As you know I was approved just 3 weeks ago (mid Feb) at the ALJ hearing. I have received one piece of correspondence - the confirmation letter last week. (Fully favorable).
Today, my US Senators office called and told me she expedited my retroactive money and that my atty would get his $6K, but she didn't know/couldn't access what my monthly check would be, said to call SSA. So I did.
So here is the part I am totally "confuzzled" about. I didn't get to the ALJ until mid Feb, AND unusually got approved at the hearing, got the confirmation via correspondence of his ruling last week/March 1. Today is March 8 and SSA said that when I get my 1st check in mid April I will be charged for 3 months of Medicare = Feb, March & April @ $99.90 per month or basically $300.00 out of my 1st check. (And I still have not received my medicare card yet, or my statement/correspondence of how much my check will be or the retroactive money) SSA told me, but that is who also said I'll be 'back billed for Feb & March for medicare.
Is this right? How can they do that. They said to me, 'I was eligible in Feb'. I said, yeah, I was aware I would be if I got approved but my hearing wasn't until mid Feb...... and (nicely added) I am eligible to buy a new car too, but I didn't get one and shouldn't be charged for something I didn't have access to. I haven't even gotten my medicare card yet. AND -- I have been paying out of pocket for my insurance thru my former employer this entire time (2.5 years), which included Feb and March.
So, is this right? Had I had an onset date of Jan 2009 and it was granted, figuring in the 5 months waiting + the 2 years would they back bill the medicare all those months - even tho I was still going thru the process and did NOT have access to the medicare insurance?
Something just doesn't seem kosher to me on this.
Thanks again for your expertise!
HUGS
ps: I love the word confuzzled -- its not a real word, I made it up eons ago.
Jacki, the same thing just happened to me. When I got my first check several hundred dollars were deducted for Medicare premiums for months I didn't even know I had it, and of course had no way to use it (no card). It really ticked me off!
The following user gives a hug of support to pme: Jacki345 (03-09-2012)
Once I get my 'official letter' saying what my award is & how much my monthly check will be,, I think I will recontact my US Senators office. She has been a God send.
The odd part to this is, if I even had the medicare card today I couldn't complain about beign charged & using it for this month.. but my doctors appts are still going to go on my privately paid insurance from former employer. Its like double dipping in the wrong direction.
Once I get my 'official letter' saying what my award is & how much my monthly check will be,, I think I will recontact my US Senators office. She has been a God send.
The odd part to this is, if I even had the medicare card today I couldn't complain about beign charged & using it for this month.. but my doctors appts are still going to go on my privately paid insurance from former employer. Its like double dipping in the wrong direction.
You can go to the ssa office they can give you a temp. medicare card. When you have the temp. card start calling to get a medicare advantage plan ora supplement plan. Because plain old medicare has no part d drug coverage and since you live in Florida you have a wide selection to choose from.
You can go to the ssa office they can give you a temp. medicare card. When you have the temp. card start calling to get a medicare advantage plan ora supplement plan. Because plain old medicare has no part d drug coverage and since you live in Florida you have a wide selection to choose from.
Hiya Vann
I have spoken to my benefit office (former employer) and they've told me that my current insurance (for retirees) will become secondary to medicare (ie supplimental) and cover the 20% that medicare A doesn't cover; They will reimburse the Medicare Part B and my vision, dental and prescription coverage will remain as it does now. So I won't need the supplemental plan/s after all. My retiree benefits will cover it -- thank goodness.
Hiya Vann
I have spoken to my benefit office (former employer) and they've told me that my current insurance (for retirees) will become secondary to medicare (ie supplimental) and cover the 20% that medicare A doesn't cover; They will reimburse the Medicare Part B and my vision, dental and prescription coverage will remain as it does now. So I won't need the supplemental plan/s after all. My retiree benefits will cover it -- thank goodness.
I went with optimum i don't get my part b back because i went with there platinum plan. With that plan i have no copay to see a specialist also all of my generics are free and my tier 2 meds are only $20.00 co pay but if i get 90 day supply i use there mail order and then it only cost me $40 for my tier 2 meds.Plus no copay for the first 50 days in the hospital. Had no copay for blood work also.
My retiree insurance, just as a retiree premiums only cost me $13.97 a month total - for all of it (vision, dental, experimental treatment, medical/doctor & hospitalization). Up until 3 years ago, it was all free to employees. Anyway, they now tell me that this premium amount will be reduced to less than 50% and they will reimburse the Part B that SS takes out.. I think that's the monthly $99.90 (?) So I'm expecting to pay like $6.50-ish.
