I just received my Medicare card today.

[Quackers]

I'm 33 years old and am on Caresource. The Medicare cards effective date is December 1st. How does this all work? Do I give up my Caresource or do I use Medicare as primary and CS as secondary? I'm in uncharted territory with this stuff. I never planned on being disabled this early in life.

[rickford66]

1. Are you sure it's Medicare?

[Quackers]

3. I think so...

It has a red, white, and blue at the top with a bird symbol and Medicare Health Insurance. It has my name and a policy number. Then it says "is entitled to: Hospital (part A), medical (part B). Effective December 1st.

[Warpy]

5. I don't know what Caresource is

but Medicare is now your primary insurance(or will be, as of December 1). Call Caresource and ask them about submitting the bills Medicare doesn't cover.

Congratulations. I love Medicare. Everyone should have it.

[Quackers]

13. Thanks!

I just hope I can figure it all out. Before Caresource, I had tri-care. That's all I've ever known.

[rickford66]

6. That describes the card all right.

The "policy number" should be your Social Security number. Didn't know you could qualify below 65. What's your situation that allowed you getting it?

[Tess49]

9. If you qualify for disability, you are eligible for Medicare two years later.

I guess they don't care to recognize the fact that if you are eligible for Soc Sec disability, you might need health insurance.

[Quackers]

18. That would make sense.

My disability onset date was June of 2013 and you have to add in the 5 month wait for SSDI, that would mean the two year clock started in December of 2013. Weird, I haven't even received a single dime of disability yet.

[No Vested Interest]

25. You will likely get a large check covering the period back to 2013.

The bad news is that nonpartisan sources predict that SSDI payments are likely to be reduced in the next year or so, because the SSDI fund is running low. Hope it doesn't happen, because SSDI is my daughter's source of income.

Apparently there has been a large increase in the number of applications and approvals of SSDI clients, as many people filed for SSDI when they became unemployed.
I'm not implying that the increased numbers are for non-eligible people, but it seems that many of those people would have struggled on with the jobs they had as long as they could, likely making more money than the SSDI payment.
However, when they became unemployed and not able to find a new job due to low employment outlook, they took the next most viable plan and filed for SSDI.

[still_one]

10. There are special medical conditions, one of them is certain disabilities, and there

are others to

[Quackers]

11. Yep, my SS number and then a letter.

I was determined to be disabled under 3 sections of SSDI law in July. They determined the disability on-set date was in June of 2013.

[rickford66]

17. Good to hear this.

[yeoman6987]

22. Make sure they sent you the right card

You should get Medicaid. If you use Medicare and it is found not the right card, you may have to refund the money Medicare paid. On the other situation, I don't think a secondary is necessary for Medicaid use. Thank goodness you have until December to get this straightened out.

[Disabled15]

28. Congrats!

I am also a young disabled adult on Medicare. Sign up here and they will show all you are getting. http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
They will ask questions similar to when you request a copy of you credit report, so be prepared. Sounds like you will have Medicare. If you have tons of medical issues, like most disabled people do, a secondary insurance of some kind is almost a requirement nowadays. So many holes have been punched into coverage. For example, wheelchairs are only covered 80%. This can get expensive.

[still_one]

2. Do you mean Medicaid or Medicare?

[Quackers]

4. Medicare

[still_one]

7. What you should do is contact the Medicare or Social Security office. You are in a special

situation, so contact SS and Medicare office to see what you need to do to insure you are fully covered:

https://www.medicare.gov/

Basic Medicare covers Part A and B. Supplemental is recommended to cover those expenses not covered under A and B.

There is also a Part D drug plan.

All the best to you

[Quackers]

14. Thank you

I will definitely have to figure it out. I'm on 11 different medications.

[still_one]

19. Here is the Medicare link with the phone number: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/contact/contact-medicare.html

[Downwinder]

23. Medicare has a means tested "extra help"

for Part "D" that pays up to the full premium, reduces co-pays, deductibles, closes the donut hole and allows you to change policies at any time.

http://www.ssa.gov/medicare/prescriptionhelp/

[elleng]

8. Not entirely sure but just checked:

'CareSource is a leading non-profit public sector managed care company, meeting the needs of health care consumers for more than 24 years.'

Medicare became my primary when I obtained it a few years ago, and I maintain Blue Cross/Shield as my secondary, paying premiums via federal employees/retirees. Ends up that medicare provides most of my coverage, and BC/S fills in any gaps.

Show both cards to your providers, and let them submit claims as they see fit.

[still_one]

12. I assume the Blue Cross/Shield you are referring to is your supplemental or Medigap coverage?

[elleng]

15. Yes it supplements medicare,

and covers any gaps. Have had it since started work with feds in '78. Retired now.

[still_one]

20. It is really essential to have

[Quackers]

16. I will

Since it doesn't go into effect until December, I have some time to work out the details. The prescription cost is my big concern.

[No Vested Interest]

21. Prescriptions are covered under part D. Surprised you do not have that part.

Hopefully your Caresource covers some of your prescription costs.

[840high]

24. I have Medicare and United - my prescriptions usually

run $3.

[No Vested Interest]

26. You likely are using mostly generics. When using a name brand, you can get stuck

with a higher cost.

I have regular Medicare (based on age, not disability) and Humana Advantage and drugs with Express Scripts.
My generic prescriptions are $4, in a state retirement plan.
I have one name brand, for which I pay $30/mo., and even that had to get an okay from Express Scripts.

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. They should mail you a big booklet that explains what is what.

While supplemental insurance is a good thing sometimes, it can be expensive.
Plus you will be paying 100.00 something a month for your Medicare..they take it out of your benefit payment.
When you do use your card, you have to pay a "deductible" of 147.00 each year, for part B, the first time you get outpatient help.
After that is paid, you pay a 20% co-pay of any outpatient services, which includes Dr. visits, outpatient tests.

The internet is loaded with real easy to understand info on Medicare.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions, I have been doing Medicaid and Medicare issues for some time now.

try to get as many meds as possible in generic formulas and don't be afraid to shop around various pharmacies for pricing, there is a hell of big difference among them.