medicare after transplant

[tyefly]

Ok   I have private insurance and medicare second....havnt been on for 30 months yet so medicare is not primary.... now that I have a transplant...do I need medicare....   can I quit medicare....  thinking about saving the 111.00 per month since my private insurance seems to go up 75.00 each year.... Iam currently going to pay 558.00 month for private insurance..... 

how does this work...... 

[okarol]

I guess it depends on how much your monthly meds are - they can be about $1200, and if you pay the remaining 20% after your private insurance, that would be $240, of which Medicare would pay. Also, be sure to check that no meds or lab rests are excluded on your policy, because Medicare might pay for those. What parts of Medicare coverage do you have now? Is there any chance you could lose your private insurance over the next 3 years?

[tyefly]

no chance of loosing private insurance..... I am self employed and the insurance is thru our business..... I am thinking that I will keep my business for life....LOL.....   I just wonder if my private insurance rates will go up if I quit medicare.....  I wonder if they can do that.....it seems like the policy goes up 17 to 25% every year..... I have great private insurance thru Kaiser....  no deductable policy....just 10.00 co pay....  and all my precription my co pay is 20.00 for each one..... labs are free.... its their best policy.....  I guess medicare will only keep me on their plan for three years anyway...... maybe not best to rock the boat..... I dont know.....always thinking about saving money....LOL

[kellyt]

Personally, I felt the Medicare was worth every penny, as it picked up pretty much 100% of my Prograf and Cellept (with my private ins picking up 20% I paid ZERO).  Also, it picked up my yearly deductible.  I lose Medicare in November and I'm terrified.  i wish I could continue to pay for it and keep it.