I have to learn about Medicare. Seriously. I'm 50. Too young! And it's too complicated for me already, I can't imagine if I were 80.
It's on behalf of my brother Dave, who, while only 52, is on Medicare because he's disabled. We had him all set up for life after Mom died, then he started getting hit with donut holes and prescription bills over a grand a month.
And while I'm grumping, donuts? What a stupid analogy. If you want an analogy for something you progress across that has a negative thing in the middle, you pick donuts? Not volcanoes? Whirlpools? I keep hearing Dave say "I've fallen into the donut hole" and it makes me picture him snapping his jaws in the air with a half-eaten donut wrapped around his face.
I did find this site, though, and it made things a little clearer.
http://www.medicaremadeclear.com/about/medicare-facts/
I'm sure there's some reason why Dave doesn't have supplemental insurance. I feel I'm going through this exercise to find out his state doesn't allow it or something.
The older you get, the more complicated all financial and insurance matters get. Also, the sicker and less capable you are, the more complicated everything is. It's like it's planned that way on purpose, like they're playing "Gotcha!" I STILL don't know whether I made the right choices re medicare and retiree coverages.
Posted by: ~~Silk | February 26, 2013 at 09:37 PM
My husband is the only person I know who can deal with this stuff without losing his mind. That is why I hold on to him.
Posted by: hattie | February 27, 2013 at 06:35 PM
~~Silk - And once you decide you are stuck, aren't you. Come to find out Dave is extremely stuck, but things get better next year. Till then, I'm taking my $4k a month pharmacy karma and paying it forward. I wonder if I can show Dave the advantages of saving up for a known future expense?
Hattie - You know, I'm a little relieved that he's stcuk with what he chose. I can stop thinking about it.
Posted by: TheQueen | March 01, 2013 at 07:18 PM