AboutJohn Pedit Expertise Am an expert on Medicare, Medicare HMOs, and Medicare supplemental insurance. Also have extensive knowledge of Medicare especially in Mich. Have knowledge of COBRA and the Portability Act
Experience
Past/Present clients Council about 300 persons yearly and do many presentations on Medicare
Question Hi, again John. I have followed all your advice so far. My husband chose only Part A and went on his company's insurance. I chose to stay on Cobra through my employer. My last question is: I was told by someone (cannot remembert what agency) to apply for SSD as soon as I received my diagnosis of lymphoma. I had the biopsy on Friday which comfirmed the diagnosis. I contacted SS today and they are going to sign me up over the phone next week. However, I wonder if I should not follow through with going on SSD. I am already receiving almost half my husband's SS and I would only be about $50 per month ahead. My concern was when my 18 months of Cobra was up, I would have no insurance. Since then, I have found out through that I would be able to sign on to my husband's insurance plan (providing he is still working which he intends to do, but one never knows when their health will fail - I can attest to that). SS told me today anyone with a diagnosis of lymphoma will be approved within 2 or 3 weeks, although Medicare would take longer. I am wondering if I should plan to go on my husband's insurance before the 18 month's of my Cobra is up or to apply for SSD now. If I do that, I will be forced to go off Cobra and sign up with Medicare. I would have to go on Medicare Part D for prescriptions and I can only imagine what the chemotherapy meds will cost. In your opinion, should I forget applying for SSD and plan to go on my husband's insurance? They did say they will cover pre-existing illness. Can I count on this for sure or can they change their minds once they find out I have cancer? My biggest worry is the pre-existing and the cost of medicine. I would greatly appreciate your opinion as to what I should do at this point. You have been a tremendous help to my husband and myself and I am grateful for your advice and volunteering on this panel.
Answer hi again.
By all means apply for SSD. But now it becomes difficult to advise. You are pretty well set up as is, but the future is in doubt. It usually takes several months to get SSD and there are often turn downs, Then there is a big delay in getting Medicare.. And as of now congress is in the mood for some major changer to expedite faster action. I really expect there will be a few major changes for the better. But because of this, I really do not know what more to tell you until we see what happens this Fall. So now we almost have to sit back and see what develops.
Sorry, but we cannot predict what Congress comes up with,
