Question on whether to go on Medicare/Medicaid

[Guest guest]

I'm right now on SSDI and in one year will be going on if I want Medicaid Part B. Not sure which one or both but right now before I was diagnosed I had my own BCBS insurance. My social worker thinks the best thing is drop the Blue cross and go w/ the Part B. I need some suggestions as to what I should do!Thank you, Tim

[Guest guest]

Hi Tim,Generally, Medicare is as good as most private insurance plans at a lower cost. To cover everything your BCBS plan cosver, you'll need parts A (hospital insurance -- usually free and automatic enrollment if you're eligible); B (doctors and outpatient treatments -- optional and about $100 a month, currently); and D (drugs, costs vary according to which plan you select.) You will have to decide whether to opt for traditional Medicare (fee for service, with 20% co-pays for doctors) or one of the Medicare Advantage plans (HMO or PPO plans), usually at an additional monthly cost, but with fixed co-pays for doctors, more services, and limits on out of pocket costs. If you have limited income or assets, you may be eligible for Medicaid as well (which essentially covers everything

Medicare doesn't cover -- a very good combination), or Medicare programs that help with costs. Whether enrolling in Parts B and D instead of your BCBS plan is best for you will depend on your individual circumstances. Your social worker may be able to advise you if they know a lot about Medicare and health insurance options. Free counseling about Medicare and health insurance options for those who are Medicare eligible (or about to become eligible) is available through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) https://www.shiptalk.org/Public/home.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx. I would recommend that anyone about to become Medicare eligible meet with a SHIP counselor to help them sort through all of the options available.

Question on whether to go on Medicare/Medicaid

Posted by: " Waters"

timothywaters@...

timothywaters

Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:45 am (PST)

I'm right now on SSDI and in one year will be going on if I want Medicaid Part

B. Not sure which one or both but right now before I was diagnosed I had my own

BCBS insurance. My social worker thinks the best thing is drop the Blue cross

and go w/ the Part B. I need some suggestions as to what I should do!

Thank you,

Tim