Could someone answer some questions regarding Medicare?

[rhett o rick]

At age 65 does Medicare cover everyone or just those that choose it?

Who pays for Medicare and how much does it cost?

Is what is being described as "a strong public option" similar to Medicare? Would it be manditory or optional?

Who would pay for the plan being called "a strong public option"?

[Cleita]

1. I'm not an expert but I am on Medicare so I will try to answer your

questions. Everybody gets Medicare Part A at age 65, which is hospitalization. If you want to be covered for outpatient care you can buy Medicare Part B, which costs me $96 a month. There is a $100 deductible and 20% copays of the agreed upon fee between doctors and Medicare. I also have an insurance policy from United Health Care to plug the gaps in coverage that costs me $256 a month and goes up every year :-( Medicare Part D for drugs costs around $30 a month depending on what plan you get. It's a big rip off all around because Big PhRMA wrote the bill so I don't have it. You can opt out of traditional Medicare it if you get a Medicare Advantage plan from a private insurance or if you have a spouse whose insurance is willing to insure you after 65. I don't suggest it because then you are stuck with the HMO that you are put into and you lose all your Medicare rights. FICA or P/R tax pays for the rest of Medicare. I believe it's 5.25% of the 7.5% deducted from everyone's pay check but I'm not sure because I'm not really current on it. You get the idea though.

Option means you can choose so it won't be mandatory that you have to have the option unless of course you are 65 and don't have the above other described other plans to choose from.

As to your last question, no one seems to know yet, how it will be paid for. Obama talks about taxing the wealthy, but we will see.

[rhett o rick]

2. Let me see if I understand. At age 65 all Americans have the option of joining Medicare.

If you choose not to join are you out for ever? or a year waiting period?

If you join or not do your taxes go up at all?

If you know, for those with Federal Employee Health Benefits, is Medicare part A mandatory, is part b mandatory?

Thanks for the help

[Cleita]

3. Medicare has a great website. It's not as navigable as I would like but it

has loads of information about all your questions. Just be patient in hitting the links and moving around. It also has a great history part about how Medicare came about going all the way back to the turn of the last century.

If you don't join, I don't believe you are out forever on some of the parts. I know with the Big PhRMA sponsored Medicare part D, they fine you for every year you didn't join. I hope Congress fixes that. Medicare Part A as far as I know is given to everyone over the age of 65. I don't know if you could call that mandatory. You can choose not to use it I guess. Part B you have to pay for so you can refuse it.

[rhett o rick]

4. Thanks for the help. Their website has lots of information. nm