URGENT! Newly signed up for Medicare, I got $600 Premium bil

amother

Tue, May 11 2021, 9:35 am

Im newly signed up for Medicare, and I got a $600 Premium bill.

Isnt Medicare free and dependent on age?

People pay for Medicare?

Is there someone who helps people with Medicare issues?

Id love to talk to someone from the community before I call Medicare.

I need advice.

TIA

nylon

Tue, May 11 2021, 10:04 am

Medicare is not free.

Part A (hospital) is free if you have qualifying quarters.

Part B (medical) has a premium. The standard premium is $148.50 a month.
https://www.medicare.gov/your-.....costs

This does not include a medicare supplement or Part D (pharma) plan.

amother

Blonde

Tue, May 11 2021, 10:15 am

nylon wrote:

Yup. And I don't know if you signed up right when you were eligible but there is a penalty for late sign up as well.

amother

Papaya

Tue, May 11 2021, 10:40 am

Medicare is not free. However, if you qualify for medicaid, theresca form to fill out and they will pay the Medicare premium. They will also pay the 20% coverage that Medicare doesn't pay.

What insurance did you have until now?

I've always thought its really shame how our country covers seniors. We work our whole lives and when we retire we get expensive insurance that covers very little......

nylon

Tue, May 11 2021, 11:06 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

As a spouse of a state employee, were still paying for that health insurance as well that we were told is supplemental to Medicare.

DH got Medicare earlier and never got any Medicare bills.

If he's still covered by employer sponsored insurance, he can delay his enrollment in Part B without a penalty. So he wouldn't pay the premium for it.

But yes, if you get Part B, you pay for it. If you opt for Part C (medicare advantage) which wraps your services together, your premium varies and some Medicare Advantage plans pay part of your Part B premium.

amother

Mauve

Tue, May 11 2021, 11:24 am

nylon wrote:

Most people purchase supplemental insurance. Cost of that can vary depending on what level you purchase. They are ranked by letters and I believe the highest level of coverage for supplemental is F. Mine is about $240 per month for one person. This is in addition to the Medicare premium - most people have that deducted from their Social Security check.

If you have a high income, your premium is really high. I had a very unexpectedly high income one year and I was paying an additional penalty of $400 per month.

That said, I really don't know anyone who is unhappy with their Medicare coverage. I have no deductibles and no network. I can see doctor I want to see anywhere in the country and pay nothing. I can't imagine how much that type of coverage would cost someone over 65. When I turned 61, my individual premium which had a limited network; a deductible of $2000 per year and copayments of $50 for a specialist was $1200 PER MONTH.