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Back Surgery, and who pays?
I am 65, epilepsy since 22 yrs old, 95% controlled until 2005. Unable to work after a seizure at work, resulting with Medicare and disability money since 2005.
I had a back injury at 22 (not related to epilepsy) rupturing 3 discs (not known to what extent until 50 yrs old), with no med treatment at the time. Degenerative to the extent of non-existent for those 3. Scoliosis further up as a result of 40+ years. For 1.5 years I've been seeing a surgeon who I can plan on having surgery with during the next 1 to 6 months. Surgery will not be avoidable. My need is how to financially manage Medicare-Medicaid-or any other gang.
The cost I'm sure some of you know can clear 200k pretty easy. I had been putting off surgery since 63 believing Medicaid at 65 was going to pay for 99+%. Medicare was at best going to have a 20% copay. After researching even a small amount on Medicaid for my condition (reading stories like mine before walking through the front door of Medicaid or other) it sounds like I should have a better look at how to plan financial damages with too many variables. My fault or not, I don't know where to get good info, or how to avoid a 60k copay or, what happens when you do.
It's not a new diagnosis or a referral to another surgeon that is needed. I'm looking for direction and "warnings" on how to financially manage my possibilities and how to avoid irreversible decisions.
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@migizii the link for Medicare Advantage is a supplement plan for Medicare.
Medicare advantage is a separate plan from straight Medicare....a supplemental plan augments Medicare and there are numerous plans to supplement parts A and B, but does not offer the extra that the advantage plans do like vision, dental, or prescription plans included. Our supplemental plan is United Health Care but I will only start using it next month and our agent did not advocate the advantage plans when a person has health issues and wants to travel to various areas. Idk if this makes sense or will be helpful for my husband and I?
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1 ReactionJohn Bishop, I'm still going to have to start working with your information, tomorrow. I have spent some time on it before and I know it's going to take a day or more, ha. Confusion was always the reason for not following up 100%. I'd like to come back here when I get some more information just to run past you. I'm assuming you are reading all replies right now.
migizii, By "travel to various areas" did you mean overseas, Canada etc or just US? "has health issues" Meaning, back surgery needed or lesser?
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1 Reaction@1634517678, I may miss a post or two if I'm not specifically tagged by using my member name in the post (@johnbishop). When you use the member name in a post, the member will get an email notification. Otherwise, it's easy to miss a post even if you are following a discussion. Psst...Not sure you want to be running question on Medicare coverage by me 🙂 I have enough trouble trying to figure out my own coverage and I definitely do not know all the ins and outs of coverage. That's kind of why I rely on my insurance coverage Minnesota UCare reps to answer any questions I can't figure out for my coverage with Medicare.
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2 Reactions1634517678, I like to travel to all the areas up you mentioned and I happen to live close to Canada which usually makes it a yearly trip. Also, my health issues center on chronic migraines, bronchiectasis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and presently recovering from mid foot fusion surgery.
Ok, thanks. Sounds like great fun. I have had epilepsy for 43 years, and that covers back when there were only about 3 drugs for it. Oddly enough it's been 90% controlled for 14 years. Which is good.
In the boxes here on this page, there is a "Reply" box that I am typing in now, and a "Post Reply" box. I can see what I think is everyone's reply and mine, and are on this page too. How is "Post Reply' different?