Friday the 13th brought good insurance news

Donna70
Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi,
Hope it is alright to post about good insurance news and also a warning about Cobra. My hubby and I found out we would be covered by Cobra when he retired 5/2010. We did not know that Cobra is not considered employment based insurance go figure, so we thought we could just apply for Medicare B as Cobra ended. Not true which we found out 3 wks too late last April. So we were told we would have to go 4 months with no medical coverage from March 1st to July 1st after our Cobra ended. Well being in remission from EC and my hubby and myself both being in our late 60s, this was very scary and we prayed along with our friends and family that something would happen to help. Well my hubby talked to his union and they said they would ask about giving us an extension, not exactly Cobra but an extension to cover us for those 4 months and on this past Friday the 13th, we got the call confirming it. Thank you God and all the people who were praying for us. So anyone retiring and not already on Medicare B and eligible you have 8 months from your retirement date to file for Medicare B if you are not already on that. I was very sick at the time and did not read the medicare book well enough. I know how lucky we are, having read some of the medical insurance problems others have encountered. take care and many prayers are offered each day for all on this board and facing the EC rocky road.
Donna70

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #3
    Sometimes we get lucky
    Donna,

    So happy to hear that things worked out. I am retired but not old enough for Medicare so we pay our own health insurance. It is pretty pricey but as you said much better than no insurance. It is wonderful that the folks at your husband's union were understanding and flexible.

    Great to hear things worked out!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #4
    GREAT NEWS!
    Donna,

    GREAT news and what a blessing!

    May God continue to bless you BOTH!!

    Eric
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #5
    DP
    DP
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #6
    What could ever be wrong with a Friday?
    I never did understand the worry about Friday, the 13th. Whatever could be wrong with a Friday? :)

    Glad to hear that the union was able to get the extension coverage you needed! What a blessing to be able to maintain insurance. We have all learned how important that can be!

    With much Love & Hugs,

    Terry
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #7
    It can be so confusing.As we
    It can be so confusing.As we age we need things simplified--Not so with ss! It can be hard to understand! My insurance ended a year after my surgery,but I had become eligible for medicare. I had to do a lot of research for a good suppliment policy. Cost is a little expensive, but I never have to pay a dime. With all the scans, barrium swallows and dilations, I knew 20% could be a lot of money, so I picked one with good coverage.

    So glad the union was able to help.

    Sandra
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #8
    sandy1943 said:

    It can be so confusing.As we
    It can be so confusing.As we age we need things simplified--Not so with ss! It can be hard to understand! My insurance ended a year after my surgery,but I had become eligible for medicare. I had to do a lot of research for a good suppliment policy. Cost is a little expensive, but I never have to pay a dime. With all the scans, barrium swallows and dilations, I knew 20% could be a lot of money, so I picked one with good coverage.

    So glad the union was able to help.

    Sandra

    AARP book spelled it out
    Hi,
    As William said Cobra costs too but we didn't mind, it took most of my hubby's pension, but that was still worth it. Just wanted to say, yes the Medicare "bible" is so big it is confusing. I found out the facts of retiring and Cobra from our AARP paper magazine that comes in the mail. There it was spelled out so clearly I sat there in dumbstruck horror but you could understand what they were saying. So always give the AARP magazine a look over, you can learn a lot. Thanks for everyone's good wishes, we feel like a huge boulder has been lifted off of us. take care, many prayers to everyone.
    Donna70
  • froggerjen
    froggerjen Member Posts: 28
    #9
    Donna70 said:

    AARP book spelled it out
    Hi,
    As William said Cobra costs too but we didn't mind, it took most of my hubby's pension, but that was still worth it. Just wanted to say, yes the Medicare "bible" is so big it is confusing. I found out the facts of retiring and Cobra from our AARP paper magazine that comes in the mail. There it was spelled out so clearly I sat there in dumbstruck horror but you could understand what they were saying. So always give the AARP magazine a look over, you can learn a lot. Thanks for everyone's good wishes, we feel like a huge boulder has been lifted off of us. take care, many prayers to everyone.
    Donna70

    It's so confusing
    I'm going to make sure to look at the AARP magazine. Horray for Friday the 13th!

    Jen
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #10
    Yay!! Happy for you. Nice
    Yay!! Happy for you. Nice of the union to help.

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