Question:
If I am on Social Security Disability, will the Medicare I will be on pay?

Hi, I will be on Social Security Disability for 1 year in May 2003 but cannot get Medicare until 6 months later which will be in Nov. 2003. Is this the same Medicare as what is discussed in your postings? Will this Medicare pay for the surgery if I am in need of it and it is life threatening? My husband has United Health Care Ins. through his employer, but they did not purchase the part which would have covered this surgery. The resource manager is looking into buying coverage for it or changing insurance coverage because several employees are wanting to get the surgery done. So if his insurance will cover it and I am covered by Medicare then it would be nice to have both coverages, but if not then I would like to be able to know if Medicare would cover it because paying out $20,000 is just not an option that we can afford to do but yet I do not want to die either. Can you help me with these questions please? God Bless You. Becky    — Becky S. (posted on April 9, 2003)

April 8, 2003
UHC is my primary thru my husbands work and medicare is my secondary thru my disability. I have had to pay nothing but two 12. co-pays My doc accepts medicare assignment. That means that they only take what medicare pays and dont come after you for the rest. My best friend had her surgery in November and only had medicare and no other ins. She used my surgeon and hospital and they both accept assignement. She only had to pay 400. to the doc and 800. to the hospital. That was medicare deductible and that was billed later after surgery. No upfront. The key word in all this medicare stuff is ASSIGNMENT. Make sure you find a doc and hospital that does that. Otherwise medicare will only pay 80% and you will have to pay all the rest.
   — Delores S.

April 8, 2003
Hi! I too am on SSDI and also have Medicare Parts A&B. They have covered pretty much everything and what they didn't my other insurance picked up the rest. Best of luck to you.
   — kb0lqx

April 9, 2003
Hi! Nedicare will pay if it is medically necessary.They no longer preapprove weight loss surgery.You find a surgeon,get the surgery and then everything gets submitted for approval.
   — jennifer A.