Medicare is first insurance

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Medicare is such a morass of regulations and can dos and can't dos, it's scary. I found the above site, which seems to be pretty helpful.

I think this entry addresses what you're looking for. Medicare has limited options, but you should also look into Medicaid, which is administered through your state.

http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&slide_id=138

My SIL has worked exactly 3 (count them) 3 months in her entire lazy life. They took bankruptcy a couple of years ago, of course she wasn't going to go to work and help out then because she said "it's not my fault we are in this mess." Now my brother is coming up to within 10 years of retirement and actually has problems with arthritis that may cause him to have to retire sooner. She insists that she should be given a social security check when she "retires" and that she should be eligible for medicare when my brother retires. She is several years younger than him and I tried to tell her she will have to get out and get private insurance for herself until she is of age. She insists the government "owes this to her". I would like to string her up to the highest tree, but I am told that is illegal also.

Am I crazy? She certainly can't be put on Medicare just because her husband is eligible can she?

I think she just figures she will either live on his SS benefits or kill him off with the side jobs in addition to his FT job he has been trying to do to keep her in the style she wants to become accustomed and then be eligible for widow's benefits.

I guess I really don't understand the SS and Medicare issues, just hoping someone could shed some light on this.

She simply REFUSES to work regardless of how much they have needed the money and/or benefits. Can't watch your soaps if you work all day and that is very important to her. GRRRR. Sorry to vent. Will go mind my own business now.

My son had a DUI and the ins was going to cancel us but they said if I only insured myself and my son showed proof of other ins that they'd keep me. Could this work for you?? Just a thought...

Everyone who lives in Florida should be aware that the PIP insurance as we know it is soon to expire on 10/1/07. Please go to the web site http://www.wpbf.com/index.html. In the center, scroll down a little in the middle is a survery that asks Do you think personal injury protection (PIP) should be eliminated? Please go on line and vote NO. Send this email to everyone you know. We want hundreds of votes.

Also, please send a letter to Governor Charlie Crist,o to Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt. You can find their email addresses on MyFlorida.com. It is very important that they add this to their agenda on 6/12/07 for their special session.

Our neighbor never gave us their insurance information. Our situation is a different because in addition to physical scars, our daughter has emotional scars from this dog bite that will take a long time to recover from.

I did some research on the dog bite law. Sometimes insurance companies will cancel the homeowners policy if there is a dog bite on the property. If they don't cancel it, the insurance premium will increase by a lot. I think this is why they didn't try to go through the insurance company and thought we would accept this small check.

We believed them when they said they would take care of everything. I guess we're just too nice!

You won't believe the number of providers who try to balance-bill their contracted HMO patients.

Have you called your insurance company to see what you really are responsible for? If you have the old type of health insurance and the provider is a participating member, you may be responsible for 20% of the usual and customary (U&C) and not the entire billing charge.

How are you feeling? You sure don't need medical bills on your mind, all you should be thinking of is getting better. And, as the other poster stated, as long as you are making payments, you should be OK. Just don't let them talk you into a large monthly payment. Be honest with yourself and agree with what YOU can afford.

As for extra help, it depends on where you live. Are you the only person working in your household? You might not like the idea, but you might need assistance from your state.....this is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is your right as a US citizen. Go for it!

You have already gone through one nightmare, at this time you don't need a provider pressing you for more money then they already have received. Sure, they are due their money, but they are due their fair share. Hospitals and even some doctors overcharge so much! Why don't you request an itemized bill...then go over it with a fine tooth comb. You might just find some charges that were added to your bill by mistake.

Get well!

i have the option to have cobra insurance but have not done so. As luck would have it now i am sick. If i call tomorrow and pay for the cobra insurance will they cover me if I go to the doctor the next day? is there a waiting period or pre-existing condition clause? TIA

We changed insurance plans back and forth between my husband and I during those years and 2 of the 3 did pay for it. We paid for the second child's circ and it was only $110. We really didn't have the money for it at the time, but since we had circ'ed the first one, we thought we should be consistent.

We also had both types of circs -- the first one had the Plastibell, which I did like better because I don't think it's painful at all. The second 2 had the surgical circ, but it healed much nicer and quicker.

I think you are right that my kids probably wouldn't have had much of an issue with the teasing if we hadn't circ'ed them since it's become more common not to do the circs. But after my husband's ordeal, he wanted it done and I didn't really care one way or another. I think hygenically it will be easier for them when they're crusty old men. EWWW!