Does Medicare Really Pay for Meds?

Hi All,

I was wondering if someone knows if Medicare pays for more of the IV medication than typical health insurance.  I'm currently on SSDI but opted to keep my health coverage through my employer and pay a monthly premium which is not too high ($200) as opposed to getting Medicare.  Someone recently told me that it might be worth it to get Medicare also.  I recently received a notice that I have until March to make a decision and I am so totally confused and not well enough to start making phone calls or even comprehend much right now.  I'm having a very hard time speaking today and am not sure it will be much better tomorrow.  lol

Anyway, does anyone know if it's possible to get Medicare in addition to keeping my current health insurance which is Empire BC/BS PPO through my employer?  Up until now the coverage has been great and I do not want to give it up unless it will really be worth it. 

Will Medicare actually pay for most of the medication as I was told?

Right now BC/BS will only cover up to one month of IV antibiotics and I was told that I need a minimum of six months.

Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Valerie

Hi, you might want to check your BC/BS policy and see if it has a paragraph in it that if you qualify for medicare that your coverage will cancel....I had BS/BS but I did not qualify for their regular plan, but had them through the Oregon Health Care plan (for those they consider uninsurable) 

I paid for my prior employer plan as long as was allowed, then when I went to find insurance none would take me so ended up paying them 438 per month until I got medicare.....medicare doesn't pay for drugs....you have to purchase a medicare drug plan to go with....which are not the best at all as in most states there is a "gap" where after you pay and they pay 2500 bucks they do not pay at all until you hit 4500 bucks then pay again.....some pay for generics through the "gap".

Anyway, please check your policy to make sure you have coverage once medicare elegible -- it may not be the same for you as you are in their "regular' plan but worth checking.

Sherri

Keephope - Thank you so much for explaining it all in such detail.

Would this all apply to the IV meds also?

Cece,

Are you talking about PATR D ?

that is the medicare coverage you get for medication coverage.
do you have it?
can you email me who you are using and what the plan and the cost.

I have to get part D for all my medications and still haven't done it.

I have no idea if medicare pays for lyme treatment.

I was told they did when I went to a clinic in ariozona and then after a 2 weeks they told me
medicare denied the coverage and I got stuck .

anyone know the real story out there?

Also as far as BC/ BS my Dad has that and I think it was medicAID? (NOW I HAVE TO ASK MY SISTER)
But what happened was he has the BC/BS as his PRIMARY and the medicaid (or could be medicare? which ever you get when you turn 65)
Anyway he could not get into the rehab we wanted after he broke his hip because BC/BS was the primary.

if the medicaid was his primary he would have been able.

The social worker who was handling it told my sister that the insurance companies are cutting back here and there so much that medicaid it actually better IN SOME CASES.

But this is not lyme. lyme IV coverage is not as easy to come by. Does BC/ BS cover IV ???