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← Return to Medicare only, no supplement
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Transplants | Last Active: Nov 6, 2023 | Replies (25)
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@hello12345
Hey their "old" friend -- but apparently not old enough. I am coming up on 68 and so have been enjoying the benefits of Medicare A and B with a supplement for three years. Prior to qualifying for Medicare, I was lucky enough to be on COBRA from my previous employer, so I have no direct advice for you on costs. As a Mayo patient, I am consistently reminded that they do not take Medicare C or affectionately known to me as Medicare DISAdvantage. And while the supplement to Medicare is expensive it is cheap when compared to my annual heart transplant checkup cost at Mayo in addition to the other gifts of aging.
Hope you are well and...
Best always,
s!
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Hi @scottij 😊
It's so great to hear from you!! Thank you so much for joining in...
After my transplant, I also had COBRA for almost 2 years.
When my COBRA ended, I purchased a Blue Cross individual policy to replace the COBRA. I probably should have purchased a supplement at that time.
The price of the individual policy in 2024 is crazy high.
Also, the individual health policies have super high deductibles so it really didn't cover the 20%.
I looked at my health charges this year and mathematically I would be better off with Medicare only (unless I needed some major surgery, which I did not).
If I just paid the out of pocket directly like I ended up doing this year, and kept my high premiums, it would have been worth over $10,000 in my pocket.
I am being told that the Medicare supplement requires underwriting now since I didn't do it immediately after my transplant.
I am not sure if there is any guaranteed issue period for Medicare Supplement disability like there is at age 65.
Do you happen to know if there is a guaranteed issue period for a Medicare Supplement policy after a transplant?