Now that I have calmed down and am not spitting nails, can I give some advice?

[Paper Roses]

I have spent the last two days gritting my teeth. I feel that I and millions of Seniors like me are being punished.
Signing up for Medicare, is difficult for lots of us to do correctly. Many factors play into what we choose.
Please see my post of 2 days ago.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024109918

I am now required to pay a penalty for every month I did not have prescription drug coverage.
Lots of things factored into my decision in 2008 to delay this coverage.(Part D). Death of my husband, loss of my job and limited funds.

I have been and continue to be healthy and am grateful for that. No need for drugs but I decided the time was here to sign up.

I knew there was a penalty for not signing up at age 65. Never did I expect it to be so big. Are we being punished for not signing up? I guess it was a bad move on my part to think that I could save a few dollars when I don't need the product. Do the fine folks at Medicare feel cheated that they did not get $$ for all these months?


Medicare is charging a penalty for every month from 2008 to 2014.
Please, if you can afford the coverage, pick it up as soon as you are eligible. Tell any elderly relatives and friends.
The penalty is as much as the drug coverage policy that I chose.

I will be looking into Canadian sources but am a little afraid. Not of the drugs but about an emergency need and the time involved in the process.

Sometimes I feel the process of getting old is more work than worth...but the alternative is not so good either.

[shraby]

1. We ran into the same thing, not taking meds but needed to preserve our

options with part D. Wisconsin had Senior care and for around 30 dollars a year each, we could take it and it saved us from having to pay a penalty when we opted for part D. We couldn't actually use the insurance to save money on drugs because our income was too high, but by carrying the coverage, it was a viable coverage when we got part D. We went from no meds for 2 years to having Mr. Shraby need a drug that was over 200.00 per month. That was when we immediately switched to part D...no penalty. I don't even know if it's available now that Walker is in charge.

[Worried senior]

10. As far as I know

Senior Care is still available. We looked into it but our income is too high too (that's a laugh) so we just went with the Part D.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. It's confusing for a lot of people.

I would advise anyone who needs help in filling out the forms and understanding anything at all about the process to request help. If you don't have a friend or a family member who can help you, tell the people at Medicare or Social Security that you need help. They should find someone you can talk to and who will answer all your questions. It will save you a lot of headache in the long run.

[pangaia]

3. I am not defending the penalties, etc..

but it states in the Medicare Information booklet what the penalties are for not signing up when first eligible.The penalty is 1% /month times the number of months one has not signed up times the current monthly premium.

Also, again not defending it but, the reason is that by not signing up when eligible, one could just wait until one needed drugs and then, with having paid no premiums for years, sign up and start paying premiums.

It's like car insurance.. you can't wait until you have a wreck and then sign up.
Of course health insurance and car insurance should not be the same but-- there it is explained, anyway.

I'm in the same situation..

[tblue37]

8. I am 63, and I have decent insurance through my employer.

Do I HAVE to switch to/sign up for Medicare (including part D) when I turn 65, even if my insurance from my job is better?

[pangaia]

11. I'm no expert on that.

I would ask others here and/or contact Medicare.

[FarCenter]

4. Medicare Part D works on the same principle as Obamacare

You are forced to start paying at age 65 even if you don't need drugs in order to cover the cost of those who do.

And you may need drugs in a year or two.

The principle is to broaden the population in the same risk pool to include more healthy people in order to make coverage more affordable to all.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I didn't sign up for Part D

because my husband's union insurance plan covers drugs. That's really about the only benefit we're getting from it now for our $300 a month premium because it's got a $5,000 deductible before it supplements Medicare. But we'll probably be glad we have it if we ever get catastrophically sick.

[monmouth3]

6. I never signed up for Part B (purposely) or Part D. I am really gambling but I do like to eat..n/t

[ananda]

7. I'm so sorry you got penalized.

I don't understand that.

I got everything covered with an Advantage plan.
But I can't say how good that coverage will be as
time goes on.

[Hoyt]

9. I'm sorry for your situation. But, it's tough to pass legislation when folks try to game the system.

The Drug program has saved a lot of elderly people who went without or cut pills in pieces to make it. I paid for my mom's drugs before drugs were covered; otherwise she would have done without. She died before Part D enacted enacted, but she would have appreciated it. Despite its faults, Part D is the only decent accomplishment of george war bush's administration. Thankfully, Obama begin closing the donut hole.

[elehhhhna]

13. google has millions of refs to "Spitting nails"

back off

[elfin]

15. I understood that that was the law when it came into effect

My Medicare supplemental had a drug benefit that was equivalent to Part D. So no change for me.

I was aware of the possible penalty, so made some calls to make sure.

Good luck to you.

[totodeinhere]

16. Medicare has got to work on simplifying things. It is way too complicated

and too confusing. My grandmother got her latest Medicare manual in the mail and it's thick enough to be a novel. There is just one page after another often written in legalese that the average person should not be expected understand. And yet if you are confused and make the wrong decision that can have very serious and often expensive consequences.