My retiree insurance, just as a retiree premiums only cost me $13.97 a month total - for all of it (vision, dental, experimental treatment, medical/doctor & hospitalization). Up until 3 years ago, it was all free to employees. Anyway, they now tell me that this premium amount will be reduced to less than 50% and they will reimburse the Part B that SS takes out.. I think that's the monthly $99.90 (?) So I'm expecting to pay like $6.50-ish.
Shoot, I can't be that with a stick. ya know?
That's nice what kind of job did you do? My fiancé works in st Pete her friend just got a back in Chicago at a company that has there headquarters in st Pete her friend is making $95,000 a year trying to get my fiancé in at st Pete , starting at $60,000 . She use to work at a company like this before. Man I have my fingers crossed. That will be a $10,000 pay raise.
I do not think it sounds ightfor your medicare to start billing you before you even have it, that wouold make me very upset. I got my medicard right away and the state helps pay for the premiums, and I also have Medi cal which is the same as medicaid in other states. It does not make sense tome they are charging you that much money for medicare those thress months when you cannot even start using it . LIke a poster said you can get a temporary meidcare card through the social security office, maybe that is the best way to go, especially if they are witholding your money and making you pay for it, you should be covered then .
I do not think it sounds ightfor your medicare to start billing you before you even have it, that wouold make me very upset. I got my medicard right away and the state helps pay for the premiums, and I also have Medi cal which is the same as medicaid in other states. It does not make sense tome they are charging you that much money for medicare those thress months when you cannot even start using it . LIke a poster said you can get a temporary meidcare card through the social security office, maybe that is the best way to go, especially if they are witholding your money and making you pay for it, you should be covered then .
Yeah, I have to agree mscat -it just didn't make any sense to me. So, I did call SSA they made worse sense.. so then I called the US Senators office again. (I swear that woman was sent from God - she is WAY to helpful for todays society!.. I mean that in a good way. She must be there coz she loves her job and to help people).. She explained that your monthly check is paid in arrears and the medicare is paid in advance & the amount being taken on the 1st check will just catch me up. Then last nite in the mail I got my letter (our street is the last one on the route) and it basically said the same thing, adding that if I had not received my medicare card yet, to use 'this' letter if I needed medical attention. So, the money they are taking for Feb is covering March etc. etc.
So, that pretty much explains my mystery.. (SSA told me the Feb $99 was to cover the month of Feb, which of course was very wrong)
That's nice what kind of job did you do? My fiancé works in st Pete her friend just got a back in Chicago at a company that has there headquarters in st Pete her friend is making $95,000 a year trying to get my fiancé in at st Pete , starting at $60,000 . She use to work at a company like this before. Man I have my fingers crossed. That will be a $10,000 pay raise.
The original job to when I started it eons ago to what it became as I left really morphed. But at the end, the kind of job I did was work on computer systems - clearing input errors/order flow. Debugging problems so no jam up in the system. Also there were times I did research on accounts that may have required me to go back years.
PS: remember, they also take out for your atty/representative if you had one. And the maximum amount now for representation is $6000.00.
In my letter it didn't say how much he got only that he got a copy of this letter.
You could probably figure it all out after you recieve your award letter how much was paid to your attorney. I did not have to have one, I won at the reconsideration level, however as fully prepared to obtain a lawyer if denied. I understand they always get paid first, and what is left is paid to the claimant. I also think that f a person was on welfare or using any state income they have to pay it back too. Iam not sure if that is correct for all states but i've heard about it. They do this when a person dies too, take all their assect to pay off any money owed to the state. I know my brothers mother is very sick and they talked to her about going on SSI and she refused.
You could probably figure it all out after you recieve your award letter how much was paid to your attorney. I did not have to have one, I won at the reconsideration level, however as fully prepared to obtain a lawyer if denied. I understand they always get paid first, and what is left is paid to the claimant. I also think that f a person was on welfare or using any state income they have to pay it back too. Iam not sure if that is correct for all states but i've heard about it. They do this when a person dies too, take all their assect to pay off any money owed to the state. I know my brothers mother is very sick and they talked to her about going on SSI and she refused.
Yeah, I thought the award letter would make sense,.. and just after I posted about an hour ago.. I pulled it again (it came last evening) I pulled it out because it dawned on me that the back pay figure in the award letter and the amount that was deposited yesterday morning was not a $6000.00 difference (max atty fee), nor is it the 25% difference. Its more like only a 10% difference.
Go figure that one!
The medicare in arrears will come out of my 1st check that I will not receive until April. So, I'm not sure what happened, but it looks like it happened in my favor.
The following user gives a hug of support to Jacki345: mscat40 (03-10-2012)
Pretty much the same thing happened to me Jacki. My MOE was SSDI benefits was actually Jan. 2009. My EOD was July 2008. My mental health doctor and SS told me I could backfile on treatments received and recover a lot of my OOP expensives during the time I was medicare eligible even tho I did not have a medicare card during this time. I basically said forget it and started using my medicare card from the day I received it.
Pretty much the same thing happened to me Jacki. My MOE was SSDI benefits was actually Jan. 2009. My EOD was July 2008. My mental health doctor and SS told me I could backfile on treatments received and recover a lot of my OOP expensives during the time I was medicare eligible even tho I did not have a medicare card during this time. I basically said forget it and started using my medicare card from the day I received it.
With me I had to wait 1 year to use Medicare in fact this month will be the first month of paying for it. I had to go to a ortho dr. Today and gt a cortisone shot in my right thumb. That dam needle was at least 3 inches long,he went into my palm right into my right thumb joint. I'm so glad I picked the Medicare avantage plan that I picked. So far only $20 spent for my tier 2 drugs. No office call or charge for injection.
But in my case, its a little different. Feb 2012 I did become eligible (since I won my case) but the difference is only about 10% of what I received and what they said I would - including the atty fee's. so in other words, -- it looks like my atty only got 10%. Now there were some raises in the last couple months and I did have an increase in my medicare because I was still getting 'income' for the buyout thru mid 2010 and that got adjusted up. They retro'd me back to 8/9/09, add the 5 months + 2 years = Feb 2012. So their timeline is right.
In April, when I get my 1st monthly check the Part A & B will come out for Feb & March @ 99.90 each month -- then from May on, my check will be a regular check.
And I don't think my atty is going to bill me for his costs if there were any. I've not heard a peep from his office. He had to have some.. copies of this and that.. not to mention my records he threw in the back seat of my car.. remember? Odd that.
But in my case, its a little different. Feb 2012 I did become eligible (since I won my case) but the difference is only about 10% of what I received and what they said I would - including the atty fee's. so in other words, -- it looks like my atty only got 10%. Now there were some raises in the last couple months and I did have an increase in my medicare because I was still getting 'income' for the buyout thru mid 2010 and that got adjusted up. They retro'd me back to 8/9/09, add the 5 months + 2 years = Feb 2012. So their timeline is right.
In April, when I get my 1st monthly check the Part A & B will come out for Feb & March @ 99.90 each month -- then from May on, my check will be a regular check.
And I don't think my atty is going to bill me for his costs if there were any. I've not heard a peep from his office. He had to have some.. copies of this and that.. not to mention my records he threw in the back seat of my car.. remember? Odd that.
Jacki, I thought the same thing, as I was approved Feb 1st, and hadn't heard anything from my atty's office, but just yesterday I got a bill in the mail for $225.00 for med records, and report fees and stuff. I will gladly pay it since I got approved. Just thought I would tell you to not count on them forgetting about those charges. Just when I was thinking I didn't owe them, I got a bill. And I know you were approved after I was. I mean my actual approval letter was received 2/1/12, and my hearing was 1/3/12. So I thought it was a long time to wait to get the bill.
Jacki, I thought the same thing, as I was approved Feb 1st, and hadn't heard anything from my atty's office, but just yesterday I got a bill in the mail for $225.00 for med records, and report fees and stuff. I will gladly pay it since I got approved. Just thought I would tell you to not count on them forgetting about those charges. Just when I was thinking I didn't owe them, I got a bill. And I know you were approved after I was. I mean my actual approval letter was received 2/1/12, and my hearing was 1/3/12. So I thought it was a long time to wait to get the bill.
Ahhh.. gotcha. I've read in here numerous times that before the client got their back pay the atty had mailed them their costs bill. Maybe he is kind enough to wait till he believes the client gets their back pay before hounding them for money???
I did find it suspect that I hadn't heard from his office yet. I thought the bill would be in my mail box by the next day-to be honest. I'll find it interesting what he the bills are for. I won't quibble with him, but I know my docs didn't charge him for my records. I realize there will be copies he made etc, fax charges possible to the ALJs office unless he sent everything on disc. I know he can not bill me for the folder that all my files was in, as once we were in the parking lot, he quickly opened it up after the hearing, started taking out every single sheet of paper had me open the back door of my car and threw them in there like we were doing some weird drug deal. I swear, the more I think about that few moments I laugh harder each time. I was very bizarre.
Anyway, I'll see what happens. He may be so busy he may not be bothered.
Last edited by Administrator; 03-13-2012 at 01:28 PM.
