Medicare vs, work insurance

[Alan]

I am also confused by how you can be on both your work insurance and Medicare? My husband is 65 and he is not on part A yet, just the regular work insurance.

It would appear I was automatically enrolled in Part A and B. Medicare sent me a card along with a separate letter from Social Security telling me what Part B would cost me in future benefits. There were instructions in case I didn't want Part B advising that I should sign a card included with the Medicare Card and send both back. The instructions said I would receive a new Part A only card in the mail but it hasn't come yet.

[ToomuchStuff]

There were three of us with company health insurance. When the oldest was turning 65, he went on medicare (not medicaid, so no confusion). His insurance went from just shy of 2K to around $250 a month.
No situations are the same, so best choice is to do a cost benefit analysis.

[Teacher Terry]

Tybee, I can be on both because I am on it due to my husband. It’s my retiree insurance. Once my husband is 65 we have to get off of it. Medicare is primary for me.

[catherine]

I am also confused by how you can be on both your work insurance and Medicare? My husband is 65 and he is not on part A yet, just the regular work insurance.

It's impossible to know all the nuances of our health insurance system, but I do know you can have secondary insurance--it just all depends on which is secondary and which is primary. My MIL had a fantastic pension and got great insurance coverage through the union until she died.. but Medicare was primary and her pension insurance covered whatever was left.

As far as my case, I WAS my own work insurance until the happy day I turned 65, so my insurance bill went from 1800/month to 540 a month which included Medicare A&B and a great supplemental plan (F)--for both of us. And my Medicare plan is better than my commercial plan was.

[iris lilies]

Who determines what is primary and what is secondary coverage?

[Teacher Terry]

I am guessing Medicare.

[Tammy]

I think Medicare always is primary. I don’t think it’s a choice.

[Tybee]

This says Medicare could be either:

https://www.medicare.gov/supplements...ther-insurance

I am more confused after reading this.

[Tammy]

I agree it’s a confusing mess. And I’ve worked in healthcare for over 2 decades but it’s still hard to understand.

[Tammy]

I think sometimes the other insurance demands that Medicare is primary. To save cost in their end.