TOPICS

• ELIGIBILITY
• ENROLLMENT
• DISENROLLMENT
• OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
• COVERAGE (PART A and PART B)
• PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
• MEDICARE PRIVATE HEALTH PLANS
• SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND HELP

ELIGIBILITY

Medicare Entitlement for Foreign Spouses
January 11, 2010
Q. I recently married a Canadian who has applied to become a permanent U.S. resident. Will he be able to get Medicare on my work record and pay the same rate as I pay, or will he have to buy into Medicare?

Having a Health Savings Account as Well as Medicare
April 3, 2009
Q. I have health insurance from my employer in the form of a Health Savings Account. But I’m told I can’t use it if I’m eligible for Medicare. Is this correct? If so, what can I do to keep this insurance if I continue working after age 65?

Options for Medical Coverage in Retirement
January 30, 2009
Q. I’m 58 and plan to retire at 60. As I worked outside the United States until 2004, I will have only 28 work credits toward Medicare at age 60. What are my options for medical coverage in retirement?

Gaining Citizenship and Medicare
January 30, 2009
Q. I am 70 years old and have never worked in the United States, so I don’t qualify for Social Security or Medicare. But next year I hope to become a U.S. citizen. Can I get Medicare then?

Working Long Enough to Qualify
January 30, 2009
Q. I haven’t worked long enough to qualify for Medicare. What are my options?

Medicare Eligibility
August 18, 2008
Q. My husband retired at age 57 in 2005, after 30 years with the federal government, under the old federal retirement system. He isn’t even close to having 40 work credits for Social Security. Does that mean he’ll have to pay a premium for Part A of Medicare?

Enrollment Before Age 65
June 30, 2008
Q. Must I wait to reach 65 before I can get Medicare?

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ENROLLMENT

Refusing Medicare Coverage Can Be Costly for Those on Disability Insurance Who Don’t Know the Rules
October 5, 2009
Q. I declined Medicare Part B because I was covered by my husband's health insurance. Must I repay the money Tricare spent on my medical bills?

Enrolling in Medicare When You’re a Snowbird
September 21, 2009
Q. We live five months of the year in Maine and seven months of the year in Florida. Can we sign up for Medicare in both places? If not, how do we receive our benefits?

Coverage Under Spouse’s Employer
August 10, 2009
Q. I’m nearly 65 and retired but have excellent health care coverage under my wife’s employer plan. We hope to use this until she retires in 10 years. But if I don’t enroll in Medicare now, will I be penalized when I sign up after her retirement?

Can You Buy Into Medicare If You Live Overseas?
June 15, 2009
Q. I’m a U.S. citizen, age 68, recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. As I’ve been living overseas for many years, I haven’t enough work credits to qualify for Medicare. Can I buy into Medicare Part A if I need to go to the U.S. for treatment?

Breaking a Language Barrier to Enroll in Medicare
May 18, 2009
Q. My friend is a U.S. citizen but not fluent in English. She spoke to four Social Security officials about enrolling in Medicare, but didn’t understand there was a deadline. Now she’s told she must pay a late penalty. Can she ask Social Security to reconsider, given she’s in this fix because of a language problem?

When Does the Part B Late Penalty Clock Start Ticking?
May 4, 2009
Q.  How does the Part B late penalty work? I missed signing up during my initial enrollment period, which expired at the end of August 2008, but I enrolled in February 2009. I was told I must pay a 10 percent penalty on all my future Part B premiums. Is this correct?

Signing Up for Medicare
April 6, 2009
Q. I’ll turn 65 soon and am thinking about Medicare, but I don’t know how to sign up. What should I be doing?

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
April 6, 2009
Q. I plan to keep working after I turn 65.  I have health insurance from my employer, so do I have to sign up for Medicare?

Not Signing Up at 65
April 6, 2009
Q. What happens if I don’t sign up for Medicare when I’m 65?

