[ilvgolf]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Just finished applying for SS and Medicare. Did you know that SS checks are paid in arrears so your first check will arrive 2 months after your benefit start date? And did you also know medicare payments have to be made one month in advance? So the first SS check which is delayed one month will have two months medicare payments removed. Another Washington RIP off of senior citizens. What they pay us (which has been earned) they delay payment, what they get requires advance payment. And congress wonders why the opinion polls rate them so low.

I am writing my congressman about this issue.

And please don't turn this into a political discussion. All 525 people we elect and pay to represent us are at fault.

Well, I guess you could look on the BRIGHT side of things and that is, when you die, your heirs WON"T HAVE TO GIVE BACK YOUR CHECK because you were ALIVE the previous month.

[rjm1cc]

Originally Posted by Lou and Carolyn C.

This Medicare/SS stuff can boggle the mind!! I am retired and my husband is still working (self-employed), we have medical through BC/BS and the premiums are taken out of my monthly annuity, that being said, my husband called SS back in April 2011 to schedule an appointment 3 months prior to his 65th birthday, which is/was Aug 5th, his appt. was scheduled May 9th 2011, and he signed on for Medicare. Received a bill in July 2011 for 3 month payments of $346.20 due by July 25th 2011, just received another bill for same amount to be paid by Oct. 25th 2011, this will continue in this manner (with increases I’m sure) until he retires and signs up for Social Security and starts receiving a monthly check, and then he can choose to have Medicare taken from his SS check on a monthly basis @$115.40(or whatever it is by the time he retires).
I suppose he could have this done on a monthly basis “NOW” if he chooses, by calling SS and asking, not too sure about all this, but it would be much easier on the pocketbook if $115.40 could be paid out of a checking account, for example, instead of $346.20 every 3 months. Has anyone else encountered this same situation?
Next year 2012 I will be turning 65 and will be going through this same process, except since I’m already retired the $115.40(est.) will be coming right off the top of my monthly annuity payment, as well as the BC/BS premiums, which becomes our secondary coverage. I may need to look into a lesser premium health coverage, so the monthly premiums between Medicare & Secondary Coverage equals what is being taken out NOW. So much to think about!!!
The standard Part B premium in 2011 was $115.40 or $346.20 every 3 months, we chose to keep the Prescription Drug through BC/BS as it is equivalent to Medicare Part D.
Part A is Premium Free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.
ALL COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELCOME!!

This does not sound correct so you might want to call SS and recheck. My understanding is that your husband was correct in signing up for Medicare before his 65 birthday. However as long as he had qualifying insurance form his employer(or union) he should have only signed up for part A. Sounds like he signed up for A and B and B is where the premium is coming from.

HOWEVER the governments does not consider COBRA insurance as adequate insurance so you would have to sign up for part B at 65 if you have that. Could be the same type of logic since your husband is not an employee, but is self employed.

[Lou and Carolyn C.]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Lou and Carol C...MOVE OUT OF Mass !! You will be surprised at how your Medicare and/or supplemental costs will go down when/if you move to The Villages. We could never move back to Mass(not that we would want to anyway), the health costs are way over the top there.

Thanks for the advice.
We actually own property in The Villages, but right now we have to travel to and fro, as my husband is still in business and looking to retire hopefully in the near future. As for health cost, etc. in MA, you are right. We will obviously be looking into other health plans to supplement our Medicare and try to keep it within our means.

[StarbuckSammy]

Do I understand that 12RIDEHD says that his/her monthly Medicare premium is $460.00 per month? Is that possible?

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by StarbuckSammy

Do I understand that 12RIDEHD says that his/her monthly Medicare premium is $460.00 per month? Is that possible?

Please somebody answer this, WTH?

[cybrgeezer]

Originally Posted by Virtual Geezer

Another thing about payments being one month behind when my mother passed away on January 30 I had to pay them back for one month. I could never figure that one out.

That one seems odd. My father died at 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 1, just 45 minutes into the month.

As executor of his estate, I was contacted by Social Security ... asking me where to send his February check, which arrived a few weeks later.

[Gerald]

I applied early for my SS and it was delayed two months anyway.

[l2ridehd]

Yes, my monthly Medicare premium is about $460. It is based on prior years earnings and this year 2011 do to a couple unique things I had a couple windfalls that resulted in a high income. That will cause Medicare premiums to be that high for at least two years. I can then apply to have them reduced but it requires SS approved and proof of a lower income. Go to SSA.gov and select Medicare, go to cost and it shows how much you have to pay. And on top of that I still have to buy a Medi-gap policy.

[rjm1cc]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Yes, my monthly Medicare premium is about $460. It is based on prior years earnings and this year 2011 do to a couple unique things I had a couple windfalls that resulted in a high income. That will cause Medicare premiums to be that high for at least two years. I can then apply to have them reduced but it requires SS approved and proof of a lower income. Go to SSA.gov and select Medicare, go to cost and it shows how much you have to pay. And on top of that I still have to buy a Medi-gap policy.

This is a good example of a policy that does not make sense. When you retire your earning from employment go to zero but the government takes your employee earnings from 2 years ago and says you can afford to pay more for your insurance.
Interesting that the government did not need proof of income to start the higher premiums but needs it to stop. The government uses your taxable income to start the higher charges and they should be able to use the same information to adjust your premiums each year. In fact it is just another tax based on income.