Received my Medicare card and info booklet in the mail yesterday. I turn 65 at the end of Dec but the coverage (and fee) starts Dec 1st. I now need to get an updated military retired ID card that shows I have part A and B to continue on Tricare. Guess that makes me an official, card carrying “old.”

I joined the “old guy” group in June. Where did the time go?

Does Medicare start early if you take retirement at 62?

Or do you have to wait for full retirement at 65?

Medicare starts the first day of the month you turn 65.

Doesn’t coincide with full retirement age, it’s 65. Everyone has different full retirement age, depends on birth year. My full retirement age 66 and 10 months.

My understanding as well.

Oh what a feeling.

you're official. I hope you could read your card.

Its just a number..........................I guess

Welcome to the club.
Whatever you do DO NOT GET A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN!!
Take straight Medicare and get a supplement plan.

You can thank me later.

I’ll have Tricare For Life so I’m good.

A medicare advantage plan may not work for everyone, but my wife and I are very healthy and it has worked great for us for two years. $0 additional monthly costs, $35 copays, allowance for miscellaneous items, covers fitness center cost, our prescriptions cost $0, routine dental is $0, has a vision plan, and it has a low out of pocket maximum. Also, used it out of state (North Carolina) for removal of an in grown toenail - no fuss $35 copay. The combo of the Advantage plan with medicare is better insurance than what we had when I was working.

The Medicare advantage plan through wife’s retirement plan with TRS is working fine for us. The rate is scheduled to go down next year, and adding dental plan.

All is fine until you have a major medical issue (hoping that never happens). Must get approvals for treatment/services needed, not all procedures are covered. I don't have the Utube links but there are congressional hearing exposing Advantage Plans as a fraud. In one video a lady testified that her husband died because MAP only paid for 20 days in a speciality hospital (real medicare pays for 100 days.). On day 20 he was booted out of the hospital, all denials were from an AI computer and not a real person.
Case II: another lady needed a hip replacement and MAP would only pay for a rod in her leg even after the Dr. Recommended a hip replacement.

Good luck,

I chose the Plan G supplement route after watching horror stories unfold for two people I know with Advantage plans. They really liked it until they discovered the coverage limits. The reality is that you are choosing a plan for the rest of your life, so dig deep for information and choose wisely.

Marc

Wife just went through hip replacement, no issues with approvals or billing.

That's good news! How is she doing?

Money doesn’t buy happiness but it does give you choices…. Advantage Plans do not and that’s the trade off for low cost premiums…..

My experience as well, you have to do your due diligence when picking a plan.

Is it cheaper than what I can find on Marketplace?

Is it better than what I can find on Marketplace?

It’s been 7 weeks today since the surgery. She’s about 85% back to normal, still can’t bend over to tie her shoes. Those limitations should be cleared up in about a month. Still icing after PT and daily exercises.

Good. It's been a few years, but my wife had a hip replacement also. Worked out great.