medicare hosed me

[floridian]

when i started collecting SS disability more than 10 years ago, i had retired from my job and took the expensive blue cross health insurance with me...

after 2 years, i was elligable to get medicare part b.... i called SS and they told me there was no hurry, as long as i maintained my blue cross... i could enroll anytime with no penalty...

well, last month i wanted to enroll in medicare and was told i had more than a 100 percent penalty, for not signing up at the two year mark and whoever told me that was mistaken...

they said i could appeal it if i wanted too.. that would do about as much good a whisltling dixie...

for what its worth...

[Flamingo]

The problem with what occurred here is that the medicare requirements changed after your call maybe more than 8 years ago when you were probably given the correct information "at that time." There is now a requirement to sign up within a certain time period for Medicare. That was well publicized. You can try to appeal but I don't know if it would do any good since a long period of time has passed since your inquiring phone call and there have been changes since that time.

[junker]

i was just at their site a few days ago, it told me there would be a 10% penalty for every year you didnt take part b. past your eligibility year. such as 65. if i held off and took it at say 67, it would cost an extra 20%, what am i missing? when did they change it???

[floridian]

i had to wait two years, because it was a disability thing... the bottom line is, that i cant prove that i was told what i was told... it was simply an employee that gave out bad info and i doubt she even works there anymore, if i had her name..it was a very technical issue and not to be resolved in my favor....oh well, my big blue cross payments help me on my DMI problem..

[Flamingo]

i was just at their site a few days ago, it told me there would be a 10% penalty for every year you didnt take part b. past your eligibility year. such as 65. if i held off and took it at say 67, it would cost an extra 20%, what am i missing? when did they change it???

It was a while ago. I remember all the advertisements and articles about it but did not pay much attention because we are just in our mid-50's and didn't have to worry about it.