Medicare and Supplemental Insurance

[Kenu]

I start Medicare April 1st. And have begun to look at supplement insurance for drugs 🤷🏼‍♂️ 😵 They don’t like DMT’s😔. I have to call Aubagio tomorrow and find out if they help on Medicare 🤷🏼‍♂️. I know quite a few of them only cover while on commercial insurance, not Medicare programs 🤬 Can I get some ideas what those of you on Medicare are doing 🤷🏼‍♂️🙏🐾🐩 Ken

[SueAB]

Kenu, I have been on a Medicare Advantage Plan for 15 years - not always the same plan, but an Advantage Plan. It has everything - doctor, hospital and drugs and no additional premium - only your Medicare premium. Do you have Advantage Plans available in your county? I am very fortunate to have an informed insurance broker, who helps me evaluate the copays and covered drugs on several plans every year. It might be helpful to have a licensed broker help you.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Call mymssa.org Kenu they really can help you out with all that!

800 532-7667 ext. 154 😀

J 🌠

[punterstein]

I am on Avonex. Of course, Medicare does not cover that. Biogen, the drug's manufacturer, helps me each year get a grant to assist with the drug cost and the company picks up the rest. Hopefully, the company that manufactures Aubagio does as well. I see from their website they have a copay assistance program, but oddly enough, that usually does not help when Medicare is your primary. It just boggles my mind that when I was working I was getting the medication for free and now that I am on a fixed income, it doesn't pertain anymore. Geez.....

[Kenu in reply to punterstein]

I know it’s crazy what’s happening with healthcare and rules to help 🤷🏼‍♂️🤬 Ken

[Fancy1959]

Kenu, it's Fancy1959. The rules for Medicare supplement insurance are mind-boggling to say the least. If you're not confused to start with just wait till you find out that each state has slightly different rules. In Kentucky, I do not qualify for Medicare supplement insurance until I hit 62. So I became disabled due to Ms and stopped working around age 57 and until 62 I'm plumb out of luck being able to pick up any supplementary insurance to help cover what Medicare doesn't pay. And let me tell you the small sum of money I get from Social Security doesn't go far when dealing with all the health needs associated with my MS. Somebody in Washington or in Frankfort Kentucky need to get their head out of their you know what and realize that disability can hit at any age. Without the supplementary insurance I am simply left blowing in the wind, grasping for ideas to help pay off the large medical bills that come with MS.🤕😡😠😬😭

[Kenu in reply to Fancy1959]

I thought you were able to get Medicare after 25 months of SSDI, at least in Idaho you do🤷🏼‍♂️. There is one supplement policy that covers the DMT’s, but it’s $300.00 month plus the $135.00 for Medicare 🤷🏼‍♂️🤬. I can’t afford to pay that much as my wife and son still need insurance also🤷🏼‍♂️ The rich senator and congress don’t get it 😐🤬🤬. The drug companies help when on commercial policy, but not Medicare 🤷🏼‍♂️🤬 Go figure 🤷🏼‍♂️. One on One nurse says that I will need to apply for grants to cover it🤷🏼‍♂️ if they still have money in April 🤷🏼‍♂️. What a pain in the a.....🤬. Thanks for your reply 👍🙏🐾🐕🐩🐶 Ken

[cljones]

@menu when I went on Medicare they said I couldn't get help from the drug company. They can't help because it would be considered as a kick back to the government. Ridiculous isn't it. But they did give me a list of charities that could help with the co-pays. You have to submit a lot of paper work but if your income is low enough you will qualify if they have funds available. If not you have to try the next one on the list. So far I have been able to get assistance

[Kenu in reply to cljones]

Thanks, One-to-One nurse is sending me a list of grants to apply for, but can’t apply till I actually change to Medicare 🤷🏼‍♂️🙏🙏🙏 Ken

[Berni51]

Most companies will not help you if you have any Government insurance like Medicare. I don’t understand that. Medicare isn’t exactly a great help.

[Kenu in reply to Berni51]

I did receive a Grant from Health Well and it’s paying my out of pocket and deductible 👍😁🙏🐾 Ken

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

The company I retired from recommended AARP Supplemental ins from UHC or Humana. I spent weeks deciding which way to go as I already had bad arthritis, I went with UHC for Medicare health supplement and Humana for Prescription coverage, VSP for vision. You can decide on the level of coverage you need for yourself & Spouse. I went higher for me & less for him because he also has VA coverage. He’s 74, I just turned 70 and we pay just over $500. a month that covers both of us. Since being on it, I’ve had back surgery and a knee replacement and have paid very little out of pocket for either of those surgeries. Hope you find what you need for you!

[CynthiaS]

I'm on UnitedHealth aarp advantage plan , since I was going to Cleveland clinic Lou revolution center for brain health they allowed me to continue going even though they weren't on the list . I get assistance for aubagio copay from The Assistance Fund . With my plan covers 1k per year at the dentist and eye exam every year and $200 every other year towards lenses or frames. Hope this helps you Ken Blessings Cynthia