Toni:
I saw you on Fox 26 and I need some advice. I am a Vet and get my drugs from the VA. I am turning 65 in March 2013 and think it is ridiculous to pay $99.90 for Part B when I get everything for nothing at the VA. I don’t want to have to pay for Part B if I don’t need it. Am I making a mistake? Can you explain it to me?
Signed…Jonathon …A frustrated Vet from Katy
Dear Vet:
Yes, I would advise you to enroll in “Part B” when you are first offered it at 65 or under 65 if you are receiving disability and want to use the VA facilities. I know the VA does not require Part B, but you will have a lot of problems down the road. You can not imagine the frustration you will have if you do not enroll in Part B the right time.
You and my husband must have gone to Boot camp together! He feels the same way. “Part B” covers everything, except a in-hospital stay which is covered on Part A. When you are ambulanced to the hospital by law; they have to take you to the closest hospital and unfortunately, that may not be the VA hospital that you use. You will receive bills for everything, except your hospital stay which is covered under “Part A”. I know this because my husband is fighting bills from over 2 years ago, when he was not old enough for Medicare and was ambulanced to Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land. He was told that due to him having a 60% disability, he would never have to pay anything at the VA and that if he is sent to another hospital due to an emergency that the VA would pick up the charges.
Two years later, he is fighting for some of the bills to still be paid. Yes they do send the unpaid bills to credit companies and put them on your credit!!
Now that he is old enough for Medicare, the first thing he did was sign up for “Part B”!
What happens, Jonathon is that if you do not enroll in Part B when you are first eligible for Medicare, you may have to pay a “late enrollment” penalty of 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but did not sign up for it. See page 30 of the 2012 Medicare & You handbook for more information.
I am glad you asked what you should do!! First, you need to contact Social Security at 1/800-772-1213 or go to your local office in person to enroll in Part B and tell the Social Security Rep that you need to enroll in Part B under the “General Enrollment Period”. This enrollment period is from Jan 1- March 31 and your Medicare Part B will begin July 1st.
The most important thing to remember about delaying Part B of Medicare is the 10% penalty for each full 12-month period. Let’s says you waited 50 months, which is 4 full 12-month period, then the Part B penalty is an additional 40% added to the current Part B premium for as long as you have Medicare.
Bottom lines…enroll in Part B when you are offered because:
1. You will have a late penalty for as long as you are on Medicare.
2. If you are not enrolled in Part B, you will pay 100% for all services covered under Medicare’s Part B which can be thousands of dollars.
Toni King, author of the Medicare Survival Guide which is on sale at www.tonisays.com. Toni is an advocate/consultant for those “Confused about Medicare”. Email questions to toni@tonisays.com or call 832/519-TONI (8664).
