It happened at midnight (Marta and I woke up to it)

[Omaha Steve]

At the stroke of twelve we both switched over to government run healthcare. Ask me after my first claim what we think of Medicare.

OS

[brewens]

1. I've had my right hip and right knee replaced in my three years on Medicare. I like it just

fine. The left replacement with insurance through the ACA cost me a fortune. On Medicare, a couple hundred bucks total.

[abqtommy]

2. I've used Medicare for the last 7 years and I like it just fine. You're free to come to your

own conclusions,of course.

[Raven]

3. You will love it. I have had it for 10 years and have never once had a problem with it. Last year I

had a double hip fracture and with the operation and ample rehab, I think I may have to pay $13. This is one of the best government programs there is. Enjoy and stay healthy and safe in the New Year!

[SheltieLover]

4. Congrats!

I love Medicare!

[Liberal In Texas]

5. Medicare is great. Just make sure you have a supplemental policy.

Medicare pays 80% so you need something to help pay the remaining 20% which can be substantial if you get really sick.

And Medicare is not an HMO (Medicare Advantage is and is not really Medicare but private insurance) and you can go to any doc you want in any part of the country, not just your hometown area.

[Fla Dem]

8. Agree!!! Had major surgery a couple of years ago, with the supplemental I paid virtually ZERO!

[Yonnie3]

10. Good advice

Mumble, mumble years ago I got close to 65 years old and selected Original Medicare and an excellent supplemental plan.

All the Advantage plans were HMO or Networks. All of the plans would not guarantee that the providers listed would remain in network. Having my employer change networks in the middle of long term cancer treatments in the late 90s, cost me thousands. I had the option to find new providers, but the delays would have not been wise.

[3Hotdogs]

6. You'll be sorry now. Every patriot knows, Gub'mint can't do nothing right. Why I remember,

there was this guy - don't remember who it was but he says it out clear. He says, the eight most frightening words.

"I'm from the gub'mint and I'm here to help."





















Yes, Agnes, it's sarcasm.

[aggiesal]

12. Love the double negative ...

First post of the new year!

[MuseRider]

7. You will be happy I hope.

I am having heart problems, have been seeing docs and having procedures for about a year now and the last bill was around $77.000 for the hospital. We paid less than $100.00 over this last year. Supplemental helps a lot but Medicare is a good thing.

[Auggie]

9. Four months and counting here ...

I'm signing up first day of eligibility

[Pinback]

11. So far I've eluded the death panels.

Billing and payments are easy, and coverage is very good.

When I think back to the hassles and nasty surprises dealing with private health insurers during my wage-serf years, I can only smile and shake my head when I hear, “People love their employer-provided health care.”

[stopdiggin]

13. like virtually every other universal health care

system - the people are generally more than satisfied, and virtually nobody has any intention of going back to private/for profit.

(There are, of course, those who will make it their mission to find something to complain about - aren't there always? And the only proper response there is, "By their actions ye shall know ..".)

Incidentally, cost for my Advantage plan went down substantially over last year. Unfortunately the Medicare hit went up. (some claim due primarily to the new Alzheimer drug - but I haven't confirmed that)

[aggiesal]

14. How old do you have to be top qualify? n/t

[2naSalit]

15. I'm a newbie to Medicare too.

I don't have major, fixable, problems yet. It does cover my visits to the therapist, though. I like that.

[mgardener]

16. Congrats!!

Medicare is great!

My son got engaged last night!
2022 is starting off great!

[Ms. Toad]

17. Same here.

Although due to the miracles of government bureaucracy, I can't even apply until today . . . But when they process the application, It will be retroactive to today.

Fortunately, my scans for metastatic cancer last week were clean, so i plan on laying low in January so as not to test their ability to get out right.

[Joinfortmill]

18. Works great for me.

[Bryophyta]

19. Direct Contracting

Medicare Direct Contracting is a Trump era pilot program that will result in the privatization of traditional Medicare. Few people or congressional members know about this program. It is designed to insert a profit making middleman which will end up costing seniors more with fewer choices. It will also cost taxpayers more.

You can write to President Biden to end this program.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/12/30/pressure-grows-biden-shut-down-trump-era-medicare-privatization-scheme

[Omaha Steve]

20. Welcome to the DU

[Lars39]

21. Welcome to DU, Bryophyta!

[gopiscrap]

27. welcome to DU

[NNadir]

22. Me too.

[cilla4progress]

23. You will be frustrated

that it's not available to ALL!!

👍

[MurrayDelph]

24. Congratulations.

I've been on it for almost four years, and have spent that time anxiously waiting for Mrs. Delph to turn 65 (which she did a few months ago). Three years ago, she had complications from a procedure that no private insurers in Oregon currently cover (There was one insurer when she had the procedure, but Marco Fucking Rubio forced them out of business), so I had to re-mortgage the house to pay for her procedure.

Now that she's on Medicare, the same companies would be glad to cover that expense if she needed it now. We went with a Medigap instead.

[question everything]

25. Happy Birthday, too?

Most of us join Medicare on the month that we turn 65..

Unless, I suppose, you have been on your employer's?

As others pointed, make sure you get a supplemental one and read all the points. Some are as cheap as $0.00 a month.

Make sure that it is reliable with good track record. Some are really really bad.

Also make sure that it includes prescription medicine, Part D, or sign for it separately. And do it soon. You have a grace period of several months and if you miss it you will pay more.

Earlier this year, after the hospitals flushed all the 2020 Covidiots that celebrated and after the two vaccines, spouse had an open heart surgery. 10 days at the hospital, three weeks at a rehab center, three weeks of home visits by nurses and therapists, then 3 months as an outpatient at the hospital rehab, exercising while being monitored. Six months later, hospitalized because the anti coagulant coumadine went haywire.

Total cost: $150,000. Our part max out of pocket: $3100.

Happy 2022. Got to be better

[Omaha Steve]

26. January 23rd for me

I had healthcare through my former employer I retired from. We do have two supplements. One for part B. One for drugs.



OS