Medicare - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

april1848 · 12-08-2008, 05:15 PM

Hello Friends,

The HR lady at my work is shopping around for new health insurance. She came to me very excited last week and told me that she discovered there's a chance I could get Medicare. This would be without going on disability. She had never heard this before, and neither have I (I consider us both pretty good HR specialists). She set up a meeting for me with the guy we're getting our new insurance from.

I met with him, and he told me that I may qualify just because I have MS. The reasoning is that the government wants me to work as long as possible, and also wants to keep health care costs down for my company. He said I'll have to fill out some paperwork and perhaps get a medical evaluation, but he sounded pretty sure that I'd qualify. With Medicare plus a supplemental insurance plan (he said about 25.00 a month for that) it would cover all my costs. This sounds too good to be true, so I'm trying not to get too excited. He said there's only a handful of diseases that qualify for this, and MS is one of them. He has started with the paperwork and said it could take 2-3 months.

Does anyone know about this? I'm skeptical, but I want it to be true. I know I'm not the only one here who knows they wouldn't qualify for disability, and who worries a lot about the what-ifs. If I get this, I could work part time or not at all if I needed to someday, and it wouldn't be attached to my job. I also wouldn't have to deal with my company's huge deductible and high premiums, so my paychecks would be a lot bigger.

It just sounds too good to be true. I did a little internet research and it was conflicted. The man I met with was very confident though, and he's been doing this for a long time. If this happens, it will be the best Christmas present ever--I'd rather have this than a million dollars. I've had many sleepless nights, tears, and worries about healthcare, not to mention anger, because I feel like I'm being punished for having a very expensive disease but not being disabled. Does anyone here know about this?

MSJayhawk · 12-08-2008, 06:22 PM

I do not know about the info you shared. I think I would speak to Medicare directly to determine how legitimate the info is. I hope it is correct!!

Lisa_P · 12-08-2008, 07:50 PM

Wow. I never heard of such. I got on SSDI because I HAD to get on Medicaid and Medicare... You mean I could have saved 3 years of fighting with Social Security?! Geez.

Oh, well. It finally all worked out.

april1848 · 12-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Lisa, I know. That's why I'm so skeptical. I guess we'll see, and if it's true, it could be a big help to people here.

I'm glad you won your fight.

MSNik · 12-09-2008, 07:14 PM

HI again April. DO tell us how this works out. I have to say, Im also really skeptical. I work in a primarily Medicare facility. Im on the phone with Medicare every day of my life checking eligibility and seeing patients who come to us with every sort of disease/ disability and need known to man. My facility is primarily a sub acute rehab, but believe me, I see it all! Ive gotten to know some of the claims adjusters in my neck of the woods and two of them know I have MS. Neither of them has ever told me what you were told; and they both know Im fighting here for pre-existing condition clauses- I would have thought if they knew something, to help me, knowing my situation, they would have shared it...but maybe not. So, Im very interested in hearing the results of this. I truly feel that this is something that normally is Medicaid related- but again, HR isnt my thing- insurance benefits arent either- my job, includes having to check eligibility, so Ive learned how to do that; however I dont claim to know much more about Medicare- not by a long shot!
Please keep us posted!
Nikki