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Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 450
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#1
-"You can't cancel Medicare Part A without cancelling ALL SSDI benefits"
-And you cannot have state-run health insurance in Massachusetts (Commonwealth Care) if you have Medicare Part A (which doesn't cover normal doctors visits). -And you cannot have Medicare Part B (covers normal doctors visits) back if you cancelled it. (And Masshealth recommends that you cancel "Medicare" to keep their insurance and they don't mention the SSDI part.) I'm saying so for a couple reasons - 1. So no one goofs up like me and cancels Medicare Part B, which will result in your not having any insurance* that covers a normal doctor's visit (ex. if you sprain your ankle, catch a bad flu, etc.). *You'll be excluded from both state insurance in Massachusetts AND Medicare Part B, if you cancel Medicare Part B and need to keep SSDI benefits. 2. If anyone knows of any options for me, please let me know. I need to see my doctors. I also have an upcoming CDR (continuing disability review) where I'll be penalized for not seeing my doctors. Last edited by JoeS21; Sep 22, 2014 at 04:37 PM.. |
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shortandcute
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Location: Tennessee
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#2
Its typical when you qualify for ssdi you are automatically placed on Medicare part A and B .. You might what to ask them why your not on part B... makes no sense to be honest.
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Member
Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
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#3
I'm not on Part B because I cancelled that, per Commonwealth Care's advice. Back in July, I was told that if I cancel Medicare that could stay on my current insurance plan (run by the state). Trouble is no one mentioned that cancelling Medicare Part A means cancelling SSDI benefits. So, now I can't have my previous state-run insurance or Part B back either.
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Aug 2011
Location: Washington State, U.S.A.
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#4
I didn't know that about medicare A and ssdi. The whole thing is greek to me.
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Member
Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 450
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#5
Who would ever know or guess that without being told or warned? That's why I chose that for my title. Certainly, I want help, but I also want to warn others. This is a crappy "crack" in the system.
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Wandering soul
Member Since Apr 2010
Location: Off yonder
Posts: 6,019
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#6
I am sorry to hear you were given this advice. I would contact Medicare back. I thought you could reelect to get Medicare B back during the open enrollment period, I think it is in October or November; however, you may have to pay a higher premium for Part B. If I have this wrong, I apologize but a friend did something similar and was able to get it back.; this was a few years ago, perhaps the policy has changed. The other option perhaps then is to find an individual policy or medicare supplement. I wish you well in trying to find something.
__________________ I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. -M.Angelou Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. -Anaïs Nin. It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view. -Dalai Lama XIV |
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Pandita-in-training
Member Since Sep 2006
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#7
Medicare is a Federal program so Massachusetts and your advice don't sound quite right, I would call your Medicare (in Massachusetts) numbers and get the straight scoop, get things straightened out:
http://www.massresources.org/medicare.html If you cancelled SSDI then that could be a problem but the Medicare Parts A and B insurances are taken out of one's Social Security payments automatically or can be added on, etc. bought along with C and D, etc. Massachusetts doesn't really have anything to do with it. __________________ "Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." ~Confucius |
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Member
Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 450
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#8
Quote:
Their reason why is that while open enrollment begins in January, anyone who CANCELS has an additional 6 month waiting period before coverage kicks in. They do NOT care if you cancelled due to receiving inaccurate information or incomplete information as I did. |
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Fresia
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Member
Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
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#9
Quote:
Hope this makes sense now! *Health insurance plans mentioned in above: Commonwealth Care = Funded by State of Massachusetts Medicare A = Federal Funding, ONLY covers hospitalizations (NOT regular doctor's visits) Medicare B = Federal Funding, covers doctors visits Last edited by JoeS21; Sep 23, 2014 at 10:39 PM.. |
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Elder Harridan x-hankster
Member Since Jun 2011
Location: Milan/Michigan
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#10
The website says Commonwealth care is cancelling, period, and those accounts are going to masshealth if eligible. Because of obamacare. Man, i dont know how you got yourself into this mess! Next time, check it out with somebody, even somebody here.
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Wandering soul
Member Since Apr 2010
Location: Off yonder
Posts: 6,019
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#11
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__________________ I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. -M.Angelou Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. -Anaïs Nin. It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view. -Dalai Lama XIV |
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JoeS21
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Location: USA
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#12
You can still enroll in Medicare Part B, when the enrollment period for that begins. You will pay a penalty, in the form of a higher premium, but you can still get back in. And you definitely need to do that. The sooner you do it, the less your premium will be. More than likely, the state of Massachsetts will pay that premium for you . . . eventually . . . if your income and assets are limited. You might have to pay a couple of months out of your pocket, but most of that will be reimbursed to you, if you are below a certain income level. You need to have a little patience. No state in the USA does more than your state to help its low income citizens access all the healthcare they need. In that regard, you are lucky. Also, you live in a state where cost of living is quite high. Massachusetts is quite decent in what they consider to be the income level below which you are eligible for state help. So that is lucky for you, too.
Whatever state employee you talked to way back when did an awful job of explaining things. Often these folks are just clerks. You ended up believing a lot of things that are just plain false. Someone at your local Income Support office should be available to help you get all of this stuff straight. |
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JoeS21
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Member
Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 450
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#13
Thanks, I just wish there were some way to get insurance if I cannot even come up with the money to make the payment for Medicare Part B each month. I know that they will pay me back if I pay initially, but I cannot even make those payments to begin with. This has been my problem for a while now. I guess this is just too bad for me.
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Legendary
Member Since Mar 2011
Location: USA
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#14
Just decide that you have to make the payments. You are breaking the law if you don't because all Americans are now legally obligated to have health insurance. Just do it. You may have to give something else up, but that's just that. It's your responsibility to make that payment, so just accept that. Once you sign up, the money will be automatically taken out of your check. Then you make do with what is left. If you are not getting a section 8 housing subsidy, then go sign up for that.
There are a number of ways that low-income people, like you and me, can get helped. Apply for all of them and, eventually, you will manage okay. |
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Member
Member Since Jul 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 450
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#15
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Legendary
Member Since Mar 2011
Location: USA
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#16
What would happen if you defaulted on the student loan? I just looked that up. Check this link:
What Happens If You Default on Your Student Loans | Nolo.com. It says they can't take more than 15% of your income. |
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JoeS21
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Location: Kentucky, USA
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#17
Also disability is usually judgment proof..don't know if it is for student loans any more than for the IRS but there should be a way of getting the student loans waived because of disability. A friend of mine just fought forn2 years to get them waived for ger granddaughter she has care of & who became disabled after accumulating student loans. It took professional help to get them waived but worth it.
__________________ Leo's favorite place was in the passenger seat of my truck. We went everywhere together like this. Leo my soulmate will live in my heart FOREVER Nov 1, 2002 - Dec 16, 2018 |
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JoeS21, Rose76
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