Blue Cross Basic and Medicare Reimbursement Plan

[mvftw]

I see that FedBlue Basic will Reimburse up to $800 per year when on Medicare Plan A&B. Has anybody done this? I'm trying to do this and it goes to WageWorks and they say that I have no funds with them. I don't, I'm retired. Blue Cross just directs me back to WageWorks. Stuck in a Loop...

 

[nasa1974]

I see that FedBlue Basic will Reimburse up to $800 per year when on Medicare Plan A&B. Has anybody done this? I'm trying to do this and it goes to WageWorks and they say that I have no funds with them. I don't, I'm retired. Blue Cross just directs me back to WageWorks. Stuck in a Loop...

Do you have Medicare Plan A & B? Are you collecting Social Security?

 

[mvftw]

Do you have Medicare Plan A & B? Are you collecting Social Security?

I told BC over a month ago that I have Part B. I called yesterday and nobody said anything about not having Part B, they just referred me to WageWorks. I just called BC again and now she says I don't have Part B. So she put me in for Part B and we'll see how it goes. I am retired & Collecting S/S.
Should this be simple after Part B is added???

 

[nasa1974]

I told BC over a month ago that I have Part B. I called yesterday and nobody said anything about not having Part B, they just referred me to WageWorks. I just called BC again and now she says I don't have Part B. So she put me in for Part B and we'll see how it goes. I am retired & Collecting S/S.
Should this be simple after Part B is added???

When you apply for Medicare, you don't have to apply for Part B. However, if you do not apply within a specific time then you will pay a penalty when you do decide to apply. Hopefully this is not the case for you. Once Social Security sees that you have Part B they will deduct the Part B payments from your monthly check. Then you will be eligible for the BCBS basic reimbursement. Way back when I used to do it quarterly. Now I do it yearly. I'll request it usually the end of November.

 

[FAAM]

Hey nasa1974 & mvftw -- I appreciate your conversation here, as I'm retired FERS & on SS & turning 65 in a few short months... so I'm trying to figure out the impacts / changes and what choices I should make. Your feedback for my questions/ situation will be helpful. Also, my wife is still working for a year or two more; she & I both have MHBP (AETNA/ CVS) - standard for self-only, as it has similar FEHB coverage for us for less in contrast/compare with BCBS, & the self-only was less expensive for us than self+1 or +family.
Anyway, (1) I assume when you mention BC-basic reimbursing up to $800/yr for Part-B costs, that that is a BCBS "Part-C" (Medicare Advantage Plan) version or the FEHB version of that? I just received instruction card via mail from Medicare about this - saying I'll automatically be enrolled in Parts A & B, unless I return the card with my signature saying I want to opt-out of Part-B. Yet I know Part-C plans require you to be signed up for both Parts A & B, & most provide drug-coverage without having to be signed up for Part-D. So, I'm not sure about what I just wrote or the details about it... I also get some medical services done/ covered by the V.A. (for hearing & Optometry.)
(2) When, in your last reply, you mentioned ..."doing it quarterly & now yearly..." I presume that's when you process/ get the Part-B reimbursement(s) from them, correct?
(3) Also, there's a timing thing I'm not sure of in my case. I turn 65 this September, but not currently in a Part-C type of Advantage Plan & it isn't open season in FEHB at that time for me to be able to change my plan/coverage -- whether to one with MHBP/Aetna, or back to BCBS (I had that for many years before before retirement) - and whether I must go to "Self+1/family" under my wife's FEHB, or stay as Self-only under my own FEHB plan (not currently covered under my wife's FEHB means, I think, that I don't qualify for a waiver of delayed future Part-B sign-up penalty if I don't sign up for it this September).
... Any feedback with your thoughts/ comments will be appreciated. Best wishes to you both.

 

[nasa1974]

Hey nasa1974 & mvftw -- I appreciate your conversation here, as I'm retired FERS & on SS & turning 65 in a few short months... so I'm trying to figure out the impacts / changes and what choices I should make. Your feedback for my questions/ situation will be helpful. Also, my wife is still working for a year or two more; she & I both have MHBP (AETNA/ CVS) - standard for self-only, as it has similar FEHB coverage for us for less in contrast/compare with BCBS, & the self-only was less expensive for us than self+1 or +family. As far as health insurance coverage for you and your wife it comes down to the math.


Anyway, (1) I assume when you mention BC-basic reimbursing up to $800/yr for Part-B costs, that that is a BCBS "Part-C" (Medicare Advantage Plan) version or the FEHB version of that? I just received instruction card via mail from Medicare about this - saying I'll automatically be enrolled in Parts A & B, unless I return the card with my signature saying I want to opt-out of Part-B. You have an option of not getting Part B right away. However, if you don't get Part B there is a 10% penalty per year. My suggestion is to get Part B. Unless you can qualify for the waiver you mentioned below. If you qualify that could save you a couple thousand dollars.

Yet I know Part-C plans require you to be signed up for both Parts A & B, & most provide drug-coverage without having to be signed up for Part-D. My BCBS coverage used CVS for my meds. Just recently they have opted to use Medicare Part D. You had an option not to go that way. There was a thread awhile back that we talked about this.

So, I'm not sure about what I just wrote or the details about it... I also get some medical services done/ covered by the V.A. (for hearing & Optometry.)

(2) When, in your last reply, you mentioned ..."doing it quarterly & now yearly..." I presume that's when you process/ get the Part-B reimbursement(s) from them, correct? Back when I first got Medicare, I paid by check quarterly for Part B coverage. Then when I started receiving Social Security the Part B payments came right out of my monthly check. You have to provide documentation for reimbursement, and it was easier to grab the yearly information from Social Security.


(3) Also, there's a timing thing I'm not sure of in my case. I turn 65 this September, but not currently in a Part-C type of Advantage Plan & it isn't open season in FEHB at that time for me to be able to change my plan/coverage -- whether to one with MHBP/Aetna, or back to BCBS (I had that for many years before retirement) - and whether I must go to "Self+1/family" under my wife's FEHB, or stay as Self-only under my own FEHB plan (not currently covered under my wife's FEHB means, I think, that I don't qualify for a waiver of delayed future Part-B sign-up penalty if I don't sign up for it this September). Not sure about this. I would have to do some more research. This would be something to look into. Again, not just the insurance coverage but cost and savings. It can get very confusing.


... Any feedback with your thoughts/ comments will be appreciated. Best wishes to you both.

FAAM, good luck.

 

[FAAM]

Thank you very much NASA... for your helpful comments, and for taking the time to do so! Good luck to you as well.