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Retiree question

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By scooby
Have you, retirees, received the new enrollment package from Empyrean? I got mine today. For Kaiser, my portion is $81 a month. My spouse, eligible for medicare this month, October 2015, is $420 a month. This makes $501 for both of us in 2016.
In 2015, we both paid only $169 a month for Kaiser, before my spouse became 65 this month.

Do you know what caused this jump premium? 
I would appreciate any comment about this. Thanks

Comments

Anonymous said…
We too received our open enrollment info. I am the spouse and my husband is the retiree. He just turned 65 and had to sign up for Medi-care. Not only has his Kaiser gone up from $169.00 to $210.00 (mine is $88.00 as the under 65 spouse) but his Social Security has been reduced by $104.00 per month. So, now we will be paying $about $400.00 per month. The Lab sends Kaiser $2400.00 (going up to $2450.00 for next year) but you have to sign up for a HRA account with Kaiser. All of this took us MONTHS to accomplish. Our question is #1. WHY has it gone up so much, and WHY are you in essence penalized when you turn 65, AFTER having paid in to Medi-care for forty years? We always thought it would HELP us, as in it would be an added benefit thus reducing our medical insurance. Any thoughts? This is getting ridiculous!
10/14/2015 5:46 PM
Anonymous said…
Wait till the Democrats (I mean the Socalist/Workers/non-Workers Party) takes over !
Remember the 49% Then us "wealthy" retirees will get the royal screwing !
10/14/2015 11:01 PM
Anonymous said…
No Social Security COLA in 2016, meaning that by law, Social Security recipients will see no increase in Medicare premiums. So, Medicare enrollees who are NOT receiving Social Security will bear the full brunt of the Medicare cost increases in 2016. Folks in that boat should expect about a 52% increase in Part B premiums.
10/15/2015 2:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Dear 2:47 pm. Please explain your comments. I do not understand. I am medicare eligible begining November 2015 and not begin to receiving SS until 2017.
10/15/2015 4:49 PM
Anonymous said…
By law, annual Medicare premium increases to Social Security recipients cannot exceed the annual Social Security COLA, which for 2016 is zero. Therefor the Medicare increased costs (which must be covered by premium increases) can only be borne by those Medicare enrollees who DO NOT receive Social Security. So, Medicare enrollees without Social Security can expect about a 52% increase in Part B premium payments, while Medicare enrollees with Social Security will see no increase., Look it up - it has been in the news for several days since Social Security announced no COLA for 2016.
10/15/2015 7:22 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow, sounds like it's time to start drawing Social Security. Kind 'a wanted to wait until I was 68 ?

52% increase is outrageous - don't believe it ! Obama wouldn't do this in an election year !

Except that the portion of the 47% that are on Medicare I'm guessing are also drawing on Social Security and are probably not Republicans. Hum...
10/15/2015 9:25 PM
Anonymous said…
It's safe to bet that almost everyone on Medicare and drawing Social Security is a Republican.
10/15/2015 9:34 PM
Anonymous said…
So I am new to this as I will turn 65 next summer. I now recieve LLNS pension and social security. My working spouse declines CALPERS medical insurance, as we have found LLNS to be slightly less expensive up to now.

So I will pay $822 per mo for Blue Cross EPO for sppuse and family until summer, same as last year. At my 65th birthday, my family cost will drop to abput $540 per month, and I must find equivalent medicare medical coverage, which I guess might cost $400 per month for me. I also collect $200 Per mo. HCRA. Copays apply along with 10% coinsurance. So it looks like I break even.

What did miss?
10/15/2015 9:35 PM
Anonymous said…
October 15, 2015 at 9:35 PM

You should look into signing up for Medicare Part A & B, and then taking the Lab's Medicare Supplement plan, which is about $90 a month. Overall about $240 a month for a single, more if tour income is higher (2015). 2016 will be higher unless your Medicare premium is taken out of your SS payment. Stay away from Medicare Advantage policies - way more expensive since although they have zero premium, they sock you with copays and deductibles which Supplement plans don't. With traditional Medicare and the Supplement plan, I have only the Medicare and Supplement premiums, and absolutely no out-of-pocket costs ever (no copays or deductibles). Your working spouse should take her CALPERS for her and the kids.
10/16/2015 7:12 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks. I'm really behind the curve here. Don't like administrivia any more... time is too valuable to waste..

I will research what you suggest.

What is the Lab's medical supplement plan? I want to stay with my Muir Medical Group physician and John Muir Hospital.

Also, since I collect social security, I will have mediocre withheld there. How much is withheld?
10/16/2015 9:35 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm not familiar with LLNL's Medicare Supplement but I have to assume it is similar to LANL's. Such plans are standardized nationwide. It requires you to have Medicare as your primary insurance, then the Supplement plan picks up all deductibles and copays for services that Medicare covers. LANL's plan also has a prescription drug component that is similar to Medicare Part D but cheaper. The beauty of this combination is that there is no "network." You can use any provider or hospital anywhere in the country that accepts Medicare. One downside is that there is no coverage from Medicare outside the US and its territories.

Your entire monthly Medicare premium is withheld from your SS payment, The amount varies according to your income (as reported to the IRS on your 1040.) You pay the Supplement premium directly to Empyrian. You should go to medicare.gov - a wealth of information. Download or request a copy of the "Medicare & You 2016" booklet.
10/17/2015 9:56 AM
Anonymous said…
Anonymous said...
Thanks

October 18, 2015 at 10:25 PM

That's a first for this blog!
10/21/2015 1:26 PM
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