

Papa

[Philip Rogers]

My wife has decided that she does not want nor need Part B of Medicare. This is a requirement for enrolling in Champva. She does not want to pay the $104.00 premium for the Part B. She feels that it will not benefit her since we have Humana Health Insurance. She feels that although we can get retro through Champva, that since we will have to pay the $104.00 per month, it will be more like a loan. How far off base is she?

I will be 65 soon, and I have started getting things in the mail regarding Medicare. Since, I'm new to this, and 65 caught up to me before I was ready, is it mandatory for me to sign up for Medicare? I have very good health insurance (Humana) and VA if I really must. I don't want to pay for something that I do not feel I need.

Papa

I'm not absolutely positive but I think most insurances require that you purchase Medicare. You should call Humana, just to be sure.

pr

[Teac]

I don't know the Champva rules but I suspect they are like Tricare...

Under Tricare the law requires someone who is eligible for Medicare Part B to take Part B or lose Tricare. In my situation, I had to take Medicare part B just to keep my family on Tricare. Now because I pay for Medicare Part B, my Tricare premium is only $57.50 every three months and this takes care of my spouses medical needs with no co payments and no cost for medications as we use a Military treatment facility.

Humana Insurance is the Tricare insurer. I don't know that any insurance company can require you to carry other insurance but I doubt they can. Really, why would an insurance company care if you took out other insurance, your going to be responsible for co-payments regardless if you have other insurance or not.

Now while I was actually forced to get Medicare Part B, I am glad I did. Between Medicare and Tricare I don't pay any out of pocket expenses even on those rare occasions when I do see a private doctor. I also like that it gives me the affordable flexibility to chose who I want to seek treatment from.

Edited February 12, 2013 by Teac

[john999]

Yes, ChampVA requires you to take medicare part B. I have medicare(primary) and blue cross(secondary) through federal government. My wife has Blue Cross (primary) and ChampVa (secondary). We don't pay any copays. This is a pretty good deal even though I pay $433 a month for Blue Cross for family plan. I would take part B since that is a good deal if you think about it. What about Part D?

[Papa]

Yes, ChampVA requires you to take medicare part B. I have medicare(primary) and blue cross(secondary) through federal government. My wife has Blue Cross (primary) and ChampVa (secondary). We don't pay any copays. This is a pretty good deal even though I pay $433 a month for Blue Cross for family plan. I would take part B since that is a good deal if you think about it. What about Part D?

John, Doesn't your wife need Part B also to qualify for Champva?

papa

[john999]

No, because she is not old enough for medicare yet, but when the time comes she will have to get part B.

[Papa]

No, because she is not old enough for medicare yet, but when the time comes she will have to get part B.

Thanks John. My wife is eligible, not age was but due to disability. I only found out a few days ago that she had turned down part B. She did not want to pay the premiums, and this was before I got my 100%.

Papa