Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Could someone answer some questions regarding Medicare?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Health & Disability » Single Payer Health Insurance Systems Group Donate to DU
 
rhett o rick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:02 PM
Original message
Could someone answer some questions regarding Medicare?
At age 65 does Medicare cover everyone or just those that choose it?

Who pays for Medicare and how much does it cost?

Is what is being described as "a strong public option" similar to Medicare? Would it be manditory or optional?

Who would pay for the plan being called "a strong public option"?
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 12:37 PM
Response to Original message
1. I'm not an expert but I am on Medicare so I will try to answer your
questions. Everybody gets Medicare Part A at age 65, which is hospitalization. If you want to be covered for outpatient care you can buy Medicare Part B, which costs me $96 a month. There is a $100 deductible and 20% copays of the agreed upon fee between doctors and Medicare. I also have an insurance policy from United Health Care to plug the gaps in coverage that costs me $256 a month and goes up every year :-( Medicare Part D for drugs costs around $30 a month depending on what plan you get. It's a big rip off all around because Big PhRMA wrote the bill so I don't have it. You can opt out of traditional Medicare it if you get a Medicare Advantage plan from a private insurance or if you have a spouse whose insurance is willing to insure you after 65. I don't suggest it because then you are stuck with the HMO that you are put into and you lose all your Medicare rights. FICA or P/R tax pays for the rest of Medicare. I believe it's 5.25% of the 7.5% deducted from everyone's pay check but I'm not sure because I'm not really current on it. You get the idea though.

Option means you can choose so it won't be mandatory that you have to have the option unless of course you are 65 and don't have the above other described other plans to choose from.

As to your last question, no one seems to know yet, how it will be paid for. Obama talks about taxing the wealthy, but we will see.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
rhett o rick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 11:17 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Let me see if I understand. At age 65 all Americans have the option of joining Medicare.
If you choose not to join are you out for ever? or a year waiting period?

If you join or not do your taxes go up at all?

If you know, for those with Federal Employee Health Benefits, is Medicare part A mandatory, is part b mandatory?

Thanks for the help
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 01:36 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. Medicare has a great website. It's not as navigable as I would like but it
has loads of information about all your questions. Just be patient in hitting the links and moving around. It also has a great history part about how Medicare came about going all the way back to the turn of the last century.

If you don't join, I don't believe you are out forever on some of the parts. I know with the Big PhRMA sponsored Medicare part D, they fine you for every year you didn't join. I hope Congress fixes that. Medicare Part A as far as I know is given to everyone over the age of 65. I don't know if you could call that mandatory. You can choose not to use it I guess. Part B you have to pay for so you can refuse it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
rhett o rick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. Thanks for the help. Their website has lots of information. nm
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Dec 22nd 2024, 04:30 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Health & Disability » Single Payer Health Insurance Systems Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC