Medicare Mystery...

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This is getting serious, today in the mail I received a Medicare card and a letter saying I was enrolled in a Part D plan. The copays listed are not really high, but before I had zero copays so this is crappy!

You better go down to the Social Security office---pronto.

I don't have the gas to go down there again and when I went last week they wouldn't listen to me, I'm trying to call the national ss hotline but I'm on hold for an hour..

I'm sorry you're going through this. Don't "lose your place" on the line.

To make it worse one of my meds isn't even fully covered by this plan and has a 405 deductible and after that a 25 dollar premium... I can't switch meds, last time that happened I went into a deep depression...

One thing that is never explained to consumers is that for certain drugs that are not on the formulary, you can get an exception made if your doctor contacts the right person at the pharmacy benefits manager office and explains why alternative drug a, b, and c are counter-indicated for the patient (you). In the case of a severe reaction to switching drugs, like you have had, Angnix, I would say the other drug tried is counter-indicated.

So you might call your prescribing doctor's office, explain your dilemma to the person who takes your call, and ask if there is any way your doctor can appeal coverage of the drug.

Doctors win appeals of insurance decisions all the time, but nobody (neither the doc for the insurer) wants to tell you this because it's just a lot of extra work for them. Anyway, it never hurts to ask!

Apparently I qualify for Medicare because I got Social Security benefits as a child and listed as "disabled since childhood" even though I only get SSI benefits now. They and the state say if I refuse the Medicare I get no health coverage at all.

I called again and they said to Google this: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0425501365

My job in 2007-2008 was officially a government job and gave me credits toward Medicare but not enough toward SSDI payments.

Working for a public university makes you a state employee. I payed into Medicare but not disability during those jobs. So I ended up in this situation... I'm going to be so angry if I can't afford my medicine anymore because of a job I had 10 years ago...

I wouldn't blame you for being upset....I'd be upset, too.

On that note, I hope you get the State of Indiana job, and take the civil service test for it after you're hired.

Well, I wouldn't blame Angnix either, but I hope she can find an alternative outcome besides getting upset. She's already had one meltdown over this snafu.

I don't quite understand KK, why would you take a civil service test for a job you already have?

The state of Indiana job hasn't asked me for an interview... I just applied to it. I don't even know if I want anymore gov. Jobs if this is the situation.

Because you can be hired on a "provisional" basis in a civil service job without taking the civil service test. You have some of the rights, but not all of the rights, of a person who has taken the test when you are hired "provisionally."

Taking, passing the civil service test, then being hired off the "list" gives you full civil service rights---which happen to be considerable.

I've taken two tests, and have been hired off the list both times.

Isn't an Americorps job a government job?

It is a government program, I don't know. Most of my past jobs were working for public universites and those count.

Well, I do agree with KK that a government job is in many ways ideal, affording stability and some protections.

What are your alternatives? Doing wildlife education for a zoo? There aren't many businesses in that line of work, most of the jobs would be either state or federal.