What are the differences between Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medicare?
By aprilmoe from Pensacola, FL
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One has to apply for Medicare and no you do not have to have Medicare or Part B nor do you have to have Part D. I'm on Medicare but I do not have part D. If you decide to go on Medicare you must apply 3 months before, or 3 months after you become eligible or you will be charged a penalty for Part B (out of hospital) if you choose later to get it.
I've been on Medicare for 3 years and found that Blue Cross, Blue Shield (in my case) was the very most expensive supplemental carrier around.
Hi all, I am an insurance agent in Oklahoma. A lot of the rules governing insurance differ from state to state as I'm sure you're aware. I just want to give my opinion. I come across a lot of people who have federal plans and, in my opinion, these folks would be better served to just get A,B and a supplement. Medicare, I've found, does an efficient job where it counts the most, in your wallet. Any other approach will cost you money with co-insurance costs relating to specific procedures and ailments. My advice; stay healthy, keep original Medicare, and get a good supplement, either F or G. Then, every year, have your insurance agent review your rates and shop for lower premiums.
I have blue cross blue shield at my job so when he applied to medicare 12 yrs ago they told us at SS to keep him on my insurance and they would give him Med part A well he has had open heart surgery/rehab and diabetes and every time I tell them at the drs office/hospitals they ask me why isn't it reversed and I told them why and they say never heard that so which is a better way for us
And your conclusion? I turned 65 a year ago & kept TXBCBS for her but my wife now turns 65 this month & thinking is it worth $6500 annually or just let her keep Medicare.
You do NOT apply for medicare. Medicare will send you a mailing with the medic care cards about 3 months before you are 65. With the mailing you will have the option of declining part B. You usually don't have to pay for part A but have to pay for part B. In my case I have both A and B. I only pay for part B which is $1,156.80 per year. I also have Blue Cross which is $87 per month.
I must pay for myself and pay for others because I made to much money they say. my bill is 5000 a year
If you are paying for health insurance it's because we will all eventually get really sick and pay a lot for health care (and "eventually" will be sooner than later, now that we are at the age of talking about being eligible for Medicare). So, it makes sense to keep both Medicare and some form FEHB, even if it's basic coverage. They complement each other by paying for benefits the other does not (regular Medicare doesn't pay for meds/FEHB can; Medicare pays fully for approved durable medical equipment/FEHB provides only partial coverage; Medicare covers some NH days/many FEHB plans provide no coverage, etc.
My friend was on BCBS. When she turned 65, she got medicare . She was told she could keep both to take care of her medical bills care. However, anytime she went to DR or hospital she had enormous blls to pay. e would not let me check into it for her. After6byear she final let me. She was getting the same coverage for each. What ever was used first paid the 80 % and the other wouldn't pay anything/ BCBS should have put her on their supplement, or at least let her know that was what she needed.
Weve checked with Medicare about DME (compression stockings). They told us that they do not cover them even with a prescription from your doctor.
At 65 you are enrolled in Medicare. A few months before you turn 65 the government will send you a mailing. Plan A is mandatory. Plan B is optional. Plan A pays a portion of the hospital and Plan B pays a portion of the doctors bills.
Some folks decline the Plan B to their chargrin when they recieve big doctor bills.
Blue Cross is one of many insurance companies that offer a supplement insurance plan.
What Medicare covers is explained in their bulletin that every one recieves in the mail.
For more information on medicare go to www.medicare.gov or 1-800-633-4227.
For Blue Cross you should be able to find them in the phone book or at google.com
I agree with another. Consult with a good agent who deals with Medicare supplemental insurance carriers. I mentioned before that I pay $122 a month. I've with American National in the Plan F. All plan F's, by law, pay the same for procedures but monthly premiums can vary as much as a couple hundred dollars.
In most cases, once you retire or are disabled, Medicare will be your primary insurance carrier. B/C & B/S, if you choose them, will be a secondary insurance, covering most of what the primary one fails to pay. The boundaries are clear, but may not seem to be if you are just starting to handle insurance and are not familiar with it. To make matters worse, in some states, B/C & B/S handles all Medicare payments (in other states it's AEtna, or another company), so it can seem more confusing than it actually is.
I've been carrying Federal Blue Cross Standard for several years with Medicare as primary. I've had numerous hospitalizations, and I've not had to pay one penny in co-pays. My prescription drugs are $65 a name brand or $10 or less for generic for three month's worth. I see where in 2010 the cost of Standard will be (my share) $175 a month whereas Basic would be $100. Would I get the same 'no co-pay' coverage with Basic or would that not pay the full share that Medicare doesn't pay? I can phone Blue Cross to get an answer (maybe), but I thought I'd see if anyone on this forum has a Federal Basic Blue and can tell me there experience with it.
Hello me I just turned 65 and would like to know what I should do about insurance
Surprised - as an BC/BS health plan member, saw an aggressive effort by BC/BS to persuade people towards Medicare. Their site appears to be affiliated with Medicare - called and asked "we are not".
With 'baby boomers' coming of age - I imagine BC/BS are looking at higher claims - which I suspect have everything to do with the push towards Medicare.
NOW MY POINT: WHY - did not BC/BS consider - lowering the premiums for members of age [65] by IE. $75.00 per month - as long as WE enroll in Medicare part B - this way the major portion of the claims are paid by Medicare B - this way BC/BS only has to pay the nickel and dimes.
Apparently they want to STILL collect their high premiums from members remaining on the BC/BS program and let US also pay additional hard found money, for the premium for Med.B, to Medicare and let Medicare carry most of the burden.
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