Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I totally agree Michele, hopefully they will make an exception for ESRD patients as most of our patients already have EGHP w/rx coverage! I am attending a group meeting next week w/a SHINE counselor & plan on having a very large list of questions. Sherri Medicare D In reading information on Medicare Part D, I ran accross this paragraph: Enrollment in Medicare Part D plans is voluntary, however, individuals who delay enrollment after their initial eligibility enrollment period will pay a lifetime premium penalty equal to 1% of the base premium for each month they delay enrollment. Two phrases in the paragraph scare me: initial eligibility and lifetime premium penalty. This doesn't feel very voluntary with these stipulations. Anyone know more about this? If they don't enroll in " D " at the time they are eligible for ESRD medicare, does that mean that when they turn 65 and get it for age they will have a lifetime penalty because they didn't enroll during their initial eligibility? Many patients with EGHP will decline " D " because of the group plan they have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 This is from Medicare.gov If your employer or union plan covers as much as or more than a Medicare prescription drug plan you can... * keep your current drug plan. If you join a Medicare prescription drug plan later your monthly premium won't be higher, or * drop your current drug plan and join a Medicare prescription drug plan, but you may not be able to get your employer or union drug plan back. Sue Weber Heart & Liver Transplant Financial Coordinator The Methodist Hospital Houston, Texas Phone : FAX : Email : sweber@... Medicare D In reading information on Medicare Part D, I ran accross this paragraph: Enrollment in Medicare Part D plans is voluntary, however, individuals who delay enrollment after their initial eligibility enrollment period will pay a lifetime premium penalty equal to 1% of the base premium for each month they delay enrollment. Two phrases in the paragraph scare me: initial eligibility and lifetime premium penalty. This doesn't feel very voluntary with these stipulations. Anyone know more about this? If they don't enroll in " D " at the time they are eligible for ESRD medicare, does that mean that when they turn 65 and get it for age they will have a lifetime penalty because they didn't enroll during their initial eligibility? Many patients with EGHP will decline " D " because of the group plan they have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Note that it states in 1st line " if your plan covers as much or more than Mcare " ...what if it doesn't???? Sherri Medicare D In reading information on Medicare Part D, I ran accross this paragraph: Enrollment in Medicare Part D plans is voluntary, however, individuals who delay enrollment after their initial eligibility enrollment period will pay a lifetime premium penalty equal to 1% of the base premium for each month they delay enrollment. Two phrases in the paragraph scare me: initial eligibility and lifetime premium penalty. This doesn't feel very voluntary with these stipulations. Anyone know more about this? If they don't enroll in " D " at the time they are eligible for ESRD medicare, does that mean that when they turn 65 and get it for age they will have a lifetime penalty because they didn't enroll during their initial eligibility? Many patients with EGHP will decline " D " because of the group plan they have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I went to a workshop yesterday, and they said several times that if your current group plan " is as good as " Medicare's Rx coverage, you may stay with the group plan. They also stressed that people should be encouraged to get Part D because of the penalty involved if they don't get it at the time they are eligible. They mentioned a 7 month enrollment period at the time the patient is eligible for Medicare due to age or disability (3 months prior to, the month of, and 3 months after) but could not verify if this included ESRD eligibility. They could also go with Part D when they lose their current EGHP and not have to wait for the next enrollment period. a Summa TransLife Financial Coordinator ph. 407 303-3623 fax 407 303-2478 Medicare D In reading information on Medicare Part D, I ran accross this paragraph: Enrollment in Medicare Part D plans is voluntary, however, individuals who delay enrollment after their initial eligibility enrollment period will pay a lifetime premium penalty equal to 1% of the base premium for each month they delay enrollment. Two phrases in the paragraph scare me: initial eligibility and lifetime premium penalty. This doesn't feel very voluntary with these stipulations. Anyone know more about this? If they don't enroll in " D " at the time they are eligible for ESRD medicare, does that mean that when they turn 65 and get it for age they will have a lifetime penalty because they didn't enroll during their initial eligibility? Many patients with EGHP will decline " D " because of the group plan they have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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