Getting Into Medicare If You Miss Enrollment
February 2, 2009
Q. My mother is eligible for Medicare but did not sign up when she was supposed to.  What does she need to do to get into Medicare now?

Retiree Health Benefits
November 19, 2008
Q. I’ll retire at the end of the year, and fortunately my retiree benefits include medical and prescription drug insurance. Do I need to enroll in Medicare?

Medicare and VA Health Coverage
October 20, 2008
Q. I have good medical coverage from the Veterans Affairs health program. Do I need to enroll in Medicare as well when I turn 65?

TriCare and Medicare Benefits
October 13, 2008
Q. My wife and I currently receive TriCare military health benefits. What happens when we turn 65 and transfer to the TriCare-for-Life program? Will we need Medicare as well?

American Citizen Living Overseas
April 14, 2008
Q. I’m an American citizen living overseas and plan to continue working outside of the United States for a few more years. But I’ll be 65 soon, so what should I do about Medicare?

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DISENROLLMENT

Disenrolling From Part B
May 26, 2008
Q. I’ve had Medicare Part B for several years, but now I’m starting a job that provides health insurance. Can I disenroll from Part B? If so, how?

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OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
Changing Medigap Supplemental Policies
January 25, 2010
Q. I’ve had a medigap policy for several years, but I’d like to change to another. Is this possible? What if I have preexisting medical conditions? When is open enrollment? 

Part B Premiums in 2010
December 28, 2009
Q. I’m just joining Medicare and have been told that I must pay $110.50 a month for the Part B premium in 2010. But people I know who are already in Medicare will pay $96.40. This is so unfair! What’s going on?

Paying Medicare Payroll Taxes
June 29, 2009
Q. I’m 60 and my employer recently quit taking Medicare and Social Security out of my wages. Should this be happening? Don’t I need to pay these taxes for my later years?

Paying Medicare Payroll Taxes
June 29, 2009
Q. I am 66 and still working. I’m also enrolled in Medicare Parts A, B and D. Should I still be paying Medicare payroll deductions out of my earnings when I’m already receiving Medicare benefits?

Tax Deductions for Medicare Expenses
March 30, 2009
Q. Can I deduct the cost of my Medicare premiums as a medical expense on my 1040 federal income tax return?

Different Ways to Pay Medicare Premiums
March 23, 2009
Q. What choices do I have in the way I pay my Medicare premiums?

Affording Medicare and COBRA Premiums
March 2, 2009
Q. I’ve recently been laid off from work and have COBRA insurance for 18 months. My wife is older than me and will turn 65 in a few weeks. We can’t afford to pay the Medicare Part B premium as well as the high COBRA premium. Can she opt out of Part B?

Higher Income-Related Premiums for Part B
February 23, 2009
Q. We’ve been told we have to pay a higher Part B premium for 2009 because we sold our house in 2007. Is this correct? I retired in 2008, so our income is much lower now than two years ago.

Reducing Out-of-Pocket Costs for Mental Health Services
February 9, 2009
Q. I thought Congress had changed the law on mental health coverage. But Medicare still charges me 50 percent to see my psychiatrist.

Few Dollar Limits on Out-of-Pocket Costs
February 2, 2009
Q. Is there an annual cap on the payments I make out of my own pocket in Medicare?

Getting Medigap Insurance Under Age 65
October 27, 2008
Q. I’m younger than 65 and on Medicare because of disability. Can I buy medigap supplemental insurance to help with the costs?

Medigap Insurance
July 21, 2008
Q. What is medigap insurance? Do I need it?

Seeing a Doctor 'On Assignment'
July 28, 2008
Q. What does seeing a doctor "on assignment" mean?

Paying a Late Penalty on Medicare Part B
May 12, 2008
Q. I signed up for Medicare Part B late and have a 30 percent penalty. Are there any programs or assistance to help me pay that premium? My only source of income is Social Security disability. I don’t qualify for Medicaid—tried twice. Any help?

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COVERAGE (PART A and PART B)
Ask Ms. Medicare: Can You Briefly Leave a Skilled Nursing Facility Without Losing Medicare Coverage? 
February 8, 2010
Q. My mother is in a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after surgery. Can she leave the facility for brief excursions, such as going to church or visiting our home, without losing Medicare coverage?

If Your Doctor Opts Out of Medicare
December 14, 2009
Q. My husband’s doctor opted out of Medicare and now charges a high set fee for the year, which covers all his office services. My husband says that, even so, Medicare and his medigap supplement will still cover hospital care, specialists or outpatient tests should he need them. Is this true?

Can a Hospital Turn Away a Medicare Beneficary Who Doesn't Have Medigap Insurance?
September 7, 2009
Q. I have power of attorney for my elderly mother, who has dementia. The nursing home where she lives says that she should have a medigap policy because some local hospitals may not admit her without one. Is this correct? At age 92, could she even obtain a medigap policy?

A Right to Know If Medicare Won’t Cover Your Skilled Nursing Care
August 24, 2009
Q. My father-in-law spent two days in the hospital and was then sent to a skilled nursing facility for rehab. Now the facility has billed my mother-in-law, and not Medicare, for the full cost of his care. The hospital did not tell them that Medicare wouldn’t pay. What can we do?

Does Medicare Cover Pregnancy?
June 1, 2009
Q.  I'm on Medicare because of disability, and I'm pregnant.  Does Medicare cover pregnancy and childbirth?

Medicare's Right to Insurance Awards
February 16, 2009
Q. My mother has just gotten a large settlement from her auto insurer for injuries received in an accident two years ago. Is she required to reimburse Medicare for the cost of treating those injuries?

Coverage in a Foreign Country
February 3, 2009
Q. Will Medicare cover any medical treatment in a foreign country? If not, what are my options?

Staying in a Nursing Home
Februry 3, 2009
Q. I read that Medicare doesn’t pay for staying in a nursing home. But my friend is in a nursing home, and she says Medicare’s picking up the tab. Who’s right?

Dollar Limits on Medical Benefits
February 2, 2009
Q. Is there a dollar cap on the amount of Medicare services you can use? I’ve had several expensive surgeries, and I’m worried that my benefits may run out.

When Treatment Isn’t Available in the United States
January 26, 2009
Q. I need a treatment that I can get in another country (Switzerland or Argentina) but isn’t yet available in the United States. Will Medicare cover my costs abroad in these circumstances?

Paying Attention to Open Enrollment for Part D
November 10, 2008
Q. I keep hearing that Part D’s “open enrollment” is important. What should I be doing during this period?

Getting Billed for the 'Welcome to Medicare' Exam
November 1, 2008
Q. This year I had my “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam, which I thought is free if it’s done within six months of joining the program. But I was billed for it! When I complained, Medicare said they’d pay only after I’d met my Part B deductible. Obviously, I hadn’t met the deductible—I’d only just entered the system! So how is this exam free?

Medicare Coverage and the Shingles Vaccine
October 6, 2008
Q. Does Medicare cover the shingles vaccine? Yes, but not in the way you might expect.

Medicare Coverage and Home Safety Equipment
September 29, 2008
Q. I’m helping my parents make improvements to their home so that it’ll be a safer place for them. Does Medicare pay anything toward the costs of installing grab bars and nonslip flooring or widening doorways? Also, does it cover lifts for people who can no longer get up the stairs?

Medicare Coverage for Toenail Clipping
September 22, 2008
Q. I go to a podiatrist to have my toenails clipped. As I’m diabetic, shouldn’t Medicare cover the cost?

Medicare Coverage and Seat Lifts
September 13, 2008
Q. I have to lift my 101-year-old mother out of her chair every time she needs to get up. Will Medicare help pay for a seat lift for her?

Routine Physicals
August 4, 2008
Q. Can I get routine physical checkups under Medicare?

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PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

Restrictions on Part D Drug Coverage
November 30, 2009
Q. What exactly are quantity limits, step therapy and prior authorization in Part D drug plans? And what do I need to know about them when choosing a plan or switching from one plan to another?

Should I Drop Part D If I Don’t Need Prescription Drugs?
November 1, 2009
Q. I’ve been enrolled in Medicare Part D for prescription drugs, but I don’t take any meds and the premium seems a waste of money. Can I quit my Part D plan? And if I do, what are the consequences later on if I want to re-enroll when I do need prescription drugs?

Getting Part D Benefits in a Nursing Home
October 19, 2009
Q. My mother's being charged full price for her medications, and although we’re sure she is enrolled in a Medicare Part D drug plan, we can’t find her membership card. What can we do?

Paying the Part D Deductible When Joining a Plan Midyear
July 27, 2009
Q. If I join a Part D drug plan partway through the year, do I still have to pay the annual deductible?

When Your Part D Drug Plan Doesn't Cover Your New Prescriptions
April 20, 2009
Q. I selected a Medicare drug plan because it covered the generics I was taking. Now my doctor has switched me to two brand-name drugs that my plan doesn’t cover. Can I switch plans midyear for this reason? Or must I wait for the next enrollment period and pay the freight until then?

After Open Enrollment Ends
February 2, 2009
Q. I meant to change my Medicare drug plan before the end of the year, but didn’t get around to it. Is there any chance of switching to another plan now?

Figuring Out Mail-Order Prices
December 22, 2008
Q. I’ve been trying to choose a new Part D plan for next year. Why does it appear on Medicare’s Drug Plan Finder that some plans charge higher prices for using mail order than going to a retail pharmacy?

Enrollment Rejection
December 15, 2008
Q. I’m about to enroll in a Medicare drug plan for the first time. Could I be denied coverage for any reason or be asked to pay more because I’m not in good health?

Paying for the Part D Late Penalty
December 8, 2008
Q. I was eligible for Part D drug coverage when it began in 2006 but didn’t sign up then. Now I want to join the program for 2009, but I’ve been told I must pay a late penalty. How much will this be?

Refilling Prescriptions
December 1, 2008
Q. What happens to refill prescriptions when switching to a new Part D plan?

Trying to Avoid the Doughnut Hole
November 15, 2008
Q. It was hard for me to afford my prescription drugs this year after I fell into the Part D doughnut hole. Is there anything I can do to avoid it next year?

Paying Attention to Open Enrollment for Part D
November 10, 2008
Q. I keep hearing that Part D’s “open enrollment” is important. What should I be doing during this period?

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MEDICARE PRIVATE HEALTH PLANS


Comparing Medicare Advantage Plans
November 16, 2009
Q. How can I find another plan that will give me a better deal?

Medicare’s Private Plans
July 14, 2008
Q. I’m confused over how Medicare’s private plans work. If I enroll in one of these plans, will I still be in Medicare or in some other system?

Locked Into a Medicare HMO
June 2008
Q. I enrolled in a Medicare HMO at the beginning of this year and I’m now regretting it. Am I locked in? Or can I get back into traditional Medicare without waiting until the end of the year?

Changing HMOs
May 19, 2008
Q. My mother-in-law just moved from Southern to Northern California. Her Medicare HMO is not available in her new home area. Can she change HMOs even though it is not open enrollment at present? How does she go about changing?

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SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND HELP

Which Federal Agency Will Answer My Medicare Question?
July 13, 2009
Q. I notice that sometimes you advise people to contact Social Security about Medicare. When we need specific information about Medicare, which agency should we contact?

Medicare Information for Non-Native English Speakers
June 9, 2008
Q. I guess many people find Medicare hard to understand, but it’s worse when English isn’t your first language. Is there any help for us?

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Patricia Barry, aka Ms. Medicare, is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin.