Medicare and working.

[YouDontKnowCecil]

Does anyone know exactly what happens after the 93 month period after the 9-month trial work period is over? Apparently you can still keep Medicare but the premium is insane ($480 a month for Part A, and $110 a month for Part B for 2010; these numbers just keep going up).

Does anyone here actually go through that?

Is there a way to "reset" your trial work months, aside from the rolling 60 month period?

This stuff is so confusing. I don't know how health care reform will fit in. I just don't like the idea of having to pay $7-10K a year for health insurance once I am finally working and done with school.

[funnygarcia]

If you are still ESRD status Medicare will continue. Most people don't need to pay part A if they had medicare taxes taken out while working.

There are generous guidelines for your state medical assistance to help pay for Medicare Part B and "special help" for Part D (low cost medications)

 I know in MN 1/2 of the income of a disabled working person is not counted. As a beginning teacher, my dh's salary (family of 4) was still within guidelines for the state to pay his Medicare premiums and the "special help" program for his drug costs to stay very low ($5 per scrip at most). Without the 1/2 income offset as disabled, he would be WAY over income as gross income is counted.  (which sucks as his take home pay is nothing close to his gross)

Also, all states now have an MAED (Medicaid for the Employed Disabled) program due to federal law, opportunity to "buy in" to Medical Assistance for those who are disabled and working. It was part of the Ticket to Work program. Only the disabled persons income is counted in the household, your spouse/partner/housemate can be employed and it would not affect your own MA status.

As for a reset of the 60 rolling months, DH was told by SS the only way to reset (beyond waiting out another 60) is to re apply. We debated re-application versus just restarting benefits, decided not to chance SS denying application this time around.

DH is choosing to return to SSDI benefits and work just part time. We found out the hard way that his working bumped us into some trouble financially. It's sad that his take home pay is less than his SSDI benefit.   

[YouDontKnowCecil]

Thank you very much for the information. It is very complicated. Every time I contact Medicare or Social Security they give me different answers, or have to contact a supervisor/manager.

[VintageVera]

DEAR CECIL: I know this is an old topic but I'm curious about what you ended up doing. Please reply as this situation may someday apply to me and assuredly will apply to other ESRD/transplant people. LOVE, VERA