Well, I'm officially an old fogey. 😂🤣

[catbyte]

I received my Medicare card in the mail today. It starts on June 1. I can't wait until next month because my health insurance premiums will go down from $1,006/month to $256. Woo hoo! I got sticker shock when I reapplied for my insurance in 2020. After my significant other passed away suddenly last year, he left me everything and my income jumped. I lost my roughly $520/month premium subsidy and had to pay the full amount.

My new plan seems like a good one. No deductible, $0 for doctor visits; $20 for specialists, & $70 for ER. And a total of $5,600 out-of-pocket/year. That's so much better than the ridiculously high plan I have now-- $4,700 deductible (which I never come close to meeting), $30/doctor visit, $50/specialists, $250 for ER and $7,800 out-of-pocket.

Funny, I don't feel this old...

[redstatebluegirl]

1. I went on it May 1st, I don't feel this old either.

[Skittles]

2. does it start on the 1st of the month after your birth month?

curious how that works

[catbyte]

4. It starts the first day OF your birth month. My birthday is June 20. For some reason, I thought it

started on the first day AFTER your birth month, but no. It's your birth month.

[tblue37]

3. I went on Medicare June 1 last year, after retiring. It sure is cheaper. nt

[catbyte]

6. No kidding. That $256/month is the total they take out of my check for Medicare A & B (?) plus

the private insurance premium. I'm just going to have them take everything out of my monthly SS check, but it will take a few months for that to kick in so I'll pay my private insurance premium online until SSA catches up.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

5. Welcome to the best half of your life :)

I had excellent employer-paid healthcare for my entire career from two of the best providers in my region.

I had heard all the war stories about Medicare. Not true. Medicare has been the overall best coverage I've had. Enjoy.

[3catwoman3]

7. Getting one's Medicare card is a very...

...sobering moment.

[catbyte]

8. I guess I'm not a deep enough thinker.

My overriding thought was, "Woohoo! I'm gonna be saving $750/month on health insurance!" and not the weighty subject of life and death.

[SharonClark]

9. Congratulations!

When I went on Medicare after retiring 2 years ago, my mom congratulated me and said to enjoy it because you earned it. I'd never thought of it that way.

[ailsagirl]

10. Congratulations!!!

[ploppy]

11. Welcome to the club!