Medicare part B

[feedertrainer]

Coordination with our Teamster Retiree Health Plan, is Medicare part B worth the additional cost? Opinions?

 

[Red Headed Stranger]

According to the Teamcare website, here is what is shown:

The Retiree Health Plan provides coverage until age 65, or once you become eligible for Medicare.

End of Member Coverage​

Your Retiree Health Plan coverage ends on one of the following, whichever is earliest:

• The date you first became eligible for Medicare, even if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B.
• The first of the month during which you stop paying your monthly premium.
• The date you become covered by another TeamCare plan because you returned to work.
• The date you lose Retiree Health Plan eligibility because of a voluntary withdrawal by your former employer. A voluntary withdrawal occurs whenever an employer opts to no longer contribute to a TeamCare plan which includes retiree coverage.

If you are not under Teamcare, I'm not sure of the answer. Good luck!

 

[oldngray]

According to the Teamcare website, here is what is shown:

The Retiree Health Plan provides coverage until age 65, or once you become eligible for Medicare.

End of Member Coverage​

Your Retiree Health Plan coverage ends on one of the following, whichever is earliest:

• The date you first became eligible for Medicare, even if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B.
• The first of the month during which you stop paying your monthly premium.
• The date you become covered by another TeamCare plan because you returned to work.
• The date you lose Retiree Health Plan eligibility because of a voluntary withdrawal by your former employer. A voluntary withdrawal occurs whenever an employer opts to no longer contribute to a TeamCare plan which includes retiree coverage.

If you are not under Teamcare, I'm not sure of the answer. Good luck!

Details of plans differ but I think most are like that. Teamsters get retiree health insurance until 65 when most have to switch to Medicare. No need for part B until then.

 

[rod]

Details of plans differ but I think most are like that. Teamsters get retiree health insurance until 65 when most have to switch to Medicare. No need for part B until then.

Are there actually some plans where you can keep your insurance after 65? Why would any local agree to that?

 

[oldngray]

Are there actually some plans where you can keep your insurance after 65? Why would any local agree to that?

I think a couple of plans do. Always somebody who has to be a bit weird.

 

[bottomups]

Are there actually some plans where you can keep your insurance after 65? Why would any local agree to that?

I go on Medicare May 1st. Medicare will then become primary and my Teamsters insurance will cover whatever Medicare doesn't.
Will have no out of pocket medical bills.

 

[burrheadd]

According to the Teamcare website, here is what is shown:

The Retiree Health Plan provides coverage until age 65, or once you become eligible for Medicare.

End of Member Coverage​

Your Retiree Health Plan coverage ends on one of the following, whichever is earliest:

• The date you first became eligible for Medicare, even if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B.
• The first of the month during which you stop paying your monthly premium.
• The date you become covered by another TeamCare plan because you returned to work.
• The date you lose Retiree Health Plan eligibility because of a voluntary withdrawal by your former employer. A voluntary withdrawal occurs whenever an employer opts to no longer contribute to a TeamCare plan which includes retiree coverage.

If you are not under Teamcare, I'm not sure of the answer. Good luck!

Teamcare has a plan called Teamcare Gold that cover what Medicare won’t But it’s all a big secret how you get on it I tried for a month and never could get a straight answer Finally said it and went with Humana

 

[burrheadd]

I go on Medicare May 1st. Medicare will then become primary and my Teamsters insurance will cover whatever Medicare doesn't.
Will have no out of pocket medical bills.

Is yours a Teamcare plan?

 

[oldngray]

Teamcare has a plan called Teamcare Gold that cover what Medicare won’t But it’s all a big secret how you get on it I tried for a month and never could get a straight answer Finally said it and went with Humana

That kind of sounds like just another Advantage plan but using the Teamcare brand name.

 

[rod]

I go on Medicare May 1st. Medicare will then become primary and my Teamsters insurance will cover whatever Medicare doesn't.
Will have no out of pocket medical bills.

Are you talking Cobra Ins? That stuff is WAY too expensive.

 

[BrownFlush]

I go on Medicare May 1st. Medicare will then become primary and my Teamsters insurance will cover whatever Medicare doesn't.
Will have no out of pocket medical bills.

How much does your secondary cost?

 

[bottomups]

Is yours a Teamcare plan?

Nope. Have never been in Teamcare.

 

[bottomups]

Are you talking Cobra Ins? That stuff is WAY too expensive.

No. My local just offers to keep covering us after we retire. Monthly premium will decrease when they become secondary.

 

[bottomups]

How much does your secondary cost?

Will be around $120/month if I keep full medical, dental & vision coverage.

 

[oldngray]

Will be around $120/month if I keep full medical, dental & vision coverage.

Is that in addition to the $174 for Medicare B?

 

[bottomups]

Is that in addition to the $174 for Medicare B?

Yes. The Medicare B will be deducted from my SS. The union will deduct the $120 from my pension.
Does Medicare even cover dental & vision?

 

[oldngray]

Yes. The Medicare B will be deducted from my SS. The union will deduct the $120 from my pension.
Does Medicare even cover dental & vision?

You need to get a part C (Advantage) plan for those

 

[bottomups]

You need to get a part C (Advantage) plan for those

A couple months ago I received a letter from my pension office informing me to not accept any Medicare Advantage plans as they would continue coverage at a reduced rate. About how much does Part C cost?

 

[oldngray]

A couple months ago I received a letter from my pension office informing me to not accept any Medicare Advantage plans as they would continue coverage at a reduced rate. About how much does Part C cost?

Part C plans vary a lot. How much you pay depends on the details of each plan. I have a $0/month Humana plan with some restrictions I can live with. Not the best if I was travelling a lot because I need to go through a primary care physician for a lot of things. It does include free or low cost medications (if I use their online pharmacy - otherwise costs a little more) and pretty good
dental and vision.

It also has $100/quarter spending allowance on OTC items and $500/year flex allowance for things like co=pays.

 

[bottomups]

Part C plans vary a lot. How much you pay depends on the details of each plan. I have a $0/month Humana plan with some restrictions I can live with. Not the best if I was travelling a lot because I need to go through a primary care physician for a lot of things. It does include free or low cost medications (if I use their online pharmacy - otherwise costs a little more) and pretty good dental and vision.

That's why I like my Teamsters insurance. We can self refer to specialists and there really is no out of network. Same coverage nation wide. I also have the same prescription drug coverage I had when working with zero out of pocket if I use their mail order.