COBRA/Retiree Medical

[rkosheff]

I am 68 yrs old and have not enrolled in Medicare Part B because I was receiving medical insurance benefits through my wife's employers plan. My wife was laid off and since we were covered under her severance agreement, I delayed enrolling in Medicare. It turned out that I missed the enrollment period by one day and now will not be enrolled and receive benefits until July 2010. I have retiree medical benefits available from my former employer which I decided to sign up for. The plan fully covers my wife, who is under 65, and my two children. For me however, it is secondary to Medicare since I am over 65. Since I do not yet have medicare, the coverage for me is minimal. Finally, I have the opportunity to take the COBRA plan from my wife's former employer for myself. I am told by the insurance company (UnitedHealthcare) that the benefits would only cover me after my retiree medical and medicare coverage benefits. In other words I would have no Medicare benefits, my retiree medical plan would cover a portion of the remainder as if I had Medicare, and my COBRA plan would cover a portion of the balance, which would be next to nothing. Since I would be paying the full premium for COBRA coverage which is supposed to be a continuation of benefits, I do not understand how UnitedHealthcare can say that my retiree medical plan comes first and they only pay last. So to summarize, I missed the medicare enrollment until the next enrollment period, my former employer's Retiree Medical plan is secondary to medicare-which I don't have-and my wife's employers COBRA plan wont pay normal benefits because I have a retiree medical plan and am eligible for Medicare. Any suggestions as to what options I might have to get coverage for out of hospital doctors visits, tests, etc until July 2010 would be appreciated. I do have Medicare Part A and full prescription coverage under my retiree plan.

[cbg]

Thank you for sharing your story. When you have a legal question, be sure to let us know.

[ecmst12]

Most plans have a clause stating if you are eligible for medicare, you MUST enroll, because the plan will treat you as if medicare is paying - whether they actually are or not. This is no one's fault but yours.