I am 63 and just about ready to get on to Medicare after a 2 year wait on SSD. I am currently being covered under my wifes group hospitalization. I have multiple myeloma ( bone marrow cancer ) and my prescription to keep the cancer at bay runs $8000 per month so if I were to get on total medicare with the best suppliment along with the best part D coverage I would hit the doughnut hole in the second month then my prescription would be me paying 76% of the $8000 per month till it gets to the point it would pay for all but 20%. In other words I could not go this route just stay on the wifes group insurance as long as possible since they are paying for my meds all but $100 per month. I need to opt out of part B but if my wife were to become unemployed through either get fired/ laid off or retire I would need at least 2 months to apply for the part B but the possibilty is there that she could either get fired/ laid off without prior notice and have no notice to apply again for part B so I would have to try not to get any kind of treatment or take any meds till the part B would kick in. That all sounds good but that drug for $8000 is what keeps the cancer from spreading I fear either I would let the cancer get a strong hold on my body and let the cancer get out of control and the cancer get too far along to stop. The other fear is I would try not to get treatment till the part B was in effect but in an emergency In would need treatment and make huge bills I could not pay for. Are there any alternatives to these scenarios? please advise. Shouldd I take a chance and refuse the part B ? I also fear that the wifes group insurance if I had part B would refuse to cover me fully like they are now.
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Not sure how to do this taking or not Part b
- Thread starter genedk
- Start date
genedk said:I am 63 and just about ready to get on to Medicare after a 2 year wait on SSD. I am currently being covered under my wifes group hospitalization. I have multiple myeloma ( bone marrow cancer ) and my prescription to keep the cancer at bay runs $8000 per month so if I were to get on total medicare with the best suppliment along with the best part D coverage I would hit the doughnut hole in the second month then my prescription would be me paying 76% of the $8000 per month till it gets to the point it would pay for all but 20%. In other words I could not go this route just stay on the wifes group insurance as long as possible since they are paying for my meds all but $100 per month. I need to opt out of part B but if my wife were to become unemployed through either get fired/ laid off or retire I would need at least 2 months to apply for the part B but the possibilty is there that she could either get fired/ laid off without prior notice and have no notice to apply again for part B so I would have to try not to get any kind of treatment or take any meds till the part B would kick in. That all sounds good but that drug for $8000 is what keeps the cancer from spreading I fear either I would let the cancer get a strong hold on my body and let the cancer get out of control and the cancer get too far along to stop. The other fear is I would try not to get treatment till the part B was in effect but in an emergency In would need treatment and make huge bills I could not pay for. Are there any alternatives to these scenarios? please advise. Shouldd I take a chance and refuse the part B ? I also fear that the wifes group insurance if I had part B would refuse to cover me fully like they are now.
What drug is it? Have you checked with the manufacturer to see if they offer a discount card? Another avenue would be to check with Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. They offer financial assistance for people who take expensive specialty drugs.
JohnnyB said:genedk said:I am 63 and just about ready to get on to Medicare after a 2 year wait on SSD. I am currently being covered under my wifes group hospitalization. I have multiple myeloma ( bone marrow cancer ) and my prescription to keep the cancer at bay runs $8000 per month so if I were to get on total medicare with the best suppliment along with the best part D coverage I would hit the doughnut hole in the second month then my prescription would be me paying 76% of the $8000 per month till it gets to the point it would pay for all but 20%. In other words I could not go this route just stay on the wifes group insurance as long as possible since they are paying for my meds all but $100 per month. I need to opt out of part B but if my wife were to become unemployed through either get fired/ laid off or retire I would need at least 2 months to apply for the part B but the possibilty is there that she could either get fired/ laid off without prior notice and have no notice to apply again for part B so I would have to try not to get any kind of treatment or take any meds till the part B would kick in. That all sounds good but that drug for $8000 is what keeps the cancer from spreading I fear either I would let the cancer get a strong hold on my body and let the cancer get out of control and the cancer get too far along to stop. The other fear is I would try not to get treatment till the part B was in effect but in an emergency In would need treatment and make huge bills I could not pay for. Are there any alternatives to these scenarios? please advise. Shouldd I take a chance and refuse the part B ? I also fear that the wifes group insurance if I had part B would refuse to cover me fully like they are now.
What drug is it? Have you checked with the manufacturer to see if they offer a discount card? Another avenue would be to check with Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. They offer financial assistance for people who take expensive specialty drugs.
Revlimid at $8000 per month
Contact your wife's insurance company about your Part B eligibility. Some group insurance requires you to take the Part B because it is cheaper for them. If they don't require it, then you have a decision to make. Keep in mind that you do not have to have Part B to get Part D. You can sign up for Part B at any time while on group insurance. It should not take you 2 months to get on it either. Once the termination takes place you can contact SS and make the effective date the 1st of the next month. If you are still concerned you can just go ahead and sign up for Part B and just eat the extra $100/month.