Early (disability) Medicare questions

[zephyr]

I'm on disability as a result of CRC and will be automatically enrolled in early Medicare in a few months. I have been told that the only Medicare supplements that will be available to me will be HMO plans. Apparently when you come into Medicare early because of a disability, your options are limited -- at least that's the case here. I will be setting up an appointment to meet with the insurance/billing folks at the cancer center to find out how the change in insurance might affect my treatment options but I have a lot more faith in the people on this forum giving me good advice. Has anyone dealt with these issues and can anyone give me some tips/advice?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[WarriorSpouse]

Take the supplemental HMO offered. Between the Medicare / Part B and HMO supplement, everything will be covered. The HMO should cover the co-pays for Part B. It is the best coverage with one policy complimenting the other. Make sure your HMO has a drug plan too. It sounds like you are in good hands with whoever has you to this point. Good luck!

[zephyr]

Thank you, WarriorSpouse!

[RobDontGiveUp]

I went on medicare this year and changed my wife's insurance through work from PPO to HMO. It saved us a lot of money and everything has been seamless..until now...maybe. Going on Stivarga, which is an oral medicine so I'm not sure how much my wife's HMO is going to cover. I didn't get part D, because I didn't real think I would need it and no one pushed back at me not getting part D at my oncologists office when I met with the billing insurance department. Not sure what my copay but the people at my ones office are confident they'll find me money for the drug so I don't have to pay for it. Well see.

Basically what I'm saying is think hard and ling about whether or not you should get Part D

[zephyr]

Thanks, Rob. It looks like I might be switching to some oral meds so that issue has been added to my list of questions.