My aunt has worked enough years to qualify for medicare. She went into education and will retire next year with her health insurance for life from her ed job as well (Blue Cross).

1) Will this be enough health insurance? I've heard medicare usually needs a supplement coverage.

2) Which should she use as her primary insurance Medicare or blue cross? or is that a usage by usage basis?

I hope I'm making sense here.

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by LSUFanHouston

NOLA

Member since Jul 2009

37007 posts

Posted on 5/18/16 at 10:56 am to CoachChappy

Generally, retirees with medical coverage, who are also eligible for Medicare, are given a type of plan that uses Medicare as the primary, and a supplemental coverage to help fill in the gaps. They can be called Medicare Advantage, Medicare Replacement, or any other number of names..

Was she in K-12 or higher ed, private or public?

For an idea of how this works, look at the retiree plans offered by LA OGB: LINK

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by Layabout

Baton Rouge

Member since Jul 2011

11082 posts

Posted on 5/18/16 at 12:42 pm to CoachChappy

quote:
Which should she use as her primary insurance Medicare or blue cross?

She doesn't have a choice. If she is eligible for Medicare that will be the primary coverage. If she retires before age 65, Blue Cross will be primary until she reaches the eligible age. Blue Cross will then become her Medicare supplement plan.

Prescription drug coverage will continue under her employer group plan. It's good coverage that doesn't have a "doughnut" hole.

Be careful about keeping your coverage in force. If you leave the group plan you normally won't be allowed to re-enroll.

There is an open enrollment period each year when you can switch among the various Blue Cross plans and Medicare Advantage plans.

This post was edited on 5/18/16 at 12:44 pm

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by CoachChappy

Member since May 2013

32504 posts

Posted on 5/18/16 at 1:40 pm to LSUFanHouston