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Originally Posted by gomoho
Dillywho - that was an excellent explanation. What you didn't mention was the penalty that was probably imposed on your husband for each year he did not have an advantage or supplement plan. Don't know if the penalty was waived for his part D because of VA eligibility???
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There is no penalty for not having an advantage or supplement plan (other than the fact that we got to pay the 20% that would have been paid by a supplement). The penalty comes in for drug coverage and yes, it is waived for those enrolled in the VA system since it qualifies as being equal to or better than Medicare Part D. I signed up as soon as it came into being so have had no penalty.
When he went back to work at his old job after retiring, he dropped his supplement thinking that he would be able to pick it back up when he retired again. I tried my best to convince him that it didn't work that way, but what did I know.....I am just a wife.
His company insurance became his primary insurance and his Medicare his secondary. He kept telling me that he didn't want to pay premiums to both.
Lesson to anyone who has retired and goes back to work after getting on Medicare and purchases a supplement. Don't drop your supplement! You get one shot at it with no questions asked within so many days. After that, you have to prove insurability. Since he had suffered a debilatating stroke, he was not insurable at any price for a supplement.
It just really bothers me when people (especially the younger generations), say that seniors are getting a free ride. We paid all our working lives, as did our employers with matching funds on our behalf, and we are still paying! Participation was not and is not optional. When you have paid and are still paying, I would like for someone to explain to me what I am getting for "free". As for receiving more than we put in, that is true of any insurance regardless of the entity. When you file a claim against your insurance company, your benefits are always above what you pay in, and most of those you have not paid into for almost an entire lifetime.
Life insurance, car insurance, medical insurance, any insurance, is a highly sophisticated game of chance (gambling). They're betting you won't ever need to make a claim, and all the while you are paying premiums, and you are betting that at some point you will file.
We got our new benefits booklet today and our co-pays have gone up, but that is no surprise. Name me something that hasn't.
Hope this answered your questions that you asked me. If not, I'll be happy to try again.