Medicare - Hipaa - Cobba and Part B

Date: February 23, 2007
      I found my Blue Cross Insurance broker - done the Cobra to Hipaa thing with her before you see.
      And guess what???
     
      She marched my butt to Social Security! THAT DAY!
      Seems at 65 - I can't do Hipaa.
      Cut off is 64 1/2. Did we all k now that?
      So - we are to work to 65 and 10 months - or preferably age 70 - but we can't have insurance like normal working people because we turned 65. Does anyone else see this as a problem?
     
      My company has a hiring freeze and is facing a 10% headcount reduction at least. Even executives are taking pay cuts.
      So ---- if I survive - it will be 6 months until I am "hired". Or else I have a job somewhere else.
     
      No joy there. (Regular employees get on the company Health plan regardless of age. So I am told. Must check that out!)
     
      I went to SocSec and sat and sat and sat and - luckily I had my birth certificate with me - planned ahead - and my office is little.
      I signed up for the Part A (no charge - you all get it) and Part B (they will bill you and it starts in April)
      And then (next morning) back to the Blue Cross Broker who cannot proceed until Medicare sends me a card (end of march). I did leave checks. Applications. And now we wait. For the Government.
     
      Guess what?
      If you are on Medicare - there is NO VISION COVERAGE AT ALL. Guess us older folks aren't supposed to need glasses. (I just had an eye exam - ordered glasses - under the wire - before I lose all coverage.)
      And the supplemental dental? Limit is $1000 a year. Better not need a cap. (I just had mine done.)
     
      I want the maximum supplemental - which will cover a physical - all the others do not ($145 a month at the moment). A physical can PREVENT serious expense later! What are they thinking?
     
      Now to drugs ---- They will tally everything you spend - all the costs and your co-py - and when you hit $2,400 - then you get to pay cash until you hit $3600, when they will resume. Best bet? Generic because they will force that issue.
     
      I have 7 weeks with NO INSURANCE (other than the Medicare Plan A and I have no card yet). And over six perscxriptions.
     
      Wing it on the drugs. (I have older different dosage prescriptions I can cut up if I am desperate.)
     
      Now let's think about this.
     
      I work full time.
     
      I am a functioning member of the work force.
     
      So why can't I roll over to Hipaa like every other member of the work force? (Never mind is costs an arm and a leg.)
     
      The government wants me to work until age 70.
      They want me paying into retirement funds or Social Security as long as possible.
      So why can't I have the benefits of a working member of the community?
     
      We will not discuss the tendency of companies to make us all contractors so they won't have to provide benefits like health insurance.
      Goes along with the "exempt" status distinction - "Exempt" as opposed to hourly - means that they can have you work overtime hours and they do not pay you for them.
      Violating all the employment laws on the books.
     
      But that's another story.