This probably mirrors the dilemma faced by thousands millions tens of millions of Americans.
I am finally Medicare-eligible Oct. 1, 2016, have received my Medicare card, and am enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with Kaiser Permanente effective Oct. 1, 2016. I will pay the Medicare part B premium for now, until I begin Social Security in the future. I will pay a monthly premium to Kaiser. The 2016 part B premium + the 2016 Kaiser premium is 48% less than the current monthly premium for my 2016 individual Kaiser plan. I just received the great news from Kaiser that the Medicare Advantage premium for 2017 will only increase by 4%. In contrast, the individual Kaiser plan premium for 2017 has been approved by the state Division of Insurance to increase by 18%, but I will no longer require that plan after Sept. 30, 2016.
The Medicare part B premium process was smooth and efficient, using form CMS-500 sent to me by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and even permitting use of a credit card to cover the 4th quarter part B premium due. I will manage future payments with their auto-draft process from the checking account, until I begin receiving Social Security, at which time the part B premium will be deducted from those payments.
My current ACA-compliant Kaiser plan is costly, but would not even be available except for the Affordable Care Act. I’m just another old dude with pre-existing conditions who would be essentially uninsurable in the individual market that existed prior to the Affordable Care Act.
Thanks, President Obama.
Medicare is certainly not without problems. I rest easier with the knowledge that Medicare is basically guaranteed non-cancellable coverage so long as premiums are paid. I will be a member of the grey army to oppose “voucher-care” and similar schemes as proposed by Paul Ryan and his misguided minions.
Importantly, the constant churn of changes as outlined in the table will be greatly reduced.The below table provides a summary of my health coverage over the past 24 years. The cost column is a rough estimate. Kaiser Medicare will be the 12th plan change over the past 24 years. Each change has had administrative challenges, with multiple issues such as deductibles and co-pays. I often felt as if a degree in health economics was needed to make these changes. The listed insurance carriers have been a mixed bag. I’ve had positive experiences with Kaiser presently and also in the past.
TIME Insurance at the bottom deserves a special shout-out. This individual policy I obtained in 1992 was a shining example of pre-existing coverage exclusions for trivial past health issues. That experience left me very wary of health insurance companies. That experience also underpinned my support for the Affordable Care Act. The ACA has flaws, but does eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions.
date(s) |
employer |
cobra |
individual |
medicare |
carrier |
spouse’s plan
|
cost |
skeptic’s health coverage
10/1/16-
future
|
|
|
|
Finally! |
Kaiser
|
|
$$ |
1/1/16-
9/30/16
|
|
|
Individual Silver
ACA-compliant
No subsidy
|
|
Kaiser |
|
$$$$ |
9/1/14-
12/31/15
|
|
from
employer A
|
|
|
United
Health
|
|
$$$$ |
11/1/12-
8/31/14
|
Employer
A
|
|
|
|
United
Health
|
|
$$ |
1/1/11-
10/31/12
|
|
|
|
|
Kaiser |
lucky for me
I qualified
|
$$$ |
4/1/10-
12/31/10
|
|
from
employer B
|
|
|
CIGNA |
|
$$$$ |
9/1/05-
3/31/10
|
Employer
B
|
|
|
|
CIGNA |
|
$$ |
7/93-
8/05
|
Employers
C,D,E,F
|
|
|
|
Various |
|
?? |
7/92-
6/93
|
|
|
TIME Insurance
See narrative
|
|
TIME |
|
$$ |
In my opinion, health care coverage should be a right and a responsibility of American citizenship. The ACA is an important start, but requires improvements. Health care coverage should not be just a privilege of wealth, or of good employment, but should be available for all Americans. Medicare coverage fortunately remains a privilege of reaching age 65 (with enough covered quarters of employment).
We must do better. Medicare for all? YES!