Medicare part B and supplemental
A close friend mistakenly chose part B when she turned 65. she was laid off at the time.Within a year she got a new full time job with great insurance and is paying both part B and employer premiums. During open enrollment, can she unenroll from part B as she is covered by her employer? Complicating this, she signed up for supplemental with the employer a week ago.
Terry Says
Here’s the problem. Yes, she can unenroll from Medicare Part B and use her employer’s insurance. BUT she loses the one-time guaranteed enrollment period into the best supplement (Plan G) if she gives it up now.
And when she re-enrolls, she may have a health condition that precludes getting that great supplement.
So it’s a bit of roulette — and depends on how long she thinks she will be working and her estimation of her health.
At this point, I think she might be better off sticking with Medicare and her supplement. Maybe her employer will give her a bit of a raise since they don’t have to pay her health benefits. And she can use the extra money to pay for her supplement?!
