UNITED STATES—Toni, I need your Medicare guidance because in December, I was rushed to the ER because of kidney failure caused from stage 4 of prostate cancer which has spread to my pelvic bones.
Because I was working full-time, I took a leave of absence with short-term disability in January for 60 days while receiving my cancer treatment which ended on February 28.
I was informed while in the hospital for cancer treatment that I had qualified for long term disability and would no longer be part of the company’s health plan since I was not a full-time employee. COBRA would begin immediately.
I enrolled and paid for COBRA to continue with medical care where I am having cancer treatment. It took 6 weeks to get the paperwork to Social Security for Medicare Part B to begin May 1 which it has since I was not working full-time. Now my Cobra nightmare begins!
COBRA is only paying the 20 percent of medical bills and I was billed the 80 percent because I was not enrolled in Medicare Part B which has totaled over $40K. Please help me solve this COBRA financial nightmare…Thanks, Robert, Tomball, TX.
Hello Robert: Those reading this article need to realize the seriousness of Medicare and insurance rules.
The Medicare & You handbook discusses topics such as “Special Enrollment Period” and “Should I Get Part B?” It states that “COBRA” is not considered “coverage” based on current employer benefits.
You have 8 months to sign up for Medicare Part B without a penalty if you are not “working full-time or have lost your company benefits, whichever comes first.” The 8-month period will run whether you choose COBRA or not. COBRA has an 18-month benefit period.
If you choose COBRA, do not wait until your COBRA ends in 18 months to enroll in Part B. The COBRA benefit period is longer than the 8-month Medicare Special Enrollment Period, and you may receive the famous “Medicare Part B penalty” which goes all the way back to when you enrolled in Medicare Part A.
Robert, you did everything correctly to enroll in Medicare Part B by contacting Social Security and faxing the CMS-L564 form “Request for Employment Information,” signed by your company’s HR department, and CMS-40B form “Application for Part B.” Fortunately, at least, you were still within the correct time limits for your Medicare Part B to begin May 1.
You are in a Medicare “glitch” and the COBRA health plan is using “Coordination of Benefits” as their ruling. Chapter 1 of Toni’s Medicare Survival Guide Advanced edition explains various ways of enrolling in Medicare in detail. Visit www.tonisays.com for Medicare information.
Group health insurance plans are a state-regulated, not a Medicare regulated plan. Since you are past 65 and already enrolled in Medicare Part A, the health plan is passing the 80 percent of the doctor/medical bills on Part B to Medicare. You were not enrolled in Medicare Part B from March 1 to April 30 for Medicare to pick up the difference.
A bit of good news is that COBRA plans are a creditable prescription drug coverage plan, and you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period of 63 days to enroll in Medicare Part D plan without receiving a Part D penalty. Please enroll in your Part D prescription drug plan ASAP.
Remember, with Medicare what you don’t know WILL hurt you! Need Medicare help call the Toni Says Medicare hotline at 832-519-8664 or email info@tonisays.com for Medicare help.
Toni’s book “Medicare Survival Guide Advanced” edition is offering a $10 discount available to the Toni Says® readers and their friends at www.tonisays.com and www.seniorresource.com. Visit www.seniorresource.com/medicare-moments/ to listen to Toni’s Medicare Moments podcasts.
