[badmouse]

I can't make ends meet on disability. They take out $300 per month for Medicare. I could use that money.

All of my serious medical disabilities happened as a result of bad things that happened in the hospital, or due to bad treatment by doctors.

So, I don't really care about having medical insurance. I'll just keep doing what I did before I qualified for Medicare - seeing the nice doctors at a local clinic. Much lower co-pays. Also, it's really difficult to find a doctor that accepts Medicare.

[Hellion]

I was under the impression medicare was government funded, and people didn't have to pay to be on it...so doesn't makes sense they take 300 dollars of your disability money for medicare.

But I could be way off, I am on medicaid and I don't pay anything for that, figured medicare was essentially the same and both where government funded.

[krisakira]

Medicare is not free for most people. If you are on SSI, social security may pay your medicare premiums, like they do for me, but usually if you make enough money they will make you pay for medicare. I don't know how to get rid of it though, aside from not being disabled anymore. Once social security knows my husband is working, and they take me off SSI (while still receiving disability) they will probably make me pay my medicare premiums again, which is over $100 a month.

[justbeingme80]

krisaskira is correct I think in that you do have to pay Medicare Premiums unless you're on SSI or receive too little--then the government pays your premiums.

badmouse, do you have both part A and B? You don't have to accept Part B (doctors) and you can elect to only have Part A (hospital coverage). I don't think you have to pay premiums on just Part A (from what I remember, but you can double check that with SSA). If you're paying for Part B coverage (which is optional) you can contact SS and tell them you don't want it anymore. When I got my first card they automatically enrolled me in Part B and I saw what the preimuims were, so I told them I didn't want it. (It turned out since I receive SSI, my premiums would be paid so I kept it), but you don't have to keep Part B. Just make sure the doctors at the clinics will still take you.

[Perna]

Receiving Social Security means you get Medicare whether you want it or not. It gets taken out of your check automatically after your 25th month of disability:

When & how to sign up for Part A & Part B | Medicare.gov

[PoorPrincess]

badmouse,

Please.

Just telephone your local Social Security office or better yet, simply go in and speak with them directly with your questions and concerns. They can be very helpful.

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by badmouse

I can't make ends meet on disability. They take out $300 per month for Medicare. I could use that money.

All of my serious medical disabilities happened as a result of bad things that happened in the hospital, or due to bad treatment by doctors.

So, I don't really care about having medical insurance. I'll just keep doing what I did before I qualified for Medicare - seeing the nice doctors at a local clinic. Much lower co-pays. Also, it's really difficult to find a doctor that accepts Medicare.

I've heard that you can get rid of it by writing a letter to Medicare asking them to cancel your plan. Call Medicare to confirm this and find out what address to send your letter to.

Also note, some states have assistance programs that will pay Medicare premiums. If you call 211 they can probably direct you to the right place to confirm this.

Originally Posted by Perna

Receiving Social Security means you get Medicare whether you want it or not. It gets taken out of your check automatically after your 25th month of disability:

When & how to sign up for Part A & Part B | Medicare.gov

I think you may have misinterpreted what that means Perna.

Originally Posted by justbeingme80

krisaskira is correct I think in that you do have to pay Medicare Premiums unless you're on SSI or receive too little--then the government pays your premiums.

badmouse, do you have both part A and B? You don't have to accept Part B (doctors) and you can elect to only have Part A (hospital coverage). I don't think you have to pay premiums on just Part A (from what I remember, but you can double check that with SSA). If you're paying for Part B coverage (which is optional) you can contact SS and tell them you don't want it anymore. When I got my first card they automatically enrolled me in Part B and I saw what the preimuims were, so I told them I didn't want it. (It turned out since I receive SSI, my premiums would be paid so I kept it), but you don't have to keep Part B. Just make sure the doctors at the clinics will still take you.

This seems correct. I just became approved for SSDI. I received a card to fill out and return if I choose not to accept Medicare Part B. Because I was found to be disabled in 2008 (but only eligible for benefits from 2011) then I would think that technically, I have been on disability for more than 25 months and yet I was given the option to reject Part B.

[AllonsY]

I only keep it because I have no other option, but it's fairly crap as far as insurance goes... like no options when it comes to doctors, particularly in mental health. A billion times better than nothing, but damn.

There really needs to be some kind of enforced standardized rate for all insurances so there's no bias.