I just found out my mother has never changed her medical insurance from a co-pay type of insurance to a supplemental. Should her insurance company offer a supplemental? She has been with them since when my dad was still alive back to the 1950's. He passed away in the 1980's. It was insurance from his employment. How do I find out if she is paying too much in premiums and co-pays?
Subsequently mom may not be eligible for Medicare. Does she have a monthly source of income and where does it come from? At 65 if she was eligible she should have applied for Medicare unless dad was a FEP (Federal Employee Program).
All this in general is so confusing. Wonder if it’s supposed to be this way? (Only kidding).
Good luck to you two!
So, if Mom does get Medicare, you need to find out if what she is paying the employer is a supplimental or full insurance. If full, then ask about dropping it to a supplemental and what the cost will be and the coverage. By getting it thru an employer, it maybe cheaper and may cover pretty well. You have to also ask SS if Medicare is primary or secondary, her employer insurance being primary. This will need to be changed when getting a supplimental.
I just had a friend, who turned 65, go to her County Office of Aging to help her choose the right supplimental. To have no copays may come with premiums that Mom can't afford. You have to weigh copays vs a higher premium, is it worth it. Then there is Medicare Advantage vs regular Medicaid and a supplimental. Its best to have someone explain all of this.
Google Medicare supplement and her zip code to see what’s available as a supplemental & enroll her. You’ll get links to different prices, plans or providers offering a supplemental plan for a secondary insurance. Medicare HMO (Medicare Advantage Plans) have lower premiums but may have a higher deductible & higher copays. For instance those programs pay the monthly fee for Medicare part B which is approx $134/month from the subscriber taken from their SS check.
Is a supplement even necessary? That’s for you and she to decide. How much out of pocket expense does she have now or is she relatively stable? Depends on if you feel she can cover the 20% out of pocket Medicare doesn’t cover.
How has this been managed for all those years when your mother’s had to go to a doctors office or a hospital? Take a look at the AOB or EOB letters she’s received in the past.