I am hearing more and more talk about "Medicare for All". It seems that people think Medicare is free health care and it is not! All of us who qualify for Medicare get , at no cost to us, hospitalization covered but nothing else (Medicare Part A). If we decide to purchase Medicare Part B at $140/month, we are granted access to Dr appointments and lab work and X-Rays and MRIs and required durable medical equipment at 80% of the cost meaning we are still responsible for 20% of the cost. If a Dr visit costs $100, we are responsible for paying the Dr. $20 of that and Medicare Part B pays the other $80.
If we want further coverage that picks up that 20% that we are responsible for, we buy a Medicare Advantage or Supplement Plan. That can cost a hundred to two hundred dollars more a month but will cover all co-pays for Dr, lab, X-ray, durable Medical equipment. But wait.... These plans do not cover prescription medications unless they are administered while you are in a hospital. So we buy a Medicare part D plan which covers part of our medication costs. However, all medications covering many conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Cancer and more are in the highest tier of co-pay at 40% of the cost of the drug. For some of these medications that can be thousands of dollars out of pocket a month.
Medicare is NOT free health care! As working adults we pay into Medicare over the years of our employment or self-employment by law. We continue to pay premiums for that care at whatever level we feel we need that care once we qualify for Medicare. On Medicare, we (as a couple) pay approximately $9,000 a year in premiums for the two of us but it is far easier to manage than the $2900/month that we were paying in Blue Cross premiums and we are grateful that we have that care when we need it.
Please dialogue with your Congress people about what they are talking about or what comes to their mind when they hear "Medicare for All"? What needs to happen to make this level of care available to all? What will it cost us out of our pockets (in premiums or increased taxes)? We have just over a year and a half before the next election to learn about and come to understand the issues on the table and need to not rely on emotional pleas and speeches to "inform us". Please take this time to educate yourself on what the terms used will mean for you and your family in terms of outcomes and costs and be an informed voter and active citizen.
Please take some time to add your thoughts.
If we want further coverage that picks up that 20% that we are responsible for, we buy a Medicare Advantage or Supplement Plan. That can cost a hundred to two hundred dollars more a month but will cover all co-pays for Dr, lab, X-ray, durable Medical equipment. But wait.... These plans do not cover prescription medications unless they are administered while you are in a hospital. So we buy a Medicare part D plan which covers part of our medication costs. However, all medications covering many conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Cancer and more are in the highest tier of co-pay at 40% of the cost of the drug. For some of these medications that can be thousands of dollars out of pocket a month.
Medicare is NOT free health care! As working adults we pay into Medicare over the years of our employment or self-employment by law. We continue to pay premiums for that care at whatever level we feel we need that care once we qualify for Medicare. On Medicare, we (as a couple) pay approximately $9,000 a year in premiums for the two of us but it is far easier to manage than the $2900/month that we were paying in Blue Cross premiums and we are grateful that we have that care when we need it.
Please dialogue with your Congress people about what they are talking about or what comes to their mind when they hear "Medicare for All"? What needs to happen to make this level of care available to all? What will it cost us out of our pockets (in premiums or increased taxes)? We have just over a year and a half before the next election to learn about and come to understand the issues on the table and need to not rely on emotional pleas and speeches to "inform us". Please take this time to educate yourself on what the terms used will mean for you and your family in terms of outcomes and costs and be an informed voter and active citizen.
Please take some time to add your thoughts.